CIRI NON-PROFIT NEWS:
HEALTH, CULTURE, EDUCATION, SOCIAL PROGRAMS

New Book Fosters Pride and Understanding of Alaska Native History

The CIRI Foundation recently debuted its newest publication, "A Reference in Time, Alaska Native History Day by Day." The book, edited by CIRI Historian Alexandra J. McClanahan, features important events in Native history for each day of the year.

"I'm pleased that we now have a book available to Alaskans to help all of us appreciate the richness and diversity of Alaska Native history," said Susan Anderson, president and chief executive officer of The CIRI Foundation.

The book's introduction is by CIRI President and CEO Carl Marrs and the foreword is written by Stephen Haycox, a University of Alaska Anchorage history professor.

"I view this book as a first step in the very important continuing task of gathering and documenting Alaska Native history. And I view it as a way to foster pride and understanding in the collective past of our many cultures," said Marrs.

The book features historical photographs from an Athabascan family from Ruby, Charles and Florence Knox and their children, for each month of the year. The photographs are generally from the late 1930s and early 1940s and record the family's life in Interior Alaska.

"The chief reason for including photographs of one individual family is that individuals remind us of our values and the tenets taught to us by our elders. The pride that shows on the face of a child whose family ways teach her to thrive in one of the harsher environments on the planet says it all," Marrs said.

Also featured are other historical photos, as well as quotations from well-known Alaska Native leaders. In addition, the book contains four appendices, which list names and addresses of Native corporations, as well as traditional and IRA councils.

"A Reference in Time" retails for $19.95, with proceeds from the sale of the book benefiting The CIRI Foundation. The 351-page book is available at select book stores, or it may be purchased by contacting The CIRI Foundation at (907) 263-5582, toll-free at 1-800-764-3382, or by visiting their web site at www.ciri.com/tcf/.

Cook Inlet Tribal Council Works with CIRI Villages to Fight Alcohol Abuse

Cook Inlet Tribal Council is set to develop contracts with eight villages within the Cook Inlet region to address alcohol abuse and the complex problems arising from the addiction. Approximately $1.87 million was allocated to CITC based upon a special distribution formula from the $15 million federal appropriation that was granted to the statewide Alaska Federation of Natives.

Initially, the formula provided for a base amount of $22,432 for each of the region's eight village tribal councils plus an additional amount based upon a per capita ratio. Through its discussions with tribal council representatives and because the base amount is small and the needs are great, CITC has agreed to negotiate contracts of up to $120,000 per village. Villages include Chickaloon Village Traditional Council, Kenaitze Indian Tribe IRA, Knik Tribal Council, Native Village of Eklutna, Native Village of Salamatof, Native Village of Tyonek, Ninilchik Traditional Council and Seldovia Village Tribe.

In addition to the contracts outlined, another $40,000 will be available to the villages for community forums on wellness issues. This means an additional $5,000 for each of the eight tribal councils will be disbursed by CITC, bringing the amount per village to $125,000 for a total of $1 million.

The remaining $877,691 will be used by CITC for programs outlined in the legislation for the benefit of Alaska Natives and Native Americans who reside within CITC's service area in Anchorage.

Tyonek Youth Opportunity Center Opens

As a part of Cook Inlet Tribal Council's Youth Opportunity Program, the village of Tyonek opened a Youth Opportunity Center in late August. This national network helps communities build education and job-related resources for youth where unemployment is high and job success can be difficult.

CITC administers a Youth Opportunity Program in Tyonek along with programs in 46 other remote villages across the state of Alaska. Tyonek, which is the only village in the Cook Inlet region to qualify for the Youth Opportunity Program, is situated on a bluff on the northwest shore of Cook Inlet, 43 miles southwest of Anchorage. The population is approximately 190 people with a large percentage of its residents between the ages of 14 to 21.

The 1,300 square foot facility was remodeled with the help of 10 dedicated youth and Cook Inlet Housing Authority. The center opened after two and a half months of work and will serve youth between the ages of 14 and 21.

Ilka Paniptchuk works as Tyonek's Youth Opportunity Program coordinator providing technical assistance and training of village-based staff. "I'm extremely proud of the youth in Tyonek that worked so hard to better their community," said Paniptchuk.

Southcentral Foundation Expansion Helps Growing Need for Healthcare

In an effort to meet the growing need for primary healthcare services, Southcentral Foundation is expanding the Anchorage Native Primary Care Center of the Alaska Native Medical Center to more than twice the original size. The first stage of the expansion occurred mid-October, opening ahead of schedule. The rest of the project is scheduled to open in March 2002.

The Alaska Native Medical Center, originally designed based on 1980 U.S. Census Bureau population data, was built to handle fewer than 100,000 outpatient visits a year. The first year it opened the Alaska Native Medical Center received more than 250,000 visits and three years later that number increased to more than 350,000 visits.

As the project nears completion, customers and employees should anticipate some changes in their routines surrounding the use of the facility. From now until March, in order to allow the current Primary Care Center to be remodeled, all of the current Primary Care Center clinics, except for lab and radiology, will be emptied and moved in stages to the newly completed Primary Care Center expansion. During this time, many offices will continue to use existing furniture or equipment until newly ordered furniture and equipment can be delivered.

To date, all departments except lab and radiology have been located in the new spaces of Primary Care Center. Southcentral Foundation asks for customers' patience while these clinics and programs relocate to some of which are not designed for them. These changes are only temporary and will make it possible for Southcentral Foundation to better serve its customers. Customers and employees are encouraged to watch for the signs, which will be posted to explain where services are temporarily located.

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