Kodiak Alutiiq Cultural Values
We are the descendants of Sugpiaq, the Real People. Understanding our environment and the events that have shaped our lives and created the culture of our ancestors is vital for our children’s cultural survival. The history of our People and our place in the world is a part of who we are today. Kodiak Sugpiaq must learn and pass on to younger generations our understanding of our natural world: the sky, land, water and the animals. As we meet the challenge of living in the 21st century, we must continue to live in honor of those things we value:
cuqllipet – Our Elders
Sugt’stun niuwacipet – Our heritage language
ilapet – Family and the kinship of our ancestors and living relatives
nunapet – Ties to our Homeland
unguwacirpet – A subsistence lifestyle, respectful of and sustained by the natural world
picipet uswituu’uq – Traditional arts, skills and ingenuity
agayumaukut – Faith and a spiritual life, from ancestral beliefs to the diverse faiths of today
ilakuisngukut – Sharing: we welcome everyone
englarstasngukut – Sense of humor
liicirpet – Learning by doing, observing and listening
Nunapet carlia’arluki – Stewardship of the animals, land, sky and waters
sugtanartukut – Trust
suupet – Our people: we are responsible for each other and ourselves
ling’aklluki – Respect for self, others and our environment is inherent in all of these values.
Native Educators of the Alutiiq Region
Alutiiq Elder’s Council the Alutiiq Academy of Elder
UAF Alaska Native Knowledge Network
The following page is pulled directly from Koniag, Inc. website.
INTRODUCTION: KODIAK AREA NATIVE ASSOCIATION (KANA)
This Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy was developed by the Kodiak Area Native Association (KANA) in collaboration with individuals and organizations at local and regional levels. The assembled data reveals the complex economic issues facing the Alutiiq people of the Koniag Region. This southern region of Alaska is comprised of two distinct areas: a small coastal strip of the Alaska Peninsula that includes parts of the Katmai National Park and Preserve, Becharof National Wildlife Refuge, and Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve—and, separated from the mainland by the roughly 30-mile wide Shelikof Strait, a band of Islands knows as Kodiak Archipelago, the largest of which is Kodiak Island.
The archipelago’s main commerce center is the City of Kodiak, which is connected to the remainder of what is called the “Kodiak Road System” includes the United States Coast Guard base, Bell’s Flats, Chiniak, and Pasagshak neighborhoods. The region includes six outlying Alaska Native villages: Akhiok, Karluk, Larsen Bay, Old Harbor, Ouzinkie, and Port Lions. Coupled with the island’s commercial fishing industry and robust Alutiiq heritage are the state’s highest living costs, economically disadvantaged communities, and a host of distinct needs that demand an in-depth comprehension of what precisely is required to conduct a prosperous life on an island with merely 40 miles of road—to which many of its residents have no access, and are confined to air or water for all travel.
Responsive to the diverse needs of the island’s population, KANA was established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation in 1966 and operates through resolutions from nine regional Tribal Governments under Public Law (PL) 93-638, the Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA). KANA provides primary medical, dental, behavioral health, and wrap-around services. This delivery reaches over 3,000 Native residents and takes place at 15 facilities throughout the region.
Historically, nonprofit corporations such as KANA were formed throughout Alaska prior to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). ANCSA was signed into law by President Richard Nixon in December of 1971 and constitutes the largest land claims settlement in United States history at the time. ANCSA is essentially an agreement between the United States Government and Alaska Native Tribes, intended to resolve long-standing disputes regarding Indigenous settlements and stimulate economic development throughout the state of Alaska. The legislation distributed land to Native village and regional entities to establish for-profit corporations, each of which formed a separate non-profit entity to assist Alaska Natives with health and social services.
Today, KANA suffices that need and works diligently to ensure the collective well-being of both the Alaska Native and general populations of the Koniag Region. Through helping foster healthy thriving communities, KANA is committed to elevating quality of life for those we serve.
US ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION NATIVE PLANNING GRANT
KANA is a recipient of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Native Planning Grant, under which the organization dedicates resources to programs and activities that enhance the fiscal prosperity of our Native communities.
With the goal of improving the economic prowess of the Koniag Region, the Economic Development department works diligently under KANA’s Community Services function, collaborating with City and Borough officials, involved private entities, and Tribal governments.
It was agreed upon by the participants of our regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) planning meeting that this document will be named the “Kodiak Archipelago Rural Regional Community Plan.” This Economic Development Planning project will focus on serving the six village communities located in the Kodiak Archipelago (Akhiok, Karluk, Larsen Bay, Old Harbor, Ouzinkie, and Port Lions) and the Kodiak road system as the hub for the village communities. The Kodiak road system includes the City of Kodiak, the United States Coast Guard base, Chiniak, and areas in between. The Kodiak road system contains services and businesses that support the rural areas of the region. Increasing economic prosperity in the hub community is necessary to increase the economic prosperity of the village communities.
EDA Authorized Scope of Work
The following page is pulled directly from the EDA’s Notice of Award for this project and describes the scope of work required.
The EDA investment will be used to support long-term economic development planning efforts, including the development, implementation, and annually updated CEDS which is designed to bring together the public and private sectors in the creation of an economic development roadmap to diversify and strengthen the designated area economy. The scope of work will include the following elements:
Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy:
Establish and maintain a CEDS process, which must include an economic development plan and procedures for monitoring its implementation. In addition to the requirements currently noted in 13 CFR § 303.7, Recipients shall include an economic resiliency component in the CEDS. This component may specifically focus on a strategy to promote disaster resiliency but is encouraged to be a broader analysis about the economic resiliency of the area economy and contain a list of implementation priorities and actions items to stabilize and support the designated area overall economic resiliency.
Partnership Coordination:
Coordinate economic development planning with other economic development partners such as: University Centers, chambers of commerce, business associations, Tribes, local and state government economic development departments and EDA-funded entities.
Building Staff Capacity and Management Strength:
Provide staff support and training to develop skills and management expertise that will expand the entity’s ability to seek, obtain and successfully implement other economic opportunities within the district. Priority should be place on EDA Grant applications.
Technical Assistance:
Provide technical assistance as appropriate to member agencies regarding topics such as industrial parks, land use regulations, grant training workshops, district committees, economic development programs, business development, tribal entity or local governments.
Other Activities:
Complete other economic development-related planning activities as approved in writing by EDA.
