CIRI's seasonal groundskeeping program hires several employees each summer to help maintain the CIRI grounds and office buildings. The seasonal employees are responsible for maintaining CIRI owned properties, which this summer included eight buildings.

The goal of the program is to provide CIRI shareholders, descendants, and other Alaska Natives an opportunity to earn extra money during summer breaks while providing a training experience. The seasonal positions begin in early June and continue through mid-September.

The following participated in this summer's groundskeeping program.

Rico Worl
Doyon shareholder Rico Worl, who is of Athabascan and Tlingit descent, graduated from Dimond High School in June and will attend the University of Arizona, in Tucson, beginning this fall. Worl enjoyed his science classes in high school and is looking forward to the science program that is offered at the University of Arizona. He is the son of Doyon shareholder Beverly Demientieff and Sealaska shareholder Rod Worl.

Worl enjoys radio-controlled cars, creating animated cartoons with Flash, online games similar to first person gaming (Counter Strike), his DVD collection, and portable DVD player - which he got for his birthday. Worl, his 10-year-old brother Kyle, and 14-year-old sister Crystal - both of whom live in Fairbanks with their mother - travel to Juneau together once a summer to spend time with family. The three are grandchildren of the well-known Alaska Native leader Rosita Worl. Worl is excited about starting college and is looking forward to meeting people and taking classes. His dad is traveling with him to settle him into college life. Worl said it was "nice to be outside this summer and learned alot about landscaping."

Rico Worl

Kiana Davis

CIRI descendant Kiana Davis, who was born and raised in Anchorage, is the daughter of CIRI shareholder Denise Ault and her husband Douglas. Davis is of Tlingit, Chinese, and Caucasian descent. Her maternal grandmother and grandfather are from Southeast Alaska. Davis' dad, who was head of CIRI's maintenance department several years ago, encouraged her to apply for the summer program. She has found the job interesting and fun working with people. Davis graduated from East High School in May 2002 and plans to attend the University of Alaska Anchorage in the fall to study account-ing or business administration. Her grandparents support her plan to attend college and are gifting her the money to pay for her student housing.

Ahtna descendant Harold Billum was born in Chitina where his family is from. Billum's grandfather, who was Chief John Billum Jr., taught him traditional moose hunting. He be-lieves heritage is one of the most important things to learn in life. It's important to learn from elders when growing up so that traditional knowledge can be passed on to future generations. He thinks that it is important for all to keep culture and heritage strong, no matter what your background is. Billum, who is the eldest of five, is working on earning a GED and establishing a career.

Harold Billum

Thomas Goozmer

CIRI shareholder Thomas Goozmer was born and raised in Tyonek. He moved to Anchorage in 1998 and enjoys his job and the people he works with at CIRI. In the past, Goozmer has landscaped and renovated houses in Tyonek and Anchorage. Goozmer is part of an oil spill response team, in which he participates through NANA. As a team member, he trains on the North Slope to clean land and water oil spills during the winter and summer. Goozmer would like to renovate houses in the future, perhaps through Cook Inlet Housing Authority.

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