In honor of the shoe guy

Just saw this story from AP that a statue in honor of the guy who threw two shoes at Bush has been erected in Baghdad.

Which gives me one more chance to show this video:

The Alaska village "non-emergency" emergency

"I sit on a man’s back choking him and making him carry me. Yet, I assure myself and others that I am sorry for him and wish to lighten his load by all possible means — except by getting off his back."

That quote will become more clear at the bottom of this post.

Just a few of the dozens and dozens of reports, articles, letters and highlights just this year about the certainty that a Rural energy crisis was going to happen. Although it truly is an emergency right now, you might call it the slowest building emergency ever. This was not the result of earthquakes or natural disasters - people saw this coming ten miles away.

From late December, a story in Indian Country Today. The article itself is about the impending energy crisis in Rural Alaska and the people who have spoken out about it, including Begich, Comeau, Murkowski and... oh yeah - the entire Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) convention! The reporter notes that:

The Rural Subcabinet formed by Governor Sarah Palin in response to what many consider a crisis in rural Alaska has reportedly met, but specific information about their activities has been difficult to find.

AND

By late October, the AFN and the mayor’s office had already voiced strong disappointment at the governor’s response to their concerns about the need for culturally vibrant and healthy rural communities. The mayor and AFN both felt that a subcabinet was a less than adequate response to the immediate
crisis.

The mayor's office they are referring to here is (now) Sen. Begich, not the current, acting mayor.

The Anchorage Daily News on AFN wanting a Rural energy emergency declared back in October, as well as an article from last summer, in which Native leaders are urging the state to action on the (already present) energy problems. The solutions offered by the leadership in the summer article were, quite obviously, ignored. I can only hope they don't continue to be. Sen. Murkowski held a hearing in Bethel to discuss the outmigration because of the Rural energy crisis back in August:

"This has reached a critical point to where we will now have decide if we are going to feed our young or keep them warm," said Ron Hoffman president and CEO of the Association of Village Council Presidents Regional Housing Authority.

The Bristol Bay Times reported on these "rural residents" calling for help - they wanted the state to declare an energy emergency back in May:

The state needs to declare an energy disaster in rural Alaska, he wrote.
“Our disaster has been ongoing for at least five years and will continue without drastic intervention from our state.”

The "energy solution" they mention Palin announing in the article was the $1200 Palin pushed for Alaskans - already being called too little, too late for Rural residents when it was first introduced. Of course, we now know how true the detractors were now.

Even USA Today got in on the news, reporting on the oncoming fuel shortage, as barges weren't making it in:

Alaskans in rural areas will spend 40% of their annual income on energy this winter compared with 4% for the average Alaska household, according to a University of Alaska Anchorage study published in May.

I think the disparity in "where the money goes" could sink in for the people talking about how Rural folk wasted all the money. Mudflats had an excellent post on a Rural shopping trip, in the same light.

I think this is the third or fourth time I've put this out there, but the Alaska Natives Commission Report, published back in the '90s, reports on conditions of Alaska Native people, from economy to social and cultural implications, results of the loss of self-reliance and subsistence... and on, and on. It is a HUGE report, but fairly comprehensive, and, most importantly, it presents a multitude of solutions. One little bit from it, talking about Rural economy:

Beyond the limitations of little (or no) infrastructure, high costs, restricted transportation access, and the many other factors that constitute barriers to economic development (as discussed in the introductory section of this Report), if fuel were not readily available, practically any sort of market economy would be prohibited.

The report includes a quote from Leo Tolstoy I find interesting:

What the federal and state governments can do is offer mutual respect and assistance. They must be willing to give control of local issues back to Alaska Natives. They must step aside in many areas so that Alaska Natives can attempt to reconstruct honorable and dignified lives for themselves.

This will not be an easy task. People who have become accustomed to living without power tend to avoid the obligations that accompany it. Likewise, the external forces that take power — even with the best intentions — generally resist giving it back. In that regard, the following words from the works of Leo Tolstoy are appropriate to consider:

"I sit on a man’s back choking him and making him carry me.Yet, I assure myself and others that I am sorry for him and wish to lighten his load by all possible means — except by getting off his back."

Many people - and administrations - have dropped the ball on this. The immediate solutions mean people need aid, but the long-term solutions have more to do with letting people live and build an infrastructure for themselves. Though the problems are many, so are the solutions.

But in light of this past year, in light of the urgent voices in the news, in the villages, in conferences speaking out about the impending crisis, the absolute certainty that fuel shortages, economic crisis and EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING was going to happen, I just want to know one thing:

Why is our governor just finding out about this?

Trying something new...

Little bit nervous... trying out Google AdSense now.

"Ma'am, watch out for the moose!!"

This is what I hear yelled at me as I exited my house the other day. My reaction time was ultra slow - which, come to think of it, was probably a very good thing - before I understood what she was talking about.

I have been the worst example of safety behavior around moose this year, and this just takes the cake.

When I finally registered what the chick was yelling at me (I literally went, "Huh?" back at her) I was staring into the eyes of a moose.

After a moment's pause I smiled at the moose (never bad to be polite) and slowly moved to my car. Fortunately, moosie could care less what I was doing. She was chomping on the shrubbery - the photo was taken from my car (and yes, that is the door I came out of!)

I think this moose I keep seeing around the neighborhood is the same one. My guess is its a young female, maybe her first winter on her own? That is stretching the limits of my moose knowledge, so I'm pretty open to being wrong.


In any case, just one more example of, "Hey America, DON'T DO THIS."

Spotlight on Emmonak

It struck me, listening to the KTUU coverage of Emmonak (video provided by Dennis Zaki, whom YOU helped send to Emmonak!) how showing Nick Tucker's words were:

"It was hidden. Each single household thought they were the only one, so they were ashamed to ask for help publicly."

This, to me, goes to the core of how I think most Native communities deal with it - internalize, be quiet about it, don't bring more shame on yourself than you already have.

It is the shame that has quickly risen to the top of this situation.

Most directly, it was mentioned in a Tundra Drums article about the food donations. Elders criticizing asking for help, and receiving donations. I wondered how long that would take. I have no doubt many in the community feel that shame sharply - it is as embedded in culture and life now as the roots of a tree.

I can only envision things will not go all that peachy for Nick Tucker in the days, and years, to come. Not in his community, I think. What he did in asking was a great leap of bravery. Not only will he be called a "scammer" and "beggar" by the most judgemental on the outside, he will almost certainly face strong criticism from many in his own community. You jut don't ask for help like he did. That's bravery.

Yet, would you like to see what is more disturbing (and, at the same time, hopeful)?

The Tundra Drums posted these letters:

Crisis in Kongiganak.

Crisis in Marshall.

Yeah. That would be MORE villages in Alaska writing letters about similiar plights in their own communities.

The Kongiganak letter talks about the job situation,

I've seen families in our village suffer with food and fuel, similar to what the people of Emmonak are facing. I'm trying to seek help for these people with jobs that are available here but only a handful will get a job.

The Marshall one is both a letter of empathy and encouragement:

Marshall people too have remained silent and endured the hardships and it is certain many other area villages are hurting as you mentioned but have yet to seek help.

Already critics are attacking and dubbing us as beggars, however, many just don't understand life in small rural villages and are quick to judge and condemn.

What is most disturbing of all is that this is not a surprise to anyone! Not anyone in Alaska, anyways. We've been hearing about just how bad it was going to get since last year. Truth be told, we've been hearing about it for a lot longer than that, but it was only on the "It WILL happen this year" level since last year. It was a gaurantee.

Many, many more villages are living in silence. Some are better off, some are worse, but I can only hope that the actions of right now will have far-reaching effects to the many other communities facing such hardships.

I feel a bit of the "hurry up and wait" for Emmonak, and other villages. I have donated, and I will be gathering some food this weekend (though I will also be looking into which of the organzations will be addressing some of the other villages, too) but, for the most part, the ball is a bit in the other court for the moment. Who will act? What will the state do? What will other citizens do? Much of the "next step" depends upon the leadership we will receive, and I am talking about from the state level, Native corporations, village leaders.

A few other bits about Emmonak:

The Tundra Drums did an excellent article on Emmonak, and had a bit more than other media outlets on the impact Alaska bloggers had on the situation. It was Alaska Newspapers (who own Tundra Drums) that first reported Nick Tucker's letter, and Alaska Newspapers that began Village Aid - a food drive. Not to mention they've been covering "what is going to happen" to Rural Alaska since forever. I give them a whole lot of credit for being on top of this from day one.

Celtic Diva informed us that the man on the radio from Emmonak calling it a "scam" was a Palin board appointee. WTF?!?

Progressive Alaska cross-posted a firedoglake diary he did.

Immoral Minority has a fairly disturbing post about just how long it could take to get help to Emmonak.

Day One - Livin' the dream

Now he's really the president. I mean REALLY. He took the oath twice, just to make sure.

I gave up trying to write a post about it. I'm sure many, many words will come later, but I think this inauguration meant something different to everyone. And now the REAL work begins.

I had about a hundred favorite moments, but the one I will remember forever is when Yo Yo Man and Itzhak Perlman performed. Not only was it beautiful, but the exact moment Obama became president was in the middle of their performance. The newscast we were watching announced it... just like that! Magic! Obama closed his eyes to listen to the music, and when he opened them he was president.

When the red man can get ahead, man!

Painting beside, from Indian Country Today: A Native American artist created a work of art entitled "Barack Black Eagle: He Who Helps People Throughout the Land," which was displayed during the inaugural festivities. Obama was given the name by a Crow family who adopted him into the tribe when he visited the Crow Nation in May 2008.

I couldn't sleep - I was too excited. So I'm going to leave off the Obama inauguration post until tomorrow. But amongst all the celebration, it was nice to take note of some of the Native happenings too. I couldn't find any coverage of the American Indian Ball, though.

The Washington Post covered the Native American family that adopted Obama.

RezNet covered the new Sec. of the Interior, Ken Salazar, addressing Native issues. A Juneau Tlingit woman was interviewed:

At the same time, however, she said tough issues remain in Indian Country, including her native Alaska where environmental problems, climate change and an economic downturn have led to skyrocketing unemployment rates of more than 80 percent in some villages, threatening the livelihood of her communities.

"A whole lot of our villages are dying," she said.

RezNet also covered some of the Alaska Native and American Indian performances, including the Yaaw Tei Yi Tlingit dance group from Juneau.


AND


a pre-inaugural summit hosted by the National Congress of American Indians.



Indian Country's coverage focused a bit more on the mentions of Native people in his address (which there were none,) as he gave a "shout-out" to Native people on election night, as well as the Lincoln memorial party the other night, but still, a few nice nuggets of info. Indigenous people around the world can have a bit more hope tonight!



They also picked up on what our household found kinda funny - following a mostly very poignant benediction, Rev. Joseph Lowery ended with:

“Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around. ... when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right. That all those who do justice and love mercy, say amen. Say amen.”

AMEN!

Celtic Diva got some pictures from Patti Higgins (AK Dem chair, who I will be forever grateful to for getting me into see Obama at the Democratic National Convention) of the Alaska float in the parade. The Barrow group looks... very ALASKAN!! 907 represents!!



KTUU also had some coverage of the two Alaska bits of the parade - the Colony marching band and the Barrow group.



The Green Inaugural Ball also had a nice little bit of benefit for Native people in it:

The Green Ball, of course, was billed as carbon neutral. The emissions generated from the electricity used at the event were offset by buying emissions-reduction credits from Native Energy, which supports Native American, farmer-owned, community-based renewable energy projects.