SEARHC EMS Program
Dear Editor: As a 26-year employee of SEARHC EMS, I was saddened to read in your paper about the termination of the EMS Program. The EMS program has been a part of SEARHC from it’s very beginning. The Community Health Aide and EMS programs were one of the highest priorities for the new regional native health corporations that came into existence during the 1970s.
During its more than 35 years SEARHC EMS has trained hundreds of ETTs, EMTs and health aides. Those dedicated EMS volunteers and SEARHC staff will continue to provide vital emergency medical care in their communities. Unfortunately their job has now become more difficult as financially strapped local governments try to find money for needed training.
I would like to make one correction to your story. While the EMS program did receive grants for special projects such as Youth First Responders, and High Fidelity Patient Simulators, the program itself was always funded by “hard” money passed through from the Indian Health Services.
Mike Motti, Sitka
Honoring Elders
Dear Editor: Sitka Tribe of Alaska held the first annual Honoring Elders celebration in the Sheet’ka Kwáan Naa Kahídi Community House this past Saturday, Nov. 15. Tribal Chairman Michael Baines was master of ceremonies of the event, which was opened with a blessing by Tribal Citizen Nels Lawson. Tribal Elder of the Year Herman Davis was introduced as a special guest; and although she was unable to attend, Tribal Citizen of the Year Nancy Douglas was also given special recognition.
A wonderful meal – featuring venison in a stew and a succulent roast, generously given and prepared by husband and wife team of Tom Young III and Jaclyn Young; and Ray Nielsen’s superb recipe of herring egg salad – was served by STA staff.
Director of entertainment Chuck Miller introduced STA newly-elected Tribal Council member Bob Sam, who gave a thought-provoking traditional story presentation. Rounding out the day’s entertainment were the considerable talents of the Sheet’ka Kwáan, Gajaa Héen, Noow Tlein, Naa Kahídi, and Kaagwaantaan local dance groups and the Mt. Edgecumbe High School Yup’ik, Athabascan and Inupiaq dancers.
Dozens of Tribal elders received gifts and gift baskets filled with items given by Sitka Native Education Program; SEARHC Community Health WISEWOMAN and Injury Prevention units; Pacific High School; Rose Demmert; Lawrence SpottedBird; Christine Paul; Ray Nielsen; and Sitka Tribe of Alaska Resource Protection, Transportation and Administration departments.
The event was closed in thankful prayer by Father Michael Boyle and Tribal citizen members of St. Michael’s Cathedral choir.
STA would like to thank the local media for their role in getting the word out for us – the Daily Sitka Sentinel, KIFW and KCAW. Thank you, too, to those we may have forgotten to mention, it is not our intention to leave anyone out.
How wonderful it is that we are able to let our elders know that we truly appreciate them and the gifts of knowledge they have shared with us day in and day out for decades. The STA Tribal Council and staff are planning next year’s Honoring Elders celebration – keep an eye out for our announcement of the day and time next fall!
Sitka Tribe of Alaska
Use Second-Growth
Dear Editor: The Tongass Advisory Committee is meeting this week at the Tribal House. This committee includes people from diverse interest groups, working to determine future management of the Tongass National Forest.
The Tongass is lagging far behind America’s other national forests, by continuing to log old-growth timber instead of quickly transitioning to second-growth harvest. We are also exporting whole logs from the Tongass to the Lower 48 states and China, rather than processing the wood here, which would bring those jobs to our own communities.
Old-growth logging is the one industry that damages other parts of our economy. It degrades habitat for salmon, by far the most important of all Tongass resources. And it also detracts from our vital tourism businesses, from recreation, and from subsistence activities that require a healthy forest.
A timber industry based on cutting old-growth forest is like a salmon industry based on destructive fish traps. We eliminated fish traps many decades ago and our fishing industry still flourishes.
I hope the Tongass Advisory Committee will recognize that we can eliminate old-growth logging and keep the harvest of second-growth timber as one part of a healthy, diversified economy in Southeast Alaska.
Richard Nelson, Sitka
Tremendously Thankful
Dear Editor: The Sitka High girls volleyball program would like to say a special thank you to all the individuals and businesses that supported the team this year, both financially and in spirit.
Multiple people gave sizeable donations, enabling the program to purchase much-needed equipment. A special thanks to CHARR, the Elks Lodge, Sitka Northern Sales and the anonymous donor for their generous contributions. We would also like to thank the Sitka Volleyball Referees Association for their time and dedication; Sitka is very fortunate to have such a devoted and knowledgeable crew of officials.
Last, but not least, a giant thank you to LieuDell Goldberry for all his help, and to the staff and student body of Sitka High for their steadfast support.
The crowds were very encouraging this year, and in response, the volleyball team felt greatly appreciated.
Sitka High School
Volleyball Team
