Alaska Territorial Guard celebrates 60th anniversary

As our Guard returns from Kuwait, the anniversary of the original “Eskimo Guard”. The Yukon Kuskokwim Delta’s troops are supposed to arrive in BEThel late tonight.

• See previous posts here, Eskimo Guard

The version of the article published in the Anchorage Daily News is a bit more complete and has a different set of photos.

Web posted October 16, 2007
http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/101607/sta_20071016015.shtml
RACHEL D’ORO The Associated Press

This year is the 60th anniversary of the disbanding of the civilian force formed to protect Alaska villages from the Japanese during World War II.

ANCHORAGE – Harold Bahr became a man at 11, when he joined a largely Native militia called up to protect the vast territory of Alaska from the threat of Japanese aggression during World War II…

Despite his age, Bahr was eligible to sign up to defend his homeland. This was 17 years before statehood and older recruits would be armed with outmoded World War I Enfield rifles. Some of the younger members, including Bahr, would make do with nonshooting wooden replicas, but it didn’t matter.

…Bahr, 76, is among an estimated 300 members still living from the original 6,600-member unit to be commemorated Thursday, Alaska Territorial Guard day…

Nicknamed Uncle Sam’s Men, the territorial guards were organized by Army Air Corps Maj. Marvin “Muktuk” Marston. A charismatic orator, Marston traveled by dog sled across the frozen tundra, delivering impassioned speeches to recruit boys as young as Bahr or well into their 80s, as well as men of fighting age who were exempt from war duty. Some women who could outshoot the men also joined up…. The guard was disbanded with little fanfare on March 31, 1947, almost two years after the war ended. Some members liked the camaraderie and protective stance so much they kept up their drills. A few units remained active right up to the reorganization of the Alaska National Guard in 1949

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More on our Guard, returning soon

This is evidently a press release from the medical company hired by the VA (Veterans Affairs) to assist military returning to civilian life and their families. The release was printed in a Chinese news service which GoogleAlert sent to me.

TriWest and Alaska VA Hosted First-Ever PTSD State-Wide Seminars to Reach Rural Health Care Providers – China
… of returning Alaska National Guard troops throughout the state.
Conferences were presented in six locations including Juneau, Sitka,
Barrow, Bethel, …
http://usstock.jrj.com.cn/news/2007-10-04/000002748897.html

PHOENIX, Oct. 3 /PRNewswire/ — As part of their continuing efforts to address the needs of Alaska National Guard members, TriWest Healthcare Alliance and the Alaska VA Healthcare System partnered to host their first-ever “Combat Stress Conference” throughout the state from Sept. 12-29. The seminars reached nearly 200 community-based health care providers that care for the thousands of returning Alaska National Guard troops throughout the state. [...]

I hope more than health care providers were involved. The church groups can be very important in some areas as well as less formal local groups. Schools also need to be involved to assist children.

See earlier–
Briefs 3
More on our Guard, KYUK
More on our Eskimo Guard and Iraq
More on the Eskimo Guard
More on Iraq effects
What impact will Iraq war call-up have

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Small Island Developing States, Fiji and NW Territories, where is YK Delta?

For over a decade I have pointed out the commonality in environmental and cultural issues between the Yukon Kuskokwim delta villages and the small island nations, especially those in the other side of the Pacific basin. Formally, they are called Small Island Developing States. The formal SIDS have established sustainable policies, appropriate technology, and world-class community-based science all of which should be models for Alaska. (for example, see the Fiji Map Server in the sidebar,
Manuals Available to Assist Communities with Solid Waste Planning and Education, and 1918 pandemic in Polynesia and Fiji (small island developing states)

Alaska state and local governments still don’t seem to understand this. For example, Bethel has no plans for dealing with changing sea levels and loss of tundra ponds. The state until this year, refused to consider the impact of warming climate on village and city infrastructure when permitting landfills. On the other hand, the city manager of Emmonak has been trying for several years to get assistance from state and university to develop appropriate electrical generation technology, based upon the traditional Yukon River fishwheel, to end their dependence on fossil fuels. I applied for a Denali Commission / Rasmuson grant last year, about $10,000 (sic, ten-thousand US dollars, not 10 million) to test a dry sanitation technology developed in “third-world” countries for use in our semi-arid region. The project to improve sanitation and reduce water consumption was deemed outside the agencies’ programmatic interests.

Canada, fortunately, thinks otherwise.

TORONTO, Canada (The Catholic Register) – An ice-fisher from Sachs Harbour, Northwest Territories, and a sugar-cane farmer from the Fiji Islands have more in common than some may think.

Tropical islands in the south Pacific and the polar regions are two areas that stand to face the most immediate and dramatic effects of global warming, said David Hik, a biology professor at the University of Alberta in western Canada.

Island countries are particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels, while melting ice poses its own set of challenges to the Arctic, said Hik, director of the Canadian chapter for the International Polar Year, a two-year project allowing researchers from 63 countries to collaborate and gain insight into the Arctic and Antarctic.

“(Global warming) is not isolated by geography, the whole world is connected through the hydrological system,” said Hik. “Changes in the polar region of the Arctic have effects in other parts of the world.” …

“There’s always been a real recognition of our diocese that research and understanding of the Arctic is important.”

The diocese sits on the board for the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, a research center for Arctic studies co-founded by former Churchill-Hudson Bay Bishop Omer Robidoux. The center encourages aboriginal people to take courses so there is some understanding between science and local knowledge. [and vice versa, mpb]

And preparedness isn’t just about “don’t panic; cook your bird”. The Canadian churches seem to understand this. Our local churches have a role in preparedness as well, in addition to that needed for the Guard in the Iraq war.

I suppose we’d better ask, Where is… Bethel, Canada?

“What I fear is these changes could be so rapid, the upheaval could be very disruptive for these communities, but that requires being prepared, having good information and sufficient time to plan,” Hik said, explaining the better integrated faith communities are into the social, cultural and spiritual life of the local communities, the better they will be able to help.

“A strong community that can make good decisions on how to prepare for change and adapt to change will be able to maintain its culture,” he added. Read more [...]

• Culture in northern Canadian dioceses threatened by melting ice cap By Sara Loftson, 8/24/2007, Republished with permission by Catholic Online from The Catholic Register ( www.catholicregister.org ), the largest circulation national Catholic newspaper in Canada, a Catholic Online Preferred Publishing Partner.
  http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=25151

see related posts at Grassroots Science, YKAlaska
Preparedness network for non-profits and church-based groups,
Top 50 reading list for emergency management
Where is… Bethel water?
What impact will Iraq war call-up have
Where is Bethel (year 2050)
Where is Bethel… 2040
Where is… Bethel coastline 22nd century

Add this to Bookmarks:

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Briefs 3

mostly backlog or items of interest

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Talk of Alaska: Your Topic Here

We work hard to make Talk of Alaska, the weekly statewide call-in program on APRN stations, an interesting, insightful and timely program for Alaskans. As we look forward to new programs, we’d like to know what you think about potential Talk of Alaska topics and how we might approach them. We have some ideas we’re considering, listed below.

Please share your thoughts and ideas using the comment form at the bottom of this posting. Comment on the show ideas we listed or add your own ideas.

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Eskimo Guard

Talk of Alaska: Mental Health Services for Returning National Guard Members

Are Alaska’s returning National Guard members receiving all the mental health services needed? How can our veterans access these services from the remote parts of Alaska? We talk with experts, check in with Senator Lisa Murkowski and take your calls.

A heritage of healing: Native practitioners to help veterans

Ancient Alaska Native healing techniques will soon supplement modern-day treatments for mental health ailments afflicting Alaskans returning from service in the Middle East.

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Site Search Tags: climate change, Canada. IPY, research, adaptation, animals, emerging diseases, elk, Yukon. environmental change, subsistence, foods

Climate Change

Innovation Canada Profiles Northern Research and Climate Change in Current Issue http://www.northernwaterways.com/blog/

Innovation Canada is an on-line web magazine featuring new research in Canada, and projects funded by the Canadian Foundation for Innovation. Since its creation in 1997, the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) has committed up to $3.7 billion in funds to 5,000 projects at more than 125 universities, colleges, research hospitals, and non-profit research institutions across Canada. The current issue highlights research in the Canadian North, and CFI projects linked to the International Polar Year. Various essays profile educational programs, International Polar Year funding, paleoclimate research, information sharing, youth initiatives for raising awareness on environmental matters, and more. Guest author Susan Aglukark writes about her home community of Arviat, Nunavut, and concerns over pollution, water quality, and wildlife habitat at an estuary near the community. These stories and more are available in Issue #27. The archive of previous issues are available here. 5/2/2007

Docuticker Adapting to Climate Change http://www.docuticker.com/

Adapting to Climate Change: What’s Needed in Poor Countries and Who Should Pay (PDF; 493 KB) Source: Oxfam America

Winter ticks invade Yukon elk herds http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/

Yukon wildlife officials say a recently discovered infestation of winter ticks, a new invasive species in the territory, has hit elk herds and could pose a serious risk to moose. 4/18/2007

 

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BHIC Articles of Note http://library.med.utah.edu/blogs/BHIC/archives/

Telephone Interpreting in Health Care Settings This succinct article answers commonly asked questions regarding the appropriate use of telephone interpreting in health care settings.
http://newroutes.org/node/4475

Port Cities and Health

Tox Town, http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov, the web site from the Specialized Information Services of the National Library of Medicine, has added to its neighborhood scenes. Now, besides learning about the environment and health in cities, towns, farms and the US-Mexico Border, users can also learn about ports. Topics covered include drinking water, air quality, wastewater treatment, work hazards, sun safety and more. [scb] 1/16/2007

 

Community involves media to preserve language, culture http://www.fijitimes.com/

A MEDIA workshop heard how the Chinese community in the Pacific engaged the media in a bid to preserve their culture and language. (Fiji)

 

Key science Web sites buried in information avalanche http://www.eurekalert.org/

As more and more people are turning to the Internet to find information, important science Web sites are in danger of becoming buried in the sheer avalanche of facts now available online. Key science sites are failing to register in the top 30 Google search results. 3/21/2007

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Site Search Tags: ES&H, water quality, potable, point-of-use, sanitation, disinfection, LII.org

Librarians’ Internet Index: New This Week New and newly-discovered Web sites for librarians and everyone else, updated every Thursday morning. See more resources on our site, http://lii.org/.

Home Water Treatment Devices

Information for consumers about selecting home water purification and filtration systems. Describes treatment technologies (such as adsorption, softeners, ultraviolet treatment, reverse osmosis, and distillers), types of devices (point-of-entry and point-of-use), and drinking water treatment and homeland security. Includes a link to a product database and to related websites. From NSF, a nonprofit organization that develops consumer safety standards. 6/21/2007

Consumer Guide to Water Filters

A guide to help you determine what type of water filter might be right for your home. “Some filters aim to produce clearer, better-tasting water, while others work to remove contaminants that could affect your health.” Topics include specific types of filters (activated carbon filter, cation exchange softener, distiller, reverse osmosis filter, ultraviolet disinfection filter), and filter maintenance. 
In English and Spanish. From the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC). 6/21/2007

More on our Guard, KYUK

Mike Martz from our local public station (radio/TV) is currently in Kuwait with our Guard. He has some audio reporting at A New Leader for Alaska’s National Guard in Kuwait http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/apti/

He also started a web log on WordPress. Go visit, KYUK On Assignment: Kuwait http://kyukonassignment.wordpress.com/

See previous posts here under this category Eskimo Guard

“Camp Virginia” http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/camp-virginia.htm

Click map of US facilities in Kuwait to view larger image http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/images/map-kuwait-2004.jpg

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Add this to Bookmarks:

Wounded Soldier and Family Hotline

from Episcopal Emergency Network

“Wounded Soldier and Family Hotline”

The Acting Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Staff, Army announced a toll-free number “Wounded Soldier and Family Hotline” at 1-800-984-8523. The hotline has two purposes:

* To provide Soldiers wounded and injured in support of the Global War on Terror and their families with a resource to obtain outpatient-related assistance regarding issues they have not been able to resolve through their own chain of command or medical treatment facility (MTF).

* To capture timely and accurate information from Soldiers and their families on the quality of outpatient care in order to ensure prompt and thorough response to concerns and to increase the reality and perception of Soldiers receiving timely, quality care.

The Wounded Soldier and Family Hotline goes live on Monday, March 19, and will be initially staffed 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (EDT) Monday through Friday with personnel who will relay Soldier’s concerns to senior Army leaders so that resources can be properly allocated. The hotline hours of operation will expand to 24 hours a day, seven days a week as additional personnel are trained to receive calls and refer them to the proper organization or agency for resolution.

Add this to Bookmarks:

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more on our Eskimo Guard and Iraq

See previous
More on the Eskimo Guard
More on Iraq effects
What impact will Iraq war call-up have

CSM Hudson Represents All Enlisted Members of Transformed Guard

By SGT Jim Greenhill, National Guard Bureau, Courtesy of National Guard Bureau Public Affairs
1/9/06, Arlington, VA

…CSM David Ray Hudson … uniquely qualified to be the senior enlisted advisor to the chief of the National Guard Bureau.

He eventually became the ninth state command sergeant major for Alaska… As a civilian, he served with the Alaska Highway Patrol, advancing from trooper to captain.

He observed how the Guard has transformed significantly in the two decades since he joined in ‘84.

“When I joined the Alaska Army National Guard, the National Guard in Alaska had never deployed anywhere,” he said. “During World War II, the Alaskan Territorial Guard, which was made up of Eskimo scouts, had basically been forward-deployed by being in Alaska. Once in a while there might be a two-week annual training tour somewhere other than Alaska, but generally speaking even all the annual trainings were right in Alaska, because we were considered Arctic warriors, cold-weather experts. So everybody came to Alaska.”

And today?

“Today,” CSM Hudson said, “Alaska has deployed probably 70 percent of its resources.” [emphasis added]

In 1995, CSM Hudson served as command sergeant major of the 2nd Scout Battalion in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta in west Alaska on the Bering Sea. The majority of the battalion’s Citizen-Soldiers were Yupik Eskimos, hunters who live on walrus, seals, whale, fish, moose and caribou.

“They had never left their villages, where they still have a subsistence lifestyle,” he said. “They primarily live off the game that they catch.

“Approximately 300 of them right now are sitting in Kuwait,” he said. “The Guard of today is nothing like it was 23 years ago. It’s a complete change. It is now an operational, professionally organized institution that does tremendously more than two weeks out of the year and one weekend a month.”….

Read the rest here

• http://www.gxonline.com/gxintelnews?id=37420

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more on the Eskimo Guard

Read the entire story

• http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/16/us/16album.html

During the cold war, the battle line was drawn right here on the North Slope, with the Soviets skulking just across the Bering Strait. Most Alaska Guard members stayed in the state, protecting the home front. But the world has changed. For this war, 670 Guard members have been called up from rural Alaska, its largest foreign deployment ever. The Alaska Guard estimates that one-third of its members are Eskimo, so most likely a third of those deployed are indigenous men, officials say, though the military does not keep official racial records of this type.

• more on Iraq effects -
  http://ykalaska.wordpress.com/2006/07/04/more-on-iraq-effects/

• What impact will Iraq war call-up have -
  http://ykalaska.wordpress.com/2006/06/27/ what-impact-will-iraq-war-call-up-have/

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more on Iraq effects

• What impact will Iraq war call-up have -
  http://ykalaska.wordpress.com/2006/06/27/ what-impact-will-iraq-war-call-up-have/

Jody has a nice quiet story this morning about a disquieting deployment into the Iraq war.

Alaska Communities Struggle with National Guard Deployments

Listen to this story… by Jody Seitz

Morning Edition, July 4, 2006 · National Guard deployments to Iraq are drawing on a unique population of older Guard members in Alaska. The absence of these men from their communities poses distinct challenges to families already stressed by the high price of energy, the lack of jobs and, in some communities, the loss of municipal services. Jody Seitz of member station KDLG reports.

http://www.npr.org/ templates/story/story.php?storyId=5532219

Other NPR (National Public Radio) stories can be found here

http://tinyurl.com/gz3jh

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What impact will Iraq war call-up have

http://tinyurl.com/ggg9o

Eskimo Troops Brace for Iraq
Alaskan Guard units are called up for the first time in decades. Villages worry about losing men.
By Sam Howe Verhovek, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

June 5, 2006
KONGIGANAK, Alaska

….In this village of 386 people, six men have been notified to report for duty next month. ..The call-up in the marshy delta country to the west reaches villages so remote that there are only two ways to get here most of the year — by airplane or snowmobile — and a third from May to September, or perhaps October in a warm year with a late freeze-up: the river.

So in places with Eskimo names such as Kongiganak, Kwigillingok and Manokotak, elder leaders and wives find themselves planning how to carry on without strong young men who serve as vital providers of food….

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I did some calculations to see what numerical impact (and ultimately biocultural impact) the call-up will have.

• What will the effect be on the best leadership available, long-term and short-term?
• What about on subsequent “leaders” because there will be fewer strong men as the adolescent males grow into their leadership?
• What is the economic impact, e.g., will families have to move to Bethel or other villages because their breadwinner is gone? What social effects might there be as a consequence?
• How will preparedness and rescue occur during the autumn storm flooding and erosion season?
• Which other people will be able to assume the troops’ role or to share the load, e.g., are women allowed? males under 18? are there sufficient elders?
• How do we integrate our veterans back into our time, space, culture?
• What questions should we ask so we can be ready?

2005 Population by Gender and Age:

Male: 196
Female: 163
total 359

Median Age: 21.8

Pop. Age 18 and over: 204
Pop. Age 21 and over: 184
Pop. Age 62 and over: 15
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6% of all men between 21 and 65 years of 386 pop. This assumes that all 98 men have a high school degree (see the R. BRETT STIRLING article
http://alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com/2006/06/ most-recent-adn-article.html and none have domestic violence or felony/alcohol convictions. I would guess the call-up affects over 10% of those in economic/leadership roles.

[R. Brett Stirling writes well and thoughtfully about living in rural Alaska, http://alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com/ and for the Anchorage Daily News, http://tinyurl.com/s6p5h]