Village of Solomon Tribal Membership Newsletter (2013)

Village of Solomon Tribal Membership Newsletter

Spring/Summer 2013

Village of Solomon Box 2053 Nome AK 99762 phone (907) 443-4985 facsimile (907) 443-5189

Tr i b a l M e m b e r M o v e s i n t o H o m e

Tribal member Tim Stettinger is a new homeowner. He and his grandson Michael moved

into their 3 bedroom home in late December

here in Nome soon after the Bering Straits Regional Housing authority (BSRHA) completed

its final inspection. The Village of Solomon

was slated one (1) home through BSRHA’s

acquisition program and worked with the Village of Solomon in accepting applications

from qualified tribal members from Solomon.

affordable housing in the Bering Strait region. For

more information on their programs, please visit their

web page at www.bsrha.org or contact their office at

907 443-5256.

BSRHA is a developer of affordable housing

projects including new construction, acquisition and rehabilitation in northwest Alaska,

serving 17 communities. BSRHA also provides weatherization services. Currently, the

housing authority manages over 500 units of

Tim Stettinger stands at the front door of his new home.

Annual Meeting Date Set for September 20, 2013 in

Nome

The tribal council selected Friday, September 20th to have the

annual meeting this year here in Nome at the XYZ Senior Center.

During the annual meeting tribal members will hear reports from

the tribal council and VOS staff. Results of elections will also be

announced.

Dinner will be provided at 5 PM and the meeting will begin at 6

PM.

Teleconference lines will be available to those that wish to attend

telephonically.

Inside this issue:

Elder Representative Steps Down

3

Youth Camp Scheduled

3

Environmental Coordinator Hired

4

Environmental Assessments Tallied

5

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

6

Housing Preservation Program Avail

8

Jobs at VOS

9

Family Tree Information Needed

10

2

SAVE THE DATE!

Village of Solomon’s

Annual Meeting is

Friday

September 20, 2013

at 6 PM in Nome at the

XYZ Senior Center.

Interested in Serving on

t h e Tr i b a l C o u n c i l ?

There are three seats up for election this year. Ballots

will contain a list of qualified candidates for voters to

choose from. Voters will choose three (3) names from

a list of candidates on the ballot. Voters will also be

able to write in one candidate as an alternative to candidates on the ballot. The three candidates receiving

the most votes will be elected.

Official notice will be mailed by July 22, 2013.

Letters of Intent Schedule

(2) Letters of Intent-Sixty (60)-Forty (40)

days Prior to Election:

DON’T FORGET TO

VOTE!

Election day is

Friday

August 23, 2013

Candidates must declare their candidacy in writing

through a Letter of Intent in accordance with Section

IV of the election ordinance. Letters of Intent must be

received by the tribal council no sooner than sixty (60)

days and no later than forty (40) days prior to the election in order for a candidate to have their name included on ballots. Letters of intent must be received

by July 15, 2013.

in Nome at the office

located in the BSNC

building on Front Street.

Hours: 8:30 AM

to

4:30 PM

Contact the office if you

need a ride to vote.

A b s e n t e e Vo t i n g

In addition to voting on Village of Solomon’s election

day, absentee voting is allowed. Absentee ballots will

be mailed to each eligible voter 30 days prior to election day. Tribal members may choose to submit an

absentee ballot prior to election day if they are unable

to vote on election day or attend the annual meeting.

Voters may only vote once.

The Annual Meeting notice with voting instructions

will mailed to every eligible voter (18 years and

older). If you do not receive your notice, please call

the office immediately at 443-4985 so a notice may be

mailed.

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H e l e n L a r s e n S t e p s D o w n a s S o l o m o n ’s E l d e r

Representative

Helen Curran Larsen stepped down

as the elder representative stating she

is staying home to care for her elderly

husband. Helen served her tribe, the

Village of Solomon, in an advisory

capacity as the elder representative,

ensuring that our history, culture and

traditional ways are passed between

our elders and our youth. She is also

very proud of her Native Corporation,

and enjoys attending the annual

shareholders’ meeting every year.

Helen Larsen was chosen as the Solomon Native Corporation’s 2012 Elder

of the Year and recognized during

Bering Straits Native Corporation’s

annual meeting held in October.

Helen and her brother were raised in

Solomon by their grandmother

Maude Moses and father Alfred

Moses Sr. Alfred worked for Lee’s

Mining Camp in Solomon and later

moved the family to Golovin. Helen

attended boarding school in Oregon

and MEHS in Sitka. While attending

college in California she met and

married her first husband, Robert

Curran, Sr., also of Solomon. To-

gether they had 4 children, Elizabeth, Robert Jr., Cynthia and Helen.

Helen served as Secretary of the

Solomon Native Corporation along-

side Robert Sr. in the early 1970’s,

during and after SNC’s incorporation. Her involvement and encouragement has led to each of her children serving on the SNC Board in

various capacities.

After a long courtship, Helen mar-

ried Pete Larsen Jr. in August of

2006. Helen retired after more

than 20 years of employment

with the Norton Sound Health

Corporation as a food service

worker. She has spent many

years camping, fishing and

picking berries around the Solomon area, often referring to her

“salmon berry patch” that she

frequently checks in on. She

enjoys sewing, knitting and crocheting at home and also enjoys

spending time with her 10

grandchildren and 2 great

granddaughters when they come

to visit.

She speaks quietly about her

humble life, but is a very proud

elder from Solomon and loves

to share that history with her

family and friends.

RoseAnn Timbers was appointed as elder representative

until the next tribal elections

scheduled in August.

S o l o m o n Yo u t h S p i r i t C a m p i s A u g u s t 5 - 1 0 , 2 0 1 3

Solomon’s summer youth camp dates have been set for August 5-10, 2013 for Solomon’s youth ages 8 to 18.

Youth under the age of 8 is welcome to attend with parental supervision. Much of the activities will promote

healthy spiritual wellness. Limited airfare is provided to those that live outside of the Nome area. A completed application must be submitted to VOS by the deadline of July 1, 2103 in order to be considered for

airfare, this includes elders that may want to attend. We need volunteers to assist with activities. Contact the

tribal coordinator if you’re interested in volunteering to supervise youth during camp, or driving, cooking

and cleaning.

VOS is not mailing applications to tribal membership this year due to high cost of postage mail outs. To request a camp application, contact the tribal coordinator at 907 443-4985 or send an email to

tc.sol@kawerak.org.

Applications are due July 1, 2013.

4

Environmental Coordinator Hired

Dear Tribal Members of VOS:

Hello my name is Richard Brian Tootkaylok Schulling, I’m the son of the late Russell and Betty Tootkaylok. My grand parents were Pete and Molly

Curran of Solomon. I was born in Anchorage but

grew up in Nome and spent summers in Solomon

with my uncles Joe, Gummick, and Pumpkin Curran.

I moved back to Nome after I graduated from Alaska

Vocational Technical Center in the field of Facility

Maintenance Program in May 2011. I started to work

for Bering Straits Housing Authority in the fall/

winter of 2011/2012 but decided to work for myself

in the remolding business.

When the position of Environmental Coordinator became available I applied for the position because I’m

deeply concerned with the environmental issues that

we have in Solomon. For example when I was growing up an spending summers in Solomon I could

walk down to the river and fish all day long catching

and releasing salmon, nowadays people are lucky to

even see some salmon in the river. I would like to

know what environmental issues are causing this and

Richard sitting in his office at the VOS office.

what the Village of Solomon can do about it. Salmon

enhancement is one of the LEDP village priorities that both the Village of Solomon and Solomon Native Corporation agree to. I am also very committed to the other environmental LEPD goals of waste management and

ensuring our people have easy access to potable water and solid waste disposal.

Not only am I a shareholder in Solomon Native Corporation and a tribal member I’m usually camping down in

Solomon during the Summer/Fall with my family so I do care deeply about our village and want to see us

prosper not only for our Tribe now but generations to come.

I am here in The Village of Solomon office from 8am-5pm

Monday-Friday ph# 907-443-4985 or fax#907-443-5189.

Please feel free to call if you have any questions suggestions

on environmental issues.

Sincerely,

Richard Schulling, Environmental Coordinator

Richard and his girlfriend Nancy and her children.

5

S o l o m o n ’s E n v i r o n m e n t a l As s e s s m e n t s R e s u l t s Ta l l i e d

Topic of Concern:

% Outcome

Ranked:

1. Safe drinking water

2. Salmon enhancement

3. Trash left in/around village

4. Community dump/landfill site

84%

83%

77%

5. Grave site land bank erosion

73%

6. Starting a recycling program for

community center

73%

7. Fuel oil/hazardous waste spills and

soil contamination

71%

8. Annual clean-up program

70%

9. Spring/fall storm damage

68%

10. A environmental planning team

65%

11. Old buildings like the collapsed

covenant church

65%

12. Beach and river bank erosion

61%

13. Construction material left behind by

contractors

60%

14. Indoor/outdoor air pollution (wood

smoke/road dust)

15. Dead animals and fish along river

beds

75%

60%

57%

VOS’s Environmental Coordinator Richard Schulling conducted an environmental assessment in

April. The assessment was designed to obtain tribal

members input to develop the tribe’s village environmental plan. The goal is to make our community

a healthier place to camp and subsist.

All participants were entered into a $75 VISA gift

certificate drawing that will be announced at our

tribal membership gathering here in Nome on May

21, 2013.

These assessments will assist us in reaching our vision and defining our community’s needs. The next

step is to find possible solutions.

If you are interested in volunteering your time on

Solomon’s environmental planning team, please

send an email to tc.sol@kawerak.org.

Village Environmental Planning Steps from the 7 Generations Manual,

Updated 2012 by the AK Native Tribal Health Consortium Community

Environment and Safety

W i n $ 1 0 0 ! ! S o l o m o n ’s

F a m i l y Tr e e C h a r t s N e e d To

Be Filled Out

The Village of Solomon is updating their tribal membership database this year. This includes providing a

family tree which is now a required document to be

filled out and submitted with new tribal enrollment

applications.

The tribal council has offered another chance for winning a cash drawing of $100 dollar gift certificate.

Here’s what you have to do:

1. On page 10 of this newsletter, fill out the family

tree chart. Fill one out for everyone in your family.

2. Mail, fax or scan and email and send to the Village

of Solomon’s office by December 1, 2013.

If you need more copies of the chart, please contact

the office and more copies will be mailed or emailed

to you. For questions, please email the tribal coordinator at tc.sol@kawerak.org or call the office at 4434985 or 1-877-443-4985 for those that live outside of

Nome.

6

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle to Save Energy and Conserve

Resources!

REDUCE

At home, use the garbage disposal sparingly. When

you compost vegetable food waste, you’re conserving

and using less water.

Appliances such as your TV, DVD player, cell phone

charger, etc. consume energy just by being plugged in.

Unplug them when you are not using them.

Use a lunch box or insulated cooler for lunch instead

of a paper or plastic sack.

Copy articles double-sided when possible and request

double-sided printing at copy centers

Save files and e-mails electronically, and don't print

out a hard copy of everything.

Use as much natural light as possible. If you use indoor lights, switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). If you are stepping out of a room for more than

15 minutes, turn off the lights.

Simplify your life as much as possible. Keep only those belongings that you use and enjoy on a regular basis.

Think before you buy - do you really need it? Try the seven-day rule: wait a week after you make a decision to

buy something to eliminate impulse buying.

REUSE

Turn trash into crafts. Use popsicle sticks, newspapers, used office paper, and other reused materials for craft

projects.

Use and reuse sponges and dishcloths instead of paper towels (you can sanitize sponges in the microwave or

dishwasher).

Reuse boxes, bubble wrap, and packing "peanuts" for shipping things.

Use cardboard boxes or cloth bags instead of plastic shopping bags.

If you use plastic shopping bags, reuse them, then recycle them.

Use reusable products whenever possible: food and beverage containers and shopping bags, for example.

Donate your old clothing to charity.

Buy recycled products (paper, for example).

When you replace your cell phone, pass it on to new users.

7

RECYCLE

Rather than throwing away unused clothing and items that are in good shape, consider donating them to your local

church, Goodwill, or other charity.

If your school doesn't have a recycling program, bring home items that you can recycle at home, such as cans,

plastic bottles, cardboard, etc.

Encourage your family and friends to recycle…at home and away from home.

Use rechargeable batteries or recycle your used batteries.

Recycle your computer equipment, including your printer’s ink cartridges.

Reducing and Reusing Basics

The most effective way to reduce waste is to not create it in the first place. Making a new product requires a lot of

materials and energy: raw materials must be extracted from the earth, and the product must be fabricated and then

transported to wherever it will be sold. As a result, reduction and reuse are the most effective ways you can save

natural resources, protect the environment, and save money.

Benefits of Reducing and Reusing:

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Prevents pollution caused by reducing the need to harvest new raw materials;

Saves energy;

Reduces greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change;

Helps sustain the environment for future generations;

Saves money;

Reduces the amount of waste that will need to be recycled or sent to landfills and incinerators;

Allows products to be used to their fullest extent.

Recycling is the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and

turning them into new products. Recycling can benefit your community and the environment.

Ben efi t s of R ec yc l i ng



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Reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators;

Conserves natural resources such as timber, water, and minerals;

Prevents pollution caused by reducing the need to collect new raw materials;

Saves energy;

Reduces greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change;

Helps sustain the environment for future generations;

Helps create new well-paying jobs in the recycling and manufacturing industries in the United States.

Recycling includes the three steps below, which create a continuous loop, represented by

the familiar recycling symbol.

Step 1: Collection and Processing

Step 2: Manufacturing

Step 3. Purchasing New Products Made From Recycled Materials

For more information visit http://www2.epa.gov/recycle/recycling-basics

8

VOS Office Recycles & Reuses

Village of Solomon’s office started recycling its paper products

and aluminum cans by separating using the pictured recycling

bins.

A simple solution for keeping batteries

from polluting the landfill is to reuse the

plastic coffee cans, such as pictured below.

Copier paper is used as scratch paper and sometimes reused for the

fax machine. Once both sides of paper is used, it is tossed into the

recycle bin for paper products.

For the most up to date storage and collection information contact Total Reclaim in Anchorage or visit http://

www.totalreclaim.com/alaska.html

President Kirsten Timbers

also started recycling at

home using the same bins

for paper and aluminum

products.

The office has a few bins to

provide to any tribal members who wish to recycle.

Contact the environmental

coordinator at 4443-4985 if

interested.

B S R H A’s H o u s i n g P r e s e r v a t i o n P r o g r a m Av a i l a b l e

The Housing Preservation Program provides a loan to fund services to repair or renovate housing owned by low income qualified families having substandard

housing or housing and have no

other source of funding the work.

The program is set up as a loan to

be repaid over a five (5) year period, however if the family continues to occupy the housing there

is a forgiveness of the payment

based on 20% for each year the

family occupies the home. Should

the family move from the property prior to the end of the fiveyear period, the Housing Author-

ity may require the family to pay

any unpaid outstanding balance.

The maximum loan award will be

up $5,000.00 to $25,000.00 for

materials, shipping, and labor.

Labor must be paid at the Davisbacon wage scale. For small purchases of $5,000 or less, the grant

will have no repayment provisions as long as it is for materials

and freight.

Important Exceptions: Priority is

given to Tribal Members of Solomon, King Island, Council and

Marys Igloo who reside in the

Bering Straits Region and are eligible to apply no matter where

they live in the state.

To apply for this program, a person may use one of the following

as an application for this program:

a BSRHA Housing Preservation

Application, a HIP application for

Kawerak Inc., a Weatherization

Program from RuralCap, or the

USDA Rural Housing Services

application for their preservation

grant program. The application

must be completed, signed, dated

and sent to BSRHA. For more

information please contact

BSRHA administrative office at

443-5256.

9

Tr i b a l M e m b e r s h i p S u r v e y R e s u l t s

Congratulations Wilma Amaktoolik for completing the survey which entered her

name into a drawing for a $75 Amazon gift card . “Preserving Solomon’s History & Culture” tribal membership survey results: 43 of 127 completed the survey. That’s 33% of the tribe that entered the drawing. 54.38% of the members

who filled out the survey lack knowledge in the history of Solomon.

Are you under the age of 18?

35% Yes

65% No

Do you know what our traditional language is?

7% Yes

33% No

Out of the 67% that answered yes, only 14% knew how to speak it with 86% not knowing.

Do you know what our Community Center used to be before the renovations started in 2003?

37% Yes

Do you feel like Solomon is a part of your cultural identity?

88% Yes

Do you know any traditional Solomon values?

40% Yes

Do you know what year the Village of Solomon was federally recognized as a tribal entity?

16% Yes

Do you know at least three Solomon elders alive today?

37% Yes

Have you ever heard an elder tell a story about the way of life in the past?

77% Yes

Would you like to learn more about the history and culture of your tribe?

96% Yes

63% No

12% No

60% No

84% No

63% No

23% No

4% No

The Village of Solomon seeks to develop projects and activities which the tribe can use to enhance its local

economy while building on our identified cultural values, strengths and heritage which will be discussed more

at the annual meeting scheduled September 20, 2013 here in Nome.

I C WA S e r v i c e s Av a i l a b l e

What is Indian Child Welfare Act? (ICWA):

ICWA was passed in 1978 in response to the high

number of Native children who were removed from

their families and tribes by non-tribal public and private agencies, and placed in non-Native foster homes

or made available for non-Native adoption.

How does ICWA work? The main goal of ICWA is

the protection of Native children. ICWA applies when

a state court determines that a Native child is involved

in a proceeding. This includes child custody proceedings, foster care placement, termination of parental

rights, pre-adoptive and adoptive placements. A tribal

court or tribe may properly exercise their rights in any

and all of these types of proceedings. For ICWA services, please contact the VOS office at 443-4985 or

email to tc.sol@kawerak.org.

Job Opportunities At VOS

Upcoming jobs available this summer is a carpenter, maintenance and laborer workers to open and

close the Solomon Community Center.

During youth camp, a camp coordinator will also

be hired.

Contact the VOS office at 443-4985 for more details or send an email to tc.sol@kawerak.org.

MAIL TO VOS BOX 2053 NOME AK 99762 OR FAX TO 443-5189 OR SCAN AND EMAIL TO

TC.SOL@KAWERAK.ORG

------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------

ENTER A DRAWING TO WIN A $100 VISA CARD GIFT CERTIFICATE BY FILLING OUT YOUR

FAMILY TREE INFORMATION BELOW AND RETURN TO THE OFFICE BY DECEMBER 1, 2013.

10

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S o l o m o n ’s Yo u t h a n d E l d e r s At t e n d C o n f e r e n c e a n d

S o l o m o n Tr i b a l G a t h e r i n g i n A n c h o r a g e

Wilma Amaktoolik and Andy Piscoya watch Francis

Wright demonstrate using a ptarmigan snare during the

elders and youth conference in Anchorage October, 2012.

Francis Wright Celebrated

95th Birthday

W e l c o m e N e w Tr i b a l

Members

The community of Nome was invited to join the family of Francis Wright to celebrate her birthday at the

Old St. Joe’s community hall with coffee and cake on

March 9, 2013 in Nome.

Sarah Huntsman, granddaughter of Walter Kalerak

Cheryl Komakhuk, granddaughter of Francis Wright

Sophia Piscoya, daughter of Cameron Piscoya

(pictured above)

Village of Solomon

Box 2053

Nome, Alaska 99762

Dinner R

& Door Prizes!

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Meet our Environmental Coordinator and

hear an

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1

1,

update on our IGAP program.

TO

20

13 if you

Please call the tribal coordinator at 443-4985

The Village of Solomon is hosting a tribal gathering

in Nome on Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at the XYZ Center

from 5-6:30 PM.

need a ride.