ATCEM Awards 2004
Anchorage
Bristol Bay Region
Chefornak
Chevak
Dillingham
Eek
Koliganek
Kongiganak
Nunapitchuk
Ouzinkie
Russian Mission
St. Michael
Tenakee Springs
Togiak
Tuntutuliak
Polly Carr
AYEA Program Manager, National Wildlife Federation
Nominated by: Brenna Talbot, BIRCH AmeriCorps member, Sterling Head Start
Polly Carr does wonderful things for the environment. She developed a week-long teen camp in Homer, Alaska for Alaska Youth for Environmental Action members. Members from 15 different communities came together to talk about the effects of global warming. Members attended several meetings concerning the environment and kayaked in Kachemak Bay.
Polly should be recognized for her work with teens as well as her work concerning the environment.
back to topSue Flensburg
Consortia member
Nominated by: Michael G. Halko MS, RS, Director of Environmental Health, Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation’s Department of Environmental Health
Sue Flensburg of the Bristol Bay Native Association is being recognized for her outstanding work as a consortia member supporting the 34 villages in the Bristol Bay Region. Notable accomplishments include development of the Mulchatna Watershed Council and “Mind Your Assets” manual for Environmental Coordinators. She consistently strives to provide quality service to all the tribes in her region and also is sought to share her knowledge throughout the state. It is a pleasure to forward her name to the Awards committee. Quayana.
Oscar Wassillie
Coordinator, Chefornak IGAP Department
Chefornak Tribal Council
Nominated by: Anna Abraham, Environmental Assistant, Chefornak Tribal Council
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Cynthia Paniyak
Environmental Coordinator
Chevak Traditional Council
Nominated by: Anthony Ulak, Environmental Coordinator, STSTC, Scammon Bay and Bryson Kanrilak, RAVEN AmeriCorps member, Chevak Traditional Council
Cynthia has been working hard for many years. She has been working on educating the community of Chevak by writing newsletters informing the community about the environmental issues and health education. Cynthia has also conducted the Community Clean Up every summer for a few years or more, and coordinated the recycling program for batteries and cans.
Billy Maines
Environmental Coordinator, Curyung Tribal Council
Nominated by: Michael G. Halko MS, RS, Director of Environmental Health, Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation’s Department of Environmental Health
Billy Maines has done commendable work developing an environmental needs assessment for the community. He recognizes that to make processes work, one needs community support. He has also taken the lead in identifying the challenge of removing abandoned vehicles in his community noting the threat to drinking water and wildlife habitat.
Vera Wuya
Gaming Director, Bingo Dept.
City of Eek
Nominated by: Gloria Carter, RAVEN AmeriCorps member, Eek Traditional Council
Vera Wuya has been hosting a Clean Up Green Up every spring in our community for a long time. She has shown that she cares about our environment. I know she will keep having a Clean Up Green Up every spring to keep our environment clean.
Bertha Mincher
Environmental Coordinator
Village of Koliganek
Nominated by: Michael G. Halko MS, RS, Director of Environmental Health, Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation’s Department of Environmental Health
Bertha Mincher has performed in a stellar manner for the Village of Koliganek. Ms. Mincher works tirelessly to resolve solid waste issues. Bertha’s strengths include education and advocacy for appropriate disposition of solid waste. She is also spearheading an effort to safeguard all critical infrastructure in Koliganek by advocating a partnership with Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation’s Environmental Health Department. Her energy and commitment to environmental issues is contagious. She is a true community leader.
Bertha Black
Tribal Administrator
Kongiganak Traditional Council
Nominated by: Roland Andrew, President, Kongiganak Traditional Council
Bertha Black has been our tribal administrator since 2003 and has been involved with many environmental issues. She coordinates the community “Green-up Clean-up” every spring and she also moves forward with ALPAR and Youth Litter Patrols every summer.
In the summer of 2004, she worked on the IGAP application which was submitted and approved for $110,000 for our first year and she also led the environmental coordinator to apply for FY06 funding and unmet projects which were both funded. If it wasn’t for Bertha, we would not have IGAP funding from EPA.
Herbert Brink, Sr.
Tribal Elder
Native Village of Nunapitchuk
Nominated by: Jacob O. Tobeluk Sr., IGAP Coordinator, IRA Council/EPA/IGAP, Nunapitchuk
Herbert Brink, Sr. was born February 12, 1928 at the old village of Nunachuaq and he has been a resident of Nunapitchuk since 1952. Herbert participated in our IGAP program by volunteering and agreeing to be videotaped this past spring to share information with young people and the future generations. He covered the following topics:
- Keeping our village land, including subsistence areas (land and waters) clean.
- Subsistence nets; how to care for set nets and what to do if you plan to leave the village for quite some time.
- How to set or build the fish fence before the migration of fish.
- Keeping dogs leashed or tied and why.
Herbert also agreed to be a resource to residents, attended public meetings, and made environmental presentations.
Nunapitchuk
Evan Alexie
Tribal Elder
Native Village of Nunapitchuk
Nominated by: Jacob O. Tobeluk Sr., IGAP Coordinator, IRA Council/EPA/IGAP, Native Village of Nunapitchuk
Evan K. Alexie was born May 19, 1927 at the old village of Nunvarnarrlak. He moved to Nunapitchuk in the early 1950s and he has resided here since then. Evan participated in our IGAP program by volunteering and agreeing to be videotaped this past summer to share information with young people and the future generations. His topic was "Famine and Survival" - before, during and after.
This information is good for all of us, because our ancestors have predicted that starvation/famine will happen and Evan stated that he has recognized some of the signs that the elders in his younger years talked about. He wants people of all ages now-a-days to be prepared.
Jill Boskofsky
BIRCH AmeriCorps member
Ouzinkie Tribal Council
Nominated by: Genevieve Sheldon, RAVEN AmeriCorps member, Ouzinkie Tribal Council
Jill has a never-ending desire to work with and for the children. She takes it upon herself to organize events, parties, fundraisers, dances, derbies and picnics all to benefit youth. This offers the kids healthy activities and social gatherings that are both constructive and positive. Not too many other individuals in the village try to offer as much to the youth as she does. It is great to see someone taking this much interest in them. She also had the kids working on the beach clean up which was awesome. There were two abandoned boats taking up valuable beach space for over 10 years and were a definite eye sore, not to mention a hazard for the little ones that tried to play on them. Not only did we remove those two boats but we cleaned the entire beach as well as the stream. We used tribal and city equipment and then PHS came and worked wonders with their equipment to clean all the debris from the beach. Jill has hosted sober dances and karaoke contests, silver salmon derbies, and picnics only accessible by boats.
I think Jill is a positive influence on the youth of our village and this is why I nominate her for this award.
Ouzinkie
Genevieve Sheldon
RAVEN AmeriCorps member
Ouzinkie Tribal Council
Nominated by: Jill Boskofsky, BIRCH AmeriCorps member, Ouzinkie Tribal Council
Genevieve Sheldon has a lot of good ideas about the environment and what she can do. She will go out of her way to do it. We did a project together on the public beach here in Ouzinkie that involved removal of a very old fishing boat and it was a lot of work, but we managed to get it done with the help of a lot of volunteers and heavy equipment. Genevieve is a very hard worker and deserves this award.
Anastasia Larson
Environmental Coordinator, Iqurmiut Traditional Council
Nominated by: Byron Stephanoff, RAVEN AmeriCorps member, Iqurmiut Traditional Council
Anastasia Larson is being nominating for her hard work, keeping Russian Mission free of debris and making Russian Mission clean.
Robert Lockwood
18 years old
Nominated by: Polly Carr, National Wildlife
Federation (NWF), Alaska Youth for Environmental Action
(AYEA)
Robert is an inspiring young Native leader whose story
is one worth sharing with all. I met Robert
in the summer of 2004, when he attended NWF’s
Alaska Youth for Environmental Action Summer Get Together
on Toxics and Healthy Communities. This annual
training brings youth from Native and non-Native communities
together to learn about pressing environmental health
issues while developing leadership skills and a supportive
network of young leaders.
Through the Rural Alaska Community Action Program, we had the honor of involving AmeriCorps member Bobbi Andrews of St. Michael with the Summer Get Together. Bobbi is an incredibly bright, inspiring female leader who encouraged Robert and a few other teens from St. Michael to participate in the gathering. Robert attended the gathering in a quiet manner, taking in all of the information and developing ideas for a possible community action project on toxics when he returned to St. Michael. He identified the lack of a fence around the St. Michael landfill as a pressing local issue. During the Summer Get Together, he filmed a short public service announcement with his peer Anthony Beans that stated, humorously, “Get Off Your Rump and Fence the Dump.”
After the Summer Get Together, Robert went home and assembled a PowerPoint presentation about the dump issue in St. Michael. He presented this information to an audience of 30 adults at last year’s ATCEM event. This was a huge move for Robert—he is not a fan of public speaking but was able to use his creativity (and music know-how) to develop a story about this issue in his home.
This year, Robert applied to serve as a peer leader during the Summer Get Together on Climate Change. As a peer leader, he had to take a few steps beyond regular participants, making sure he surveyed his community about climate change issues before the event, helping others do the same. He also helped create a radio public service announcement on climate change and its impact on Alaska’s cultures.
Robert will take yet another step in his leadership adventure. He has joined a small group of youth from around the world who are reporting about climate change, cultural impacts, and wild places during the World Wilderness Congress and SnowChange conference. He will create a media story from what he is learning and share that with a broader audience. Robert spoke on last year’s ATCEM conference’s Elder and Youth panel. He was intimidated by the prospect of addressing hundreds of people, but he did it anyway. He has been asked to speak on an Elders and Youth panel at the SnowChange conference.
I think that Robert is a stellar example of how our young people, given the opportunity, can rise and shine like the stars they are. Robert gives me hope that there are leaders to look to in the future and that our communities will be taken care of. He is incredibly deserving of this award and recognition and I recommend him with all of my heart.
Joan McBeen
RAVEN AmeriCorps Member
City of Tenakee Springs
Nominated by: Bruce Ware, BIRCH AmeriCorps member, City of Tenakee Springs
Joanie McBeen is a real trooper. My job last year was to crush and package aluminum cans for sale for the Fire Dept. This is a major fund raiser! We recycle in this village with a population of 104. In addition to many other projects, Joanie convinced a volunteer to help her sort through 40-60 big garbage, then crush and bag the cans. She did this all summer, usually twice a week!
Tenakee Springs
Elizabeth Shaw
Resident
Nominated by: Joan McBeen, RAVEN AmeriCorps member, City of Tenakee Springs
Elizabeth deserves an environmental award because of her willingness to help with many issues. She has crushed aluminum cans, cleaned our bathhouse and clinic areas, picked up trash along the trails and is currently working with me on monitoring a water quality survey. All of these services she does voluntarily and with a smile. She should be honored for her many years of services to our community. She also helps with tin can recycling and is a member of the recycling committee.
Darryl Thompson
Togiak Water and Sewer Director
City of Togiak
Nominated by: Francesca Kamkahpak, Togiak Environmental Program Manager, Traditional Council of Togiak
Darryl Thompson has been the Water and Sewer Director for the City of Togiak since 1996. Darryl not only does an excellent job operating Togiak's Water and Sewer department, but he does much more. Since the beginning of his employment with the City of Togiak Darryl has shown a commitment to the residents of the Village of Togiak, a commitment found in those individuals who genuinely care for the health and well being of Togiak's residents and the environment - the commitment of carrying out work that goes beyond a "job description."
Darryl is continually working to improve Togiak's water and sewer system, and Togiak's solid waste management. In 1999 Darryl helped to secure funding to close and cap the old Togiak dump site landfill, which not only was an environmental hazard, but a health hazard to the residents of the community of Togiak and to marine mammals and other sea life that run through Togiak Bay. The old landfill was located less than 75 feet from the Togiak Bay and approximately half a mile from Togiak: The smell of burning trash would fill the air in the village of Togiak, causing a great health hazard for residents. Thanks to Darryl's unyielding commitment to improving Togiak's solid waste management, residents and much of the environment and wildlife that were negatively affected by the old Togiak landfill were relieved of those negative effects.
In 1999 Darryl also helped to secure funding for a new dump site landfill, which is now located approximately 3.5 miles inland from the coast and is northwest of our village of Togiak. He also helped to secure funding for a burn box to minimize solid waste. Currently the landfill is being operated by the City of Togiak; Although overseeing the landfill is not in Darryl's "job description," he continues to work towards improving Togiak's solid waste management.
Another important factor that should not be overseen is Darryl's commitment to improve Togiak's water and sewer service. In the past Darryl has written several grants to improve and make it possible for every household to obtain water and sewer services; one of which made it possible for low income households to obtain safe drinking water and sewage services. To top it off, Darryl secured funding to expand the village sewage lagoon, which was built in 1976, because it was not large enough to serve the needs of the community. He also secured funding to reposition the public road that ran along side of the lagoon. The new road is no longer too close to the sewage lagoon and he also secured funding for new fencing around the sewage lagoon. Prior to the upgrade, several vehicle accidents occurred because the road was too close to the sewage lagoon causing a great health hazard. Another project that Darryl has secured funding for is an upgrade of Togiak's water & sewer plant and sewer lines, all of which were built in 1976.
Although all of the above work completed is a handful for one man to complete, Darryl has found time in his busy schedule to help out other programs in Togiak. In 2003 Darryl helped to secure grant money to renovate a building, which is now Togiak's very own and first, "Family Resource Center," which is home of Togiak's UAF Bristol Bay Campus, several social service offices, an Early Learning Opportunity Center for kids, and a City of Togiak apartment.
Darryl also helps our Environmental Department and our RAVEN AmeriCorps member with lead acid battery backhauling, which is important for our community of Togiak. Darryl has definitely accomplished so many wonderful things for our community. He is always willing to help the Environmental Program and other programs in Togiak in any way he can, and when we have questions he does all he can to find the answers.
Mr. Darryl Thompson's dedication and hard work in making positive improvements for Togiak can be seen every day in our community. He selflessly contributes his time and energy into making positive improvements. Dedication and compassion for the people and the environment of Togiak has allowed Darryl to achieve all that he has accomplished over the years he has worked as the Water and Sewer Director and as a community member of the village of Togiak.
David Enoch
Environmental Director
Tuntutuliak Traditional Council
Nominated by: Tami Fordham, Alaska Tribal Coordinator, Tribal Trust and Assistance Unit, Office of Ecosystems, Tribal and Public Affairs, U.S. EPA
David is an asset to Tuntutuliak and to the Indian Environmental General Assistance Program in Alaska. David has been both a resource to the agency and to other tribes in the region. Since he has been working with this program (five plus years) he is often called by other environmental coordinators and directors in the region. David is always willing and ready to share information with the environmental network.
David worked with the utility company to change the times of the open burning at the dump to coincide with wind directions so that the smoke would not be directed towards the community. Environmental education is one of Tuntutuliak's priorities and one of the results was that the school children wrote letters to the principal in order to stop burning trash during school hours. The community gathered together in Tuntutuliak and painted about 70 used oil barrels with sayings like "Keep Tuntutuliak Clean" that were then placed at every home.
The most recent of his many accomplishments is the clean up of an old dump site where hazardous materials were leaking into the waters. In addition, David worked with the Elders to gather Traditional Knowledge in order to develop a Traditional Land Use Policy document. From protecting the health of the community, to teaching his EPA Project Officer how to speak Yup'ik, David does it all. The growth of Tuntutuliak’s environmental program over the years can be credited to David’s commitment to his community.