August 3-5, 2022

Using traditional techniques, instructor Auggie Nelson Sr. demonstrated how to create a fishing net using twine, spools, and other materials. Students in the class were supported in their pursuit of sustainable food sovereignty by learning how to make their own net, and how to use it, through the skill and stories of their instructor. There was also discussion regarding employment opportunities when working with nets, and the potential for small business operations.

July 10th and 11th, 2022

An “Edible Plants of Northwest Alaska” class, which was part of the Let’s Make Things (Suliaqta) series, was held at LaVonne Hendricks’ Camp on July 10th and 11th, 2022. There were eight registered Chukchi students and several others who participated in parts of the program. Three Elders also participated in the class as local experts and storytellers.

The instructional program was led by Jennifer Nu, a knowledgeable ethnobotanist from the Juneau area. Activities included ethical harvesting and collecting of wild plants, cleaning and preserving greens, and plant identification.

July 14-15, 2022

The Fish Camp at Lavonne's was led by three Elder teachers who were knowledgeable in fish-cutting methods and skilled in teaching others. Lavonne Hendricks coordinated the event at camp alongside a team of people who supported this engaging training session.    

At one point, twenty-one people were crowded around Lavonne's camp table listening to stories that compared upriver fish cutting to our method at the beach, followed by a general discussion of how to avoid packing in parasites and insect eggs with the fish.  Guided discussions revolved around topics like food safety, ways to cook salmon, and proper canning methods. Elder stories contributed to the depth of experience, with everyone actively participating in cutting, rinsing, hanging, jar-packing, vacuum-packing, and sharing recipes.  Participants sampled salmon dip, salmon spread, fried salmon bellies with flapjacks, and salmon chowder.

December 17th, 2021

The Chukchi Campus in Kotzebue held two skin sewing workshops taught by local experts this fall. Students gathered to learn how to make rabbit mittens and fox fur hats, a practice in Iñupiaq skin-sewing.

The Iñupiat have practiced skin-sewing for generations, making beautiful, warm, and functional pieces from animal skins hunted using subsistence practices. The generational transfer of this knowledge was interrupted by colonization, yet the Iñupiat preserved their knowledge, culture, and way of life. The skin-sewing workshops hosted by the Chukchi Campus focus on revitalizing traditions and passing knowledge to new generations.

Past workshops held in Kiana, Kivalina, Noatak, and Kotzebue shared knowledge on making fancy qupaks, soft bottom and baby mukluks, subsistence nets, and niksiks (ice fishing jiggers). The Cargill Foundation “To Be Remembered Project” provides funding for the Chukchi Campus to hire local Iñupiaq experts to share their traditional language, culture, arts and crafts knowledge. The grant also covers all university fees and the cost of materials for students.

The Chukchi Campus is a responsive and collaborative rural college that inspires and develops students to contribute to their community’s cultural and civic needs. Located in the hub village of Kotzebue in the Northwest Arctic Borough, Chukchi Campus primarily serves Kotzebue as well as the 11 village communities and the Red Dog Mine site.

December 8th, 2021

Alaska 529 announced today that Kiana Norton, of Kotzebue, has won its annual $25,000 scholarship account giveaway. The 23-year-old is the first person off the road system in Alaska to win the annual scholarship account giveaway. 

Kiana was notified that she won during a surprise Zoom session at the UAF Chukchi Campus, coordinated by Alaska 529, the campus, and her parents. The date of the meeting happened to fall on Kiana’s birthday. As a college student currently taking a semester off, she was delighted to learn about the unexpected financial windfall. "I was going through a really tough time at my current college and winning this has taken a huge load off my shoulders and opened up a lot more options." When asked what prompted her to start her Alaska 529 account in the first place, she said, "I was already saving my PFDs for college expenses so saving with Alaska 529 just felt like a natural choice." Kiana may use the account at any college, university, vocational or technical school that accepts federal financial aid.

“The giveaway is one of our favorite annual activities. The winners are always so excited to receive such a significant boost to their education savings, and I’m equally delighted to plan the announcement and inform the winner. It is a fun way to give Alaska families an additional incentive to save their PFDs for future education expenses and reinforce a college-going culture,” said Lael Oldmixon, executive director of Alaska 529. “I’m happy this will help Kiana on her way, just as many of our past winners have already used their scholarship accounts for higher education.”

Alaska 529 has offered the scholarship account giveaway each year for the last 12 years to provide Alaska families an additional reason to save their PFDs for higher education expenses. All Permanent Fund Dividend applicants who choose to contribute half their dividend to an Alaska 529 account are entered in the giveaway. This year, more than 14,000 applicants were eligible for the drawing. The scholarship account is funded by the Education Trust of Alaska.

For more information, contact Lael Oldmixon at 907-450-8115.