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Seattle Office Offers Social Service Assistance
The Alaska Native Health Resource Advocate program, a joint effort between Southcentral Foundation and CIRI, provides information and referral service to Alaska Natives in the Seattle area. The program has a database of more than 6,400 resources and is linked to a variety of other programs within the Seattle community and the Alaska Native regional offices. These resources assist clients in the areas of health, social, education, legal and other programs and services.
The Alaska Native Health Resource Advocate program acts as an advocate and liaison between clients with agencies such as the Social Security Administration, Job Service, Division of Social and Health Services, King County, the state of Washington, and the Seattle Housing Authority. The Seattle office has served more than 750 Alaska Natives and averages 190 contacts per month for assistance since opening in January 1997.
For more information and referral, contact the Alaska Native Health Resource Advocate's office located with the Seattle Indian Health Board at 611 12th Avenue South in Seattle, Washington, or by calling (206) 324-9360, ext. 2505.
CITC Program Empowers Native Teachers
Cook Inlet Tribal Council's Alaska Native Teachers for Excellence Program has been involved in a joint project with the Rural Educator Pre-paration Partnership Center housed at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The program's goal is to enable Natives in rural Alaska to complete a bachelor's degree in education while remaining in their communities.
During the 1998-99 school year, the program extended their services to Alaska Natives and American Indians in the Anchorage area - a community that is home to half of the Natives in Alaska. In May, two teacher candidates nominated by CITC will receive their teaching certificates.
Pamela Neal, a CIRI descendent, received a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Bob Jones University in 1994. However, Neal was unable to obtain her Alaska teacher certification due to issues with the accreditation of Bob Jones University - a private university in South Carolina. Although Neal has been happy teaching 2nd grade for the past five years at Anchorage Christian School, by completing the program's 9-month teacher certification program her opportunities have broadened and she will be able to teach at a variety of schools within Alaska.
John Kenny is of Chippewa and Blackfeet descent. He obtained a bachelor's degree in public policy and administration in 1991. In 1993, Kenny went back to school to pursue a degree in secondary education. Kenny, like many others who decide on a career change, had to juggle both work and school and his desire to become a teacher was unfolding very slowly. In 1997, Kenny began substitute teaching for the Anchorage School District, and hired by CITC for the 1998-99 school year to teach study skills to Native students at Bartlett High School.
According to Kenny, during the 9-month Rural Educator Preparation Partnership program he was able to complete his educational requirements and learned valuable information about teaching while working in a real classroom. All this occurred with assistance from a UAF mentor and a teacher mentor he selected at Bartlett High School.
CITC is currently recruiting Alaska Natives or American Indians with bachelor's degrees who are interested in a career change to the teaching field. The program is also open to Alaska Native teaching assistants and classroom aides in the Anchorage school area with long-term goals of completing a bachelor's degree in education. If you live in the Anchorage area and would like to learn more about completion of an education degree through the Rural Education Participation Partnership program, contact Sheri Foss at CITC at (907) 265-4219. If you live outside of Anchorage, contact the program directly at (907) 474-5589.
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Rare Yupik Garment Centerpiece of Native Art Auction
Koahnic Broadcast Corporation is preparing for its Fourth Annual Native Art Auction in May to benefit radio station KNBA 90.3 FM and National Native News. Among the bounty of beautiful and unique works of art donated for the auction is the auction centerpiece, a nacarpiaq crafted by well-known Alaskan artist Chuna McIntyre.
The nacarpiaq is a garment used as a drummer's hood for the opening of a ceremony or dance. A literal translation from Yup'ik to English indicates that the nacarpiaq is "the ultimate hat," and McIntyre's nacarpiaq is worthy of the name.
The nacarpiaq has not been seen in use in Alaska since the early 1920s. McIntyre's grandmother remembers seeing nacarpiaqs, and McIntyre fashioned his "ultimate hat" from her descriptions and from examples of nacarpiaqs displayed at the Smithsonian Institute and held in private European collections.
Diverse elements went into the crafting of the nacarpiaq, which is fashioned from furs of wolverine, muskrat, mink, caribou, wolf, and a train of wolf legs. Calfskin and salmon skin are integrated into the design, as are bird feet, and the nacarpiaq is lined in silk. Detailed crystal and bone beading unite these fundamentals into a breathtaking whole, the culmination of McIntyre's work on this unique and important piece.
McIntyre is Central Yup'ik Eskimo from southwestern Alaska. He was born and raised in the tiny village of Eek, on the Bering Sea coast at the mouth of the Kuskokwim River. His work can be seen in museums, galleries, and public spaces throughout Alaska and the continent.
The art auction raises funds to support the nation's first urban, Native public radio station, and the production of National Native News, which airs on 123 radio stations nationwide.
Koahnic Broadcast Corporation's Fourth Annual Native Art Auction will be held May 13, at the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel. For reservations please call 258-8880.
Medicine Dream Contributes to Ernie Turner Center
Cea Nicklie, CIRI shareholder and singer with the contemporary Native American band Medicine Dream, recently announced the band has made a contribution to the Ernie Turner Center to help sponsor the treatment of a client for drug and alcohol addiction.
"When Medicine Dream was first formed, our intention was to put any proceeds towards suicide prevention as well as drug and alcoholism treatment," said Nicklie. With the release of the band's CD "Identity," follow through on the commitment was possible.
Established in 1988, the Ernie Turner Center is a certified and state licensed alcohol and drug program which provides residential and outpatient treatment services. The center is operated by Cook Inlet Tribal Council. Cost effective and covered by a wide range of insurance, some of the beds are subsidized by grants and available on a sliding fee schedule.
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