Progress 07/15/05 to 07/14/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Workshops on mining and community values were offered in six Native Alaska villages on the lower Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers by a mining consultant. Two one hour call in shows on mining aired on a regional radio station. An Alaska specific trails construction and maintenance manual was developed. Workshops were taught to trails crew leaders to evaluate the manual. Three multi-agency community meetings were held in Copper River valley to increase awareness of wildfire safety. Wildfire safety poster contests were held in three middle schools for two years with 7th and 8th grade students. The Copper River School District submitted two proposals to the state to convert school heating systems from expensive heating fuel to woody biomass harvested from dead trees and wood waste. A local small business task force was formed to assist small sawmills resolve timber supply and marketing issues. The community of Naukiti held public meetings, submitted papers to the State of Alaska for incorporation and voted on the matter. A dozen Native Alaska village youth at risk were employed on the Kuskokwim Native Association Farm in Aniak to grow vegetables distributed to Elders and harvested by local elementary students. Project supervisors traveled to neighboring villages to roto-till community garden plots and assist in planting community and Elders gardens. In-service training for Alaska Native village high school science teachers was held in Fairbanks in conjunction with agencies. Follow up contacts were provided by a quarterly newsletter, individually by telephone and internet. Youth from the Copper River School District participated in career day opportunities in mining and the petroleum industry. Young adults from Kuskokwim River communities participated in a trails construction and maintenance training. Kenai Borough 4-H youth demonstrated healthy eating and healthy lifestyle habits; Native youth from single parent homes learned firearm safety, field dressing and processing of wild game and traditional hunting; youth developed marketing skills in real world small business production and marketing. An economic analysis of guided sports fishing in the middle Kuskokwim River drainage was completed and the results distributed to local media. An economic analysis of the impacts of mining on neighboring Native American communities was initiated. Residents of middle Kuskokwim River communities of Upper and Lower Kalskag participated in a solid waste stream inventory that identified the composition of solid waste generated in their communities as part of determining options for future solid waste disposal. Aerial images of Copper River communities and residences at risk to wildfire were compiled from public access sources and made available at public meetings. Editorial and media support was provided to grant supported staff and partners to enhance dissemination of grant supported information. Support was provided for the Prince of Wales 4-H Youth First Responder (Emergency Medical Services) Project. A summer college intern completed studies on the impact of European contact and the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act on Native Alaskans in Sitka, Alaska. PARTICIPANTS: Robert Gorman, P.I. and Professor (409 hours/$22458) developed projects, provided staff support and project oversight. Nancy Veal, 4-H Agent and Instructor (1360 hours/$41189), coordinated 4-H/Youth Development Extension projects for the Kenai Peninsula. Meg Burgett, 4H Natural Resource Program Assistant (1383 hours/$51706), assisted with rural youth development workforce training, village high school science enhancement and youth gardening projects. Mark Dudick, Editorial Assistant (1491 hours/$53483), assisted planning and reviewing documents developed from this award and wrote the 2006 update. Lee Elder, Research Professional III (1480 hours/$54737) conducted economic analysis projects, assisted in the Extension Wood Heating website and assisted with award oversight. Daniel Lung, graduate student (1289 hours/$19771) compiled data and wrote the Kalskag Solid Waste inventory report. Karen Petersen, Prince of Wales Program Assistant (1399 hours/$51284) supported forest product small businesses, wood energy, tourism development and community infrastructure development projects. Heidi Veach, Copper River Valley Forestry Program Assistant (2054 hours/$79044) supported community wildfire awareness efforts, wood energy and delivery of other Extension programs. Benjamin Bruner, graduate student (240 hours/$3595), worked on mushroom research and outreach in southeast Alaska. Chaundell Piburn (419 hours/$6917) supported the POW 4-H Youth First Responders. Priya Patpatia (200 hours/$2460) was a summer college intern in Sitka. Partner Organizations included Kuskokwim Native Association (Diana Lehman), Southeast Alaska Guidance Association, Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry, United States National Park Service Alaska Region, Lake Clark National Park, United States Bureau of Land Management, Copper Valley School District, United States Forest Service Tongass National Forest, Yukon River Drainage Fishermen's Association, United States Fish & Wildlife Service Alaska Region, Delta Mine Training Center, Alaska Miners Association. Karen Petersen participated in a western region forest resources technical providers conference in Denver, CO which lead to her work with the City of Craig woody biomass project. Lee Eler participated in a training using IMPLAN economic analysis modeling that he used with the Kuskokwim Sportsfishing economic analysis. TARGET AUDIENCES: This award targeted rural residents, many of whom are Alaska Natives, of four regions of Alaska. The Copper River valley is a sparsely populated portion of east-central Alaska. The Native Alaska populations in this region are Ahetna (Athabascan) people. Mineral wealth in this region lead to extensive large scale mining operations that adversely impacted the Ahetna subsistence resources and the physical environment. In recent times the Spruce Bark Beetle infestation in the Kenai Peninsula and Anchorage area moved into the Copper River valley creating thousands of acres of dead or drying spruce trees. Ahetna have been active in many important Native rights milestones. Much of their land has been adversely impacted by the spruce bark beetle. Employment opportunities are limited in this region. Projects in this region included wildfire safety and prevention, youth safety and workforce development, rural community development. The Kenai Peninsula lies southwest of the Copper River valley and south of Anchorage. The projects on the Kenai focused on 4-H / youth development. The Kenai Peninsula is predominantly rural and non Native but there is a significant Native Alaskan population (Athabascan and Aleut/Alutiiq). Projects in this area included youth health, wellness and safety (including ATV rider safety), youth entrepreneurship, and participation in traditional moose hunting for Native Alaska boys from single parent homes. Western Alaska is the home of the Yupik - Cupik People. Native Alaskans are the predominant population in this far flung region that has limited transportation infrastructure. Conditions in this region are similar to those found in Third World countries. Projects here included youth workforce development training, local food gardening, economic impact analysis of sports fishing, village solid waste management planning, and village high school science teacher in-service training, resolving conflicts on mining development and community values. Southern southeast Alaska is home to the Tlinglit and Haida Alaska Natives who make up 22% of the overall population. Projects in this region focused on Prince of Wales island where large scale timber harvest was based until the mid- 1990s. Employment opportunities are limited in this area and many residents are involved in entrepreneurial endeavors. Projects in this area included technical support for forest based small businesses, wood heating systems for local schools, community incorporation and youth development through emergency medical services training and community service. Projects funded by this award directed a wide variety of resources to Alaska Natives and youth in the regions served. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: There were no major changes.
Impacts
Participants (>150) of six Native Alaska village workshops increased their awareness of modern mine permitting how they can protect important cultural and natural resources through permitting process; listeners (>1200) of 2 radio call-in shows increased knowledge of modern mining. Participants (75) of 5 workshops on public trails design and construction reviewed / evaluated the new trails construction manual. Public agencies and private citizens in the Copper River demonstrated increased awareness of the hazard of wildfires to their community; middle school students submitted entries to the annual wildfire awareness poster demonstrating increased awareness of protecting people, structures and developments from wildfires; local school officials and forest managers collaborated on using dead trees for wood energy in schools and assisted 2 schools in successful proposals to convert school heating to woody biomass. Craig Public Swimming Pool and Middle School were assisted with conversion of facility heating from fuel oil to modern wood heating using local wood waste; citizens of Naukiti participated in public deliberation through the local government incorporation process; wood products small business owners (11) collaborated in identifying factors negatively impacting their profitability. At-Risk Alaska Native youth (12) from the Village of Aniak increased awareness of inputs needed for successful vegetable crop production and developed basic workforce readiness skills. High school science teachers (10) demonstrated increased awareness of using the lifecycle of salmon to engage Native Alaska high school students in math and science. Alaska Native young adults (3) developed skills in trails construction and maintenance; Copper River School District high school students (5) participated in on site career training in mining and petroleum. Alaska Native Youth (70) demonstrated healthy eating and healthy lifestyle habits; Native boys (9) from single parent homes learned firearm safety, field dressing and processing of wild game and traditional hunting; youth (100) developed marketing skills in real world small business production and marketing. Participants (365) of the sports-fishing survey increased awareness of Kuskokwim River sports-fishing economic value to the local economy; users of the Extension www.alaskawoodheating.com compared the costs of locally harvested wood versus imported fuel for home heating. Residents of the villages of Upper and Lower Kalskag became aware of the composition of solid waste generated in their communities as part of determining options for solid waste disposal; residents of the Copper River viewed GIS mapped resources to increase awareness of wildfire threats to their homes and communities. Readers of the 2006 Rural Development magazine increased awareness of a variety of methods for improving the quality of life in remote, rural communities. 4-H youth (9) from Craig and Klawock completed training to become First Responders as part of the Prince of Wales 4-H Youth First Responders Project; A summer college intern completed two papers to increase awareness of impacts of western contact on local Alaska Natives.
Publications
- ABSTRACTS Elder, Lee and Andy Seidel. 2006. Sportfishings Economic Contributions to the Bethel Census Area. Proceedings of Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim Sustainable Salmon Initiative Conference 2006.
- Elder, Lee and Robert Gorman. 2006. Alaska Native Plant Commercial Demand Survey. HortScience 44(4): 1060.
- Gorman, Robert and Julie Roller. 2006. Plant Propagation Protocol for Gardeners of Ten Species Native to Southeast Alaska. HortScience 44(4): 1060.
- WEBSITES Elder, Lee and A. Seidl, B. Gorman. 2006. Sports Fishings Economic Impact on the Bethel Census Area. www.uaf.edu/ces/ruraldevelopment/
- Lung, Daniel E. 2007. Kalskag Solid Waste Characterization Study Report. www.uaf.edu/ces/ruraldevelopment/
- Rural Development Program. 2007.CES Wood Energy. University of Alaska Fairbanks- Cooperative Extension Service. www.alaskawoodheating.com.
- Dudick, Mark (ed). 2006. Rural Development Projects: Serving People and Communities in the lower Yukon - Kuskokwim rivers - the Copper River valley - and southeast Alaska. www.uaf.edu/ces/ruraldevelopment/
- NEWSLETTERS Burgett, M., Stortz, P., Reynolds, B. 4H Science News Updates. 2004-2005.Quarterly. Provides information and resources to teachers in rural Alaska on relevant natural resource issues, classroom activities and assistance with classroom salmon incubation projects.
- OTHER Petersen, Karen and J. Bruns. 2006. Alternative Energy for Southeast Alaska. Alaska Business Monthly: 22(10) p.28.
- Petersen, Karen and J. Bruns. 2005. New forest products from Southeast Alaska. Alaska Business Monthly: 21(8) p.70.
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Progress 07/15/06 to 07/14/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: This award includes 12 components: #1 Hosted "Mining & Community Values" workshops in six Alaska Native villages and presented two one-hour radio call-in shows aired on the regional public radio station; #2 Partnered with Southeast Alaska Guidance Association of Juneau, National Park Service Alaska Region and Alaska Trails Inc. to develop and print a manual for sustainable trails construction and care, also conducted five workshops using the training manual for public trails managers, crew leaders and advocates; #3 Held a community wildfire planning meeting in Glennallen, three Copper River valley middle schools participated in a Fire-wise poster contest; #4 Assisted the city of Craig to plan and construct a wood-fired heating system for the city's swimming pool and middle school, helped 11 small wood products businesses to secure raw materials, marketing and technology and connect with Forest Service researchers, helped Naukiti residents to propose incorporation as a second
class city, planned the annual Prince of Wales Island Forest Products Exposition in Craig April; #5 The Kuskokwim Native Association employed two young adults to oversee vegetable production at its farm, these employees boated to two nearby villages and set up community garden plots, also elementary students harvested potatoes and distributed them to local Native elders; #6 USFWS, YRDFA and Alaska Sea Grant helped 10 educators attend a Bethel teacher in-service workshop in Sept. 2005, also maintained an electronic list-serve for rural educators and regularly responded to inquires; #7 No action; #8 4-H teens from Ninilchik learned leadership skills while teaching an after school program, Brain Busters, to 18 K-2 students, Kenai Peninsula 4-H, Safari Club and Alaska Department of Fish and Game sponsored a cultural moose hunt for five Alternative High School students and three 4-H'ers, also Kenai 4-H offered hands-on business ownership training to 66 members; #9 Analyzed sports fishing's
economic contribution and completed a firewood market analysis for Bethel, initiated a firewood enterprise analysis in the mid-Kuskokwim River area, surveyed the economic impact of Alaska State Parks on Prince William Sound communities and completed the home heating cost calculator for the wood-heating Web site; #10 Inventoried solid waste for the Upper Kalskag Traditional Council in anticipation of local mining development; #11 Wrote, edited, designed, printed and distributed a 28-page color Rural Development Projects magazine, edited and published journals, articles, press releases and annual reports, set up two Bethel public radio call-in shows on mining and community values, also coordinated re-design of two grant Web sites. #12 A UAF student researched mushrooms in southeast Alaska.
PARTICIPANTS: INDIVIDUALS Robert Gorman, P.I. and Professor (396 hours), identified stakeholder needs, developed projects, provided staff support and project oversight. Nancy Veal, 4-H Agent and Instructor (1360 hours), coordinated 4-H/Youth Development Extension projects for the Kenai Peninsula. Meg Burgett, 4H Natural Resource Program Assistant(1271 hours), assisted with rural youth development workforce training, village high school science enhancement and youth gardening projects. Mark Dudick,Editorial Assistant (1063 hours), assisted planning and reviewing documents developed from this award and wrote the 2006 update. Lee Elder, Research Professional III (1400 hours) conducted economic analysis projects , assisted in the Extension Wood Heating website and assisted with award oversight. Daniel Lung, graduate student (396 hours) compiled data and wrote the Kalskag Solid Waste inventory report. Karen Petersen, Prince of Wales Program Assistant (1253 hours) supported forest product
small businesses, wood energy, tourism development and community infrastructure development projects. Heidi Veach, Copper River Valley Forestry Program Assistant (2054 Hours) supported community wildfire awareness efforts, wood energy and delivery of other Extension programs. Luke Bruner, graduate student (240 hours), worked on mushroom research and outreach in southeast Alaska. Partner organizations, collaborators, and contacts are listed in order of the 12 projects supported by this award. Association of Village Council Presidents, Kuskokwim Native Association, Alaska Miners Association, Calista Corp., KYUK-Bethel public radio, Alaska Trails Inc., National Park Service Trails & Conservation, Southeast Alaska guidance Association, Alaska Department of Natural Resources - Division of Forestry, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Ahetna Corp., U.S.D.A. Natural Resources & Conservation Service, USDA Forest Service Tongass National Forest and Forest Science Laboratory - PNW, City of Craig,
City of Thorne Bay, Lake Clark NAtional Park,
Impacts
Outcomes are listed for the 12 projects funded by this award. #1 Participants of six Native Alaska village workshops increased their awareness of how to be involved in mine permitting to protect important cultural and natural resources; listeners of two radio call-in shows increased knowledge of modern mining. #2 Participants of five workshops on public trails design and construction reviewed and evaluated the new trails construction manual and became familiar with this new instructional resource. #3Public agencies and private citizens demonstrated increased awareness of the hazard of wildfires to their community; school children created posters and demonstrated increased awareness of protecting people, structures and developments from wildfires; local school officials and forest managers collaborated on using dead trees for wood energy in schools. #4 Residents of Prince of Wales Island and other Alaskans increased awareness of the benefits of wood energy projects for
rural public facilities; citizens of Naukiti became involved in public deliberation through the local government incorporation process; 11 wood products small business owners collaborated in identifying factors impacting their profitability; Forest Service researchers connected with local businessmen to disseminate research information and to learn of research needs. #5 Residents increased awareness of inputs needed for successful vegetable crop production. #6 Ten high school science teachers demonstrated increased awareness of using the lifecycle of salmon to engage Native Alaska high school students in math and science. #7 No action on this project. #8 Youth demonstrated healthy eating and healthy lifestyle habits; Native youth from single parent homes learned firearm safety, field dressing and processing of wild game and traditional hunting; youth developed marketing skills in real world small business production and marketing. #9 Participants of the sports-fishing survey increased
awareness of sports-fishing's economic value to the local economy; users of the Extension wood heating web site compared the costs of locally harvested wood versus imported fuel for home heating. #10 Residents of the village of Upper Kalskag and Lower Kalskag became aware of the composition of solid waste generated in their communities as part of determining options for solid waste disposal. #11 Readers of the 2006 Rural Development magazine increased awareness of a variety of methods for improving the quality of life in remote, rural communities. #12 Some residents of southeast Alaska increased awareness in identification and handling of local mushrooms for food.
Publications
- ABSTRACTS Elder, Lee and Robert Gorman. 2006. Alaska Native Plant Commercial Demand Survey. HortScience 44(4): 1060.
- Gorman, Robert and Julie Roller. 2006. Plant Propagation Protocol for Gardeners of Ten Species Native to Southeast Alaska. HortScience 44(4): 1060.
- WEBSITES Rural Development Program. 2007.CES Wood Energy. University of Alaska Fairbanks-Cooperative Extension Service. www.alaskawoodheating.com.
- NEWSLETTERS Burgett, M., Stortz, P., Reynolds, B. 2007. 4H Science News Updates. Quarterly. Provides information and resources to teachers in rural Alaska on relevant natural resource issues, classroom activities and assistance with classroom salmon incubation projects.
- Burgett, A.S., 2005, "Salmon Incubation Project: Another Year's End", 4H Science Updates Vol. 12, No. 1 April 2005 (pg. 2)
- Burgett, A.S., 2005, "Professional Development through Regional Training - 2006 Teacher In-Service", 4H Science Updates Vol. 12, No. 2 November 2005 (pg. 2)
- Burgett, A.S., 2005, "4H in Rural Alaska - Natural Resource and Youth Development Program", 4H Science Updates Vol. 12, No. 3 December 2005 (pg.2)
- Burgett, A.S., Devaney, L., 2005, "Nutrients from the Sea - A Classroom Activity", 4H Science Updates Vol. 12, No. 3 December 2005 (pg. 6)
- POSTER PRESENTATIONS Elder, Lee.2007. Sportfishing's Economic Contributions to the Bethel Census Area.at Sustainability of the Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim Salmon Fisheries. February 6-9, 2007. Anchorage.
- REPORTS Lung, Daniel. 2007. Kalskag Solid Waste Characterization Study Report. Cooperative Extension Service, University of Alaska Fairbanks: Fairbanks.
- Alaska Trails. April 2007. Sustainable Trails for Alaska: An Introduction to Crew Leadership. Alaska Trails: Anchorage.
- POPULAR MEDIA Karen Petersen, John Bruns.2006. Alternative Energy for Southeast Alaska. Alaska Business Monthly. Anchorage: Oct 01, 2006. Vol. 22, Iss. 10; pg. 28.
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