KNOM Radio

“I wore my headdress, qaspeq, dance fans, ivory necklace and bracelet. I was turning heads,” Cheri Alstrom of St. Mary’s said.

“Language is larger than just the language itself — its culture, its connectedness to community and its willingness to also be part of that community,” Ukallaysaaq Okleasik with Northwest Planning said.

Elder Wisdom spots, derived from episodes of the longer form Elder Voices program, package important life lessons in accessible, bite-sized portions. Through oral tradition, Elders pass on the knowledge and values of their cultures. The spots have been very popular on social media and shared widely.

On Sept. 16, Megan Onders spoke with UAF professor Franz Mueter, Matt Ganley with Bering Straits Native Corporation, and Nome Eskimo Community Executive Director Emma Pate about storm preparedness, fish research, the tribal response to harmful algal blooms and more.

With Typhoon Merbok hitting Western Alaska over the weekend of Sept. 17, Danielle Slingsby speaks with fellow Kawerak staff Melanie Bahnke, Darlene Trigg, Cheri McConnell and Kevin Knowlton about what was lost, taking care of the land, and taking care of each other moving forward.

Listening requires humility. In the cultures of Western Alaska, people take time to listen: not speaking over another, not planning the next sentence while the other person speaks. That kind of selfless listening requires humility. Fully taking in what someone has to say honors the other person and opens the door for honest sharing. On…

With a local and cultural context, Megan Onders of Nome sparked conversation about the ocean ecosystem, concerns and subsistence over the airwaves. Onders, who works at the Alaska Ocean Observing System, invites guests to share their expertise during the weekly Ocean Knowledge program. The show aims to provide inspiration and tools for people to become more engaged in ocean stewardship.

During the premiere of Ocean Knowledge, listeners heard from Sylvester Ayek, who moved from King Island to Nome, about his journey, boat safety and staying healthy on the island. Kate Haapala, an analyst with the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, talked about the history of NPFMC and how it began to consider local subsistence knowledge in the management of and recommendations for fisheries. Final guest Gay Sheffield with the UAF Alaska Sea Grant shared about an on-going survey of harmful algal blooms and how they affect subsistence. Click below to listen to the full program.