Alaska: Poldine Carlo Receives the 2015 Shirley Demientieff Award - Governor Bill Walker and Lieutenant Governor Byron Mallott presented the 2015 Shirley Demientieff Award to Poldine Carlo of Fairbanks last Thursday. They made the announcement at the annual Alaska Federation of Natives Convention in Anchorage. Governor Walker and Lt. Governor Mallott were joined by First Lady Donna Walker and Mrs. Toni Mallott to present the award.

“It is such an honor to present this year’s Shirley Demientieff Award to Poldine Carlo,” said Governor Walker.. “For decades, Poldine has spent countless hours mentoring and sharing her culture with younger generations. She is heavily involved in issues important to her community, and she has blessed the lives of so many Alaskans.”

Born in Nulato in 1920, Poldine Carlo was raised by her grandparents, Joseph and Anna Stickman. Throughout her life, she has been a true Koyukon Athabascan culture bearer, passing on the language and native values that are deeply important to her. In 1978, Poldine wrote “Nulato: An Indian Life on the Yukon”, which tells the story of her life as a young Athabaskan woman growing up in the 1920’s and 1930’s. Poldine is the proud mother of eight children and many grandchildren, and at the age of 94, attends every board meeting for the Fairbanks Native Association, Doyon Limited, and Denakkanaaga. - More...
Sunday PM - October 18, 2015

Alaska: Walker-Mallott Administration Establishes Tribal Advisory Council - Governor Bill Walker signed an administrative order last week at the 4th Annual AFN-NCAI Tribal Conference to establish a Governor’s Tribal Advisory Council (GTAC) to improve the relationship between the state and the 229 federally recognized tribes in Alaska. Governor Walker first announced the creation of GTAC during a three-day visit in August with tribes in Akiachak, Tuluksak, Chalkyitsik and Haines.

“It was invaluable to hear directly from tribal leaders and village residents about their concerns and hopes,” Governor Walker said. “Tribes are struggling to hold on to their centuries-old way of life—on land where their ancestors have lived for thousands of years. They want to maintain and preserve that connection for their children and grandchildren. But the high cost of energy and lack of infrastructure in some cases are preventing them from thriving.”

Governor Walker said he hopes to form a partnership with GTAC to improve the lives of tribal members.

GTAC will be comprised of 11 council representatives, who represent Alaska’s federally recognized tribes’ interests in education, health care, subsistence, energy, public safety, justice, wildlife and fisheries, economic development, housing, language and culture, and transportation. The elected tribal leaders will be nominated by tribes and appointed by the governor. - More...
Sunday PM - October 18, 2015

Alaska - Nationwide: Excessive alcohol use continues to be drain on American economy - Excessive alcohol use continues to be a drain on the American economy, according to a study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Excessive drinking cost the U.S. $249 billion in 2010, or $2.05 per drink, a significant increase from $223.5 billion, or $1.90 per drink, in 2006. Most of these costs were due to reduced workplace productivity, crime, and the cost of treating people for health problems caused by excessive drinking.

In Alaska the total cost of excessive drinking in 2010 was $827 million, at a cost of $2.25 per drink ($2.05 is the national average). Binge drinking was reported to be 77% of the cost in Alaska at $637 million.

Binge drinking nationwide, defined as drinking five or more drinks on one occasion for men or four or more drinks on one occasion for women, was responsible for most of these costs (77 percent). Two of every 5 dollars of costs -- over $100 billion -- were paid by governments.

“The increase in the costs of excessive drinking from 2006 to 2010 is concerning, particularly given the severe economic recession that occurred during these years,” said Robert Brewer, M.D., M.S.P.H., head of CDC’s Alcohol Program and one of the study’s authors. “Effective prevention strategies can reduce excessive drinking and related costs in states and communities, but they are under used.”

Excessive alcohol consumption is responsible for an average of 88,000 deaths nationwide each year, including 1 in 10 deaths among working-age Americans ages 20-64. - More...
Sunday PM - October 18, 2015

Columns - Commentary

JEFF LUND: Why I'd make a terrible Martian - So I’m reading The Martian and can’t decide how many sols I’d make it. I don’t even bother wondering if I’d survive long enough be rescued, just how many days I’d last.

Chances are I wouldn’t make it any sols because if I were one of mankind’s elite in the areas of engineering, botany, the medical field or navigation, we’d be in serious trouble. If I represented the epitome of anything, earth would be doomed.

All that aside, if we were to pretend that for some reason I was invited to NASA for astronaut tryouts…no. No way. I wouldn’t even be there. One of my quotes to live by is, “If you’re not ninja trained, you shouldn’t attempt ninja things.”

That applies to everything from cooking to space travel.

But okay, for the sake of this column, let’s pretend I somehow got on NASA’s radar and made the travel team. The anticipation of the launch alone would do me in. I can’t sit in the same place for long. That’s why I’m horrible in a kayak. That, and I’m the dude who rolls trying to get in. If I do get seated and out into the water, I get all tight and stiff. I feel like I’m going to flip and my legs feel like they’re going to pass out if I don’t move, stretch or otherwise relieve them from inactivity. Goodbye to all enjoyment. - More....
Sunday PM - October 18, 2015

DANNY TYREE: Everyone Should Help With Teen Read Week - True, my son Gideon is technically a PRE-teen, but he is such a voracious reader with such a large vocabulary that I feel I have a personal stake in promoting Teen Read Week (October 18-24).

Teen Read Week is an annual celebration of reading coordinated by the Young Adult Library Association. It spotlights the myriad resources and activities available to help teens build literacy skills while reading for the fun of it.

Projects such as Dolly Parton's Imagination Library put books in the hands of young children, but it behooves the entire community to keep the momentum going through the tumultuous teen years.

Teens, don't obsess over being labeled "egghead," "bookworm," "nerd," "geek" or "weirdo." Keep enriching your brain and someday your taunters will be more likely to call you "sir," "ma'am," "boss," "your honor" or "Mr./Ms. President."

Tone down your preoccupation with texting and social media just long enough to make new friends in books. According to the latest research, Tom Sawyer practically never shared a friend's nude selfie with the entire world.- More...
Sunday PM - October 18, 2015