"Reader Service" means we don't have a Priest to conduct a proper Divine Liturgy. A vi
siting priest from Anchorage comes now and then to officiate at the church...so not enough btw without a routine and regular Priest how do you have a spiritual father and stay in the conversation of Orthodoxy? Left on my own I know I would be adrift for sure.... These village folks were all raised one religion-Russian Orthodox. So it's not like the Baptists or Catholics are down the street. Some of the village continues to practice their Orthodox religion and some do not. Pretty much same scenario in the lower 48. Most get married, buried out of the church and find the church for Christmas and Easter. We do have a sub-deacon (Andrew the Reverend Right) to guide us. He is going to start seminary in the fall so we were a good dry run. Way to go Andrew!
siting priest from Anchorage comes now and then to officiate at the church...so not enough btw without a routine and regular Priest how do you have a spiritual father and stay in the conversation of Orthodoxy? Left on my own I know I would be adrift for sure.... These village folks were all raised one religion-Russian Orthodox. So it's not like the Baptists or Catholics are down the street. Some of the village continues to practice their Orthodox religion and some do not. Pretty much same scenario in the lower 48. Most get married, buried out of the church and find the church for Christmas and Easter. We do have a sub-deacon (Andrew the Reverend Right) to guide us. He is going to start seminary in the fall so we were a good dry run. Way to go Andrew!I asked if the village practiced any Indian cultural type beliefs or superstitions? Yes, like Chorty Night on Jan 19-if your 
soul is in tact "they" can't take you away. This evil spirit, when it comes in contact with you, can make you sick Pam. There is also the Sasquatch belief-Alaskan version of Big Foot-ape species. (See him there catching salmon with the bear?) Many believe in this Sasquatch. Betty (in charge of the Tyonek Tribe Corporation) is married to a Upik Eskimo man and one of their beliefs is if you drop food one of your ancestors was hungry for that very food. At Holiday dinners they take a bit of each food and put it in a cup with homage to ancestors-not forgotten.
soul is in tact "they" can't take you away. This evil spirit, when it comes in contact with you, can make you sick Pam. There is also the Sasquatch belief-Alaskan version of Big Foot-ape species. (See him there catching salmon with the bear?) Many believe in this Sasquatch. Betty (in charge of the Tyonek Tribe Corporation) is married to a Upik Eskimo man and one of their beliefs is if you drop food one of your ancestors was hungry for that very food. At Holiday dinners they take a bit of each food and put it in a cup with homage to ancestors-not forgotten.ALASKA NATIVE CLAIMS SETTLEMENT ACT
ANCSA signed into law in 1971...the largest land claims settlement in US History. This Act was intended to resolve the long-standing issues surrounding aboriginal land claims in Alaska in addition to stimulate economic development throughout Alaska. It extinguished the Alaska native claims to the land by transferring title to 12 Alaska Native Region corporations and over 200 villages. Of course the discovery of oil up here in 1968 catapulted these issues into headlines. The pipeline takes the oil down to Valdez (remember that drunken captain) where the oil is lowered onto freighters and then to your local Exxon or BP in Boca. The Alaskan Natives received 44 million acres and $963 million which was divided among regions, urban and village corporations. This settlement compensated the natives for the invasion of their lands and opened the way for all Alaskans to profits from oil-one of the state's largest natural resources. Some handled their funds wisely-others did not.
ANCSA and related legislation produced changes in ownership of about 148,500,000 acres of land once controlled by the Feds. Listen up folks, that is larger by 6,000,000 acres than the combined areas of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia!!! Hello Sara Palin, why didn't you focus on this and all of the huge responsibility you had in managing this part of the US? A unique geography, natural resources and native peoples (yes that includes the rednecks too). A good reminder to Joe Biden would have been "Hey Joe, one of my National Parks is bigger than your state". What possessed MY candidate to say "Yep, Russia is next door to my house". Huh? How about hey lower 48 take a look up here and see what we have accomplished and are working on. And they said she didn't have the experience to be a VP? Shame on me and my party for not grooming her for the spotlight, no make that the inquisition by the east coast media. And still haven't been able to connect with her for a meeting...now more than ever a must. Come on Sarah you've got to dig out of this pr nightmare and rise up in the party...anyone who can handle this state and all it's proclivities surely can do something in Washington??? OK enough of that....
TYONEK LAND CORPORATION-TNC (TYONEK NATIVE CORPORATION)
Under the Act Tyonek was entitled to receive the title to the surface estate of 193,515 acres-we are talking a lot of fish, moose and berries. The regional corporation (one of 12) receives the sub-surface estate and rights. This area is rich in oil and gas, the Beuga coal field and bountiful timber. My dear new friend Betty is the go to girl for the TNC. As a matter of fact she spent yesterday touring with visitors from Israel to look at the geothermal lands....they have an interest....to build turbines to get energy the thermal water produces.
ALASKAN ATHABASCANS AND THEIR WAYS
There are 11 linguistic groups of Athabascans in Alaska. They traditionally live along the major river ways and many still do. The most important part of Athabascan subsistence living is sharing. We experienced this again and again. All hunters are part of a kin-based netwo
rk in which they are expected to follow traditional customs for sharing int the community. The annual summer fish camp not only abound but are treasured and revered. We visited some today. This is a real production, not only of catching the salmon but in processing it too- canning, smoking, freezing, salting. Nothing is wasted-the head and fins are used for soup. During the summer life evolves around the fish camp and catching and processing the fish. The simple 1 or 2 room huts are jammed with relatives, pride and love. We met a young family of 6 who with 6 others make that 12 of them came across the kenai waters waters in a "journey" which is an open wooden fishing boat (not much larger than a canoe!). They anchor on the shore and climb up the hi
ll to the fishing camp. A fire is a must as the love their fire and roasting those wieners! As Betty says-Yum! We also tasted the Artesian well water...we are talking sweet, fresh and really cold. Of course I look forward to suppers....someone in the village always sends us their salmon. Can I get a double Yum Yum! they are a kind and generous people...still quiet and private to us. And fyi-still doing my best not to offend everyone in my path!
rk in which they are expected to follow traditional customs for sharing int the community. The annual summer fish camp not only abound but are treasured and revered. We visited some today. This is a real production, not only of catching the salmon but in processing it too- canning, smoking, freezing, salting. Nothing is wasted-the head and fins are used for soup. During the summer life evolves around the fish camp and catching and processing the fish. The simple 1 or 2 room huts are jammed with relatives, pride and love. We met a young family of 6 who with 6 others make that 12 of them came across the kenai waters waters in a "journey" which is an open wooden fishing boat (not much larger than a canoe!). They anchor on the shore and climb up the hi
ll to the fishing camp. A fire is a must as the love their fire and roasting those wieners! As Betty says-Yum! We also tasted the Artesian well water...we are talking sweet, fresh and really cold. Of course I look forward to suppers....someone in the village always sends us their salmon. Can I get a double Yum Yum! they are a kind and generous people...still quiet and private to us. And fyi-still doing my best not to offend everyone in my path!This state is proving to be a unique state and situation...hmmmmm.
Back at the Mission Team- we had an evening discussion about the history of Orthodoxy and Icons. Hey, I learned a lot! :)
