KNBA Newscast for November 9, 2015
Health grants
By the Associated Press
Alaska tribes and health providers are using federal dollars to combat methamphetamine use and suicide.
The federal Indian Health Service awarded Alaska Native Tribal Health Corp. $200,000 out of the $1.6 million that was set aside in September for suicide and meth use prevention efforts.
The corporation hosted one of two recent conferences in Anchorage that sought to educate officials about warning signs of meth use as well as spotting labs where the drug is being cooked.
Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corp. program evaluator Mark Anaruk said most suicides occur while people are under the influence.
Detectives and experts say meth is one of the top drugs of choice in Alaska.
Bethel-based Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corp. and the Southcentral Foundation in Anchorage were each awarded $275,000.
White House tribal visit
By Liz Ruskin, APRN
Politicians and captains of industry would give a small fortune for this invitation, but a 16-year-old Anchorage girl had an hour-long discussion last week with the President of the United States. The opportunity came as President Obama addressed the White House Tribal Nations Conference, an annual event that started with his administration.
President Barack Obama on Thursday addressed the White House Tribal Nations Conference, an annual event that started with his administration. He started his address at the podium.
“You know, when I ran for office, I pledged to build a true nation to nation relationship with you. Back then I was just a young adopted son of the Crow Nation. Didn’t have any gray hair. Now I’m President Barack Black Eagle,” said Obama.
Instead of a long speech, Obama sat on stage to chat with five Native youth on stage. 16-year-old Tatiana Ticknor, an Anchorage girl of Yup’ik, Denaina and Tliglit heritage, was one of five Native youth selected for an armchair conversation with the president, on stage.
Tatiana sat right next to the president, and kicked off the discussion.
"So my question is, is there any way you can get teachers to understand Alaska Native and American Indian students more better and is there a way that we can get rid of or eliminate stereotyping and racism within schools,” said Ticknor.
Obama stressed the importance of good teachers, and how Indian mascots alienate Native students. He fielded questions about suicide prevention and the need for basic infrastructure in villages.
Obama has made outreach to Native communities a hallmark of his administration. He is one of the few sitting presidents to visit a reservation.
He said that the tribes can ensure that future administrations will listen to Native voices, because tribes now know what is possible.
At the conference, the White House announced the creation of a Website called Native One Stop, intended to make it easier to access the resources of 17 federal agencies.
Fire Support
By Anna Mae MacArthur, KYUK
State officials have committed their support to Bethel following a fire at the Kilbuck campus that destroyed one school and damaged another along with a set of dorms.
Gov. Bill Walker, Rep. Bob Herron and Sen. Lyman Hoffman announced their pledge to the community and Lower Kuskokwim School District in a press release Wednesday.
Herron says the officials are standing by, waiting to assist once they receive a list of needs from the community and those affected by the fire.
“The school district, the teachers, the students, the parents of immersion, the community has to figure out, okay, people are willing to help us, but what do we want? And while we’re figuring that out, we have to go through a grieving process,” said Herron.
The officials talked with LKSD leaders on Wednesday to discuss the current situation and plans moving forward.
Herron and Hoffman hold personal ties with Kilbuck. Herron’s wife and three children attended the school, and Hoffman graduated from the campus.
The city continues working on its disaster proclamation, asking the Governor to declare a state of emergency and to allocate recovery funds.