First draft of the Community Project - Kivalina.
Kivalina is located in the Northwest Arctic approximately 80 air miles from the main hub, Kotzebue. Its location sits on a 8 mile barrier reef between the Chukchi Sea and the Kivalina River. Our village is the only whaling community in the Northwest Arctic Borough where people hunt the bowhead whale. The school was established in 1909 and there are approximately 127 students today. The U.S. Post Office was established in 1940, airstrip was built in 1960, and the City was incorporated in 1969. The Native Village is a federally recognized tribe which consists of approximately 97% Alaska Native. The community depends mainly on subsistence, consisting of whale, caribou, bearded seal, and fish. Economically, majority of the residents of Kivalina depend on Public Assistance even tho the largest zinc mine is in its back yard. Kivalina people live in third world conditions, example, no running water, no sewer, and even now, the honey buckets are not in museums yet.
In Kivalina there are water storage tanks, a 700,000 gallon tank and another that holds 500,000 gallons which are filled once a year. Toward the end of the school year the tanks will be closed to the public in order for the school to have running water for the duration of the school year. If there is any water left, than the tanks are opened back up for the public's use. Kivalina averages about 57 inches of snow, at times homes are buried under snow where people have to be dug out from their houses. The health facilities consist of a clinic which is serviced by Maniilaq Association. In case of emergencies, people are flown out of Kivalina and taken to the Maniilaq Health Hospital for treatment. There is no local public safety so the community is highly dependent on their own relatives to handle public safety issues and also dependent on the Alaska State Troopers, providing they are not busy in the other communities.
Erosion on both sides of the beaches are threatening people and their homes. This past year a three million dollar sea wall was built to protect the beach front, but that didn't stop mother nature from doing more damage. At thepresent time, the community is looking to relocate to another site which is more safe and that will provide growth. The present location has no room from expansion. No new houses can be built, so some homes have approximately 17 to 20 occupants.
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3 comments:
This is such a powerful story, and one that really needs telling. You've done an excellent (and eloquent) job of describing a way of life about which most non-Alaskans have very little concept. I hope you can open your blog up to other rural Alaskans, to our legislature, and to people all over the world who will never hear these stories unless you tell them.
I can hardly wait to see some pictures to accompany your future entries.
Thanks, I tried to make corrections on typos, but I can't seem to figure out where to go. Anyways, this is only the first.
Hi Betty,
Good job on your description on Kivalina. Gee, I didn't know some of the drastic situations you all have to live with. Hope the relocation is a success. When will you all find out about the new site? Good writing.
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