Education & Culture (Josi Willcox) - We are busy as usual at the school. Friday, April 22, the kids got to go on a hike across from the school to see an ancient campsite. Dan Abrams and Jessica Winnestaffer of CVTC's Environmental Stewardship department took guests and the students to see a site right across from the school where our ancestors camped approximately 800 years ago. The kids were fascinated to learn about what to look for when going out into Traditional lands, what might look like an old decaying tree might actually be a shelter created many, many years prior. It's unfortunate that this site, and other undiscovered sites as well, are in the direct path of "progress." It's unclear what will happen to this particular site, but a road has already been put in place, and a coal mine is scheduled for construction in that area. It's good the children were able to witness their history before it's gone forever.

Also on April 22, the Air Force "Top Cover" Band came out to the school to share their music with the children. They arrived early, as they had never been to the area before and their GPS told them it would take over an hour to get to us from Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson in Anchorage (it takes less than an hour!) So we invited them to join the students on the hike. One member of the band did, an avid outdoorsman who was thrilled to learn how to spot ancient sites while out in the wilderness. While they were gone on the hike, Daniel Harrison and one of our students helped me make fry bread for our guests, which we served with a delicious caribou stew brought down by the Health Department. We served our guests lunch of caribou stew, smoked salmon spread, fry bread and salad and boy were they impressed! We'd invited the Elders to join us and others stopped by to enjoy an afternoon of great food and music.

Once everyone had finished their lunch, the Air Force Band played several Top 40 tunes, including "American Soldier" which they dedicated to our Elders who are veterans with thanks for their service, and "Soul Sister" a request from one of our students, who was then invited to get up and sing that song with the band. She did a fabulous job, no doubt we have future American Idol contestant in our midst! The members of the band were friendly and fun, the kids and guests really enjoyed themselves, and I think the band did, too. They weren't sure what to expect, coming from big cities to a small, one room Indian school, but they left smiling and hugging the kids and thanking us for the experience. It was a great time of learning and sharing for everyone!

Thanks to the success of our Junior Native Youth Olympics http://www.adn.com/2011/04/29/1837283/2011-native-youth-olympics.html reaching children throughout the Valley, we were able to create a partnership with Spring Creek Farms, an extension of Alaska Pacific University that offers environmental study programs for homeschoolers in grades K-4. They came to the school to observe and participate in a language class and get an introduction to our culture and traditions. They recognize their property is on Traditional lands and are making the commitment to include traditional knowledge in their lessons. In exchange, they have invited us to participate with activities they have scheduled during the school year, and to use their facilities and trails for teaching our students. Many of their families will be joining us as we harvest and learn about tsaas' from our Elder Markel Pete next week. It's an exciting opportunity to teach others about the Ahtna Athabascan language, culture, traditions and history!

Upcoming dates and events: 

We will be hosting our final bake sale fundraiser this Friday, May 6th from 1-5pm at Three Bears on Trunk Road and the Palmer/Wasilla Highway. Let's make this sale even better than the previous one and go out with a bang! We need donations of baked goods, wrapped in cellophane or plastic baggies ready to sell, and we need people to stop by and pick up a few goodies. If you want to donate baked goods, please call Josi at the school, (907) 745-0793 or on her cell, (907) 631-2222 and let her know. All monies raised will go into our general account to ensure basic necessities for the school are covered. Can't have a school without teachers!

Annual Garage Sale to help with transportation costs for families to attend Fish/Culture Camp will be May 21. Now's the time to clean out the closets and donate all the items that have been collecting dust. Bring your donations to the school, Monday through Friday between 8:30 and 4:00, or call Josi to arrange pick up if you can't make it to the school. Last year, we raised funds to help several families that otherwise couldn't afford to make the trip, let's help even more this year! Your donations are tax deductible, just let Josi know you'll need a receipt and she'll be happy to provide one. Gas prices aren't going any lower, your help is definitely needed like never before.

(Kari Shaginoff) - The Ya Ne Dah Ah Students have been taking nature walks to Moose Creek and identifying the natural world with Ahtna words. We picked some Tsaas (indian potato). We plan to go out and get some more. Fiddlehead ferns are getting close to picking also. It is so nice to be able to get out and enjoy the good weather we've been having. Ya Ne Dah Ah School will end June 10 with a graduation celebration. This summer we will have Ya Ne Dah Ah Cultural Summer School beginning June 13 that will include Cultural Camp in Tazlina, birch bark baskets, small fish trap, and more.

Check for new health building

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Health & Social Services (Dorothy Boatright) - Did You Know- Weekly Connection

Elders' Lunch was held at the CVTC Building with 48 Elders, guests, students, teachers, staff and community members present. Colleen Anagick, counselor from SCF, brought her guest Donna Horton, also from SCF who gave a presentation on Anger Management.

We also had guests from Knik, and 11 guests from Eklutna, including George & Susie Ondola who were celebrating their 50^th wedding anniversary. George said they were married on Lazy Mt. Terri Corey brought a wonderful lemon and raspberry-filled cake in their honor.

 We celebrated Spring, Easter, and the April birthdays with a turkey, ham, potatoes & gravy, corn, salads, dinner rolls, & chocolate and white cake.  The tables were decorated with linen tablecloths, pussy willows in vases, and bird nests made by the students out of pretzels, white chocolate and candy. Decorated hard boiled eggs and small containers of jelly beans and assorted chocolate were given out.

 Later Albert Harrison played his guitar, and Alma Blum, Julie Shor, Susie Ondola, Terry Corey, and I joined in singing.

 After lunch, Jane Martin and Barb Leppanen hid plastic eggs full of candy, donated by Amanda Christiansen, out on the front lawn and all kids present had an Easter egg hunt.  A great time was had by all.

On Friday, April 22 Helen Carroll and I prepared caribou stew with vegetables, mixed salad, and chocolate and white cake for lunch at Ya Ne Dah Ah School. Daniel Harrison and Josi Willcox prepared fry-bread. There were 37 Elders, students, teachers, staff and community members present, including 6 members of  the  "Air Force Top Cover Band".   The band was awesome, very entertaining, and even mixed in some comedy. SSgt. Justin Allen told the students and guests about their job as band members, & how they travel to different communities to let people know about what they are doing. He also thanked Albert Harrison and Norman Oleson (Retired Veterans) for serving their country. 

Elders' Lunch April 28 was held at the CVTC Building with 29 Elders, guests, staff, and community members. The barbeque grills were taken out of storage and set up outside.  Daniel Harrison and Helen Carroll were chief barbequers and did a fantastic job making hamburgers and hotdogs. The menu included potato salad, cole slaw, baked beans, chips, watermelon, and all the fixins for a good burger or hot dog. Carrie McMillian from CITC, and Senator Inouye's Press Secretary, Peter Boylan from Washington DC were here for lunch along with Chief Gary Harrison, staff from Administration, and the Dept. of Health & Social Services. A grand tour of the Chickaloon facilities and properties was given to the guests by Rick Harrison. Albert Harrison and his groupies gathered together to play his guitar and sing. After lunch Elders and staff members repainted the Spirit Houses and the fence by the CVTC Building. It was a wonderful sunny day with just a few of those huge Alaskan mosquitoes flying around. No rain on our parade today!!  Everyone had a great time.

Home delivery lunches are made and sent out on Thursdays and Fridays. If any Elders over 60 are in need of a home delivery lunch, you can call the Dept. of Health and Social Services at 745-0704 for Helen Carroll or me. Lunches are delivered throughout the Valley, and as far as the Seward Meridian. We continue to have our Elders' Lunch Program every Thursday at noon at the CVTC Building. Any Elder in need of transportation to and from Elders' Lunch may call 745-0704 before Thursdays to arrange to have a driver pick them up.

Albert Harrison will be playing and singing with the band The Old Pharts Saturday, April 30 at the Alpine Inn for the Coal Miner's Ball.

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The Chickaloon News (Patricia Wade) - I met with Karen Kitchen, Indian Ed with the Portland School District and got my first gig on Friday at Wilson High School. There are so many newcomers here, just like at home. Some of them come from distant lands, but their cultures are still intact. So when there is a Culture Day such as this one, the newcomers are able to share theirs with everyone. But our Indigenous ways have been so stifled, it's not easy for our People. I am very happy to be able to share our Chickaloon Village ancient legends with our relatives and others in this beautiful northwest region. Tsin'aen to Cuzn Jan for accompanying me.

Thanks for the suggestions on my tax filing. My new reporter friend told me of an agency that oversees tax preparers. I called and was led to their page to file a complaint, which I did. The nice lady I spoke with will be the mediator and the crooked preparer has 15 days to respond or else get a fine. We shall see if he accepts my generous offer of $200.

May 6 - Comments are due on the SCENIC BYWAYS PARKS HIGHWAY MASTER INTERPRETIVE PLAN Please send comments and suggestions from key stakeholders and interested members of the community. For more information, contact Bill Kiger at bill.kiger@alaska.gov or (907) 269-8747. Here's my letter: Greetings. I was on the original scenic byway board for this beautiful highway and am pleased about its designation. My main concern right now is the possibility of coal mining in our area resulting in truckloads of coal and the resultant dust and toxins in the air. Please do whatever you can to keep this byway beautiful. Tsin'aen, Patricia Wade, Editor, The Chickaloon News

Good Samaritan ~ Cousin Warren Barr lives on a beautiful farm in Estacada. He races his three beloved horses, taking them on distance runs and keeping them in tiptop shape. Last week he and a friend were riding through the woods and they spotted two little abandoned puppies, one yellow and one black. They were frightened and Warren had to chase them to catch them. He found a home for one of them right away, but it took him a day or so to find a good home for the other one. The puppies' new people are delighted, and I appreciate Warren's good deed.

Good luck to my nephew Justice McPherson. He and Melinda will be moving to New Orleans next week. Dr. Justice will be going for his PhD.

Wilson High School ~ Woodt Nat Woosen story retold

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Environmental (Jessica Winnestaffer) -

The Environmental Stewardship Department is excited to announce that we were awarded a grant from the National Scenic Byway Organization to improve and build wayside infrastructure for residents and tourists along the Glenn Highway.  Over the next few years the project will improve waysides in numerous ways including: bathrooms at Moose Creek and Kings River wayside areas, construction of a picnic pavilion at Moose Creek, numerous interpretive panels at various waysides, and more.  The Alpine Historical Society also received a National Scenic Byway Organization Grant for projects at the Alpine Historical Park in Sutton.  We will coordinate our interpretive panel information with the Alpine Historical Society's interpretive panels to ensure that there is no duplication of information.  Hooray for the Glenn Highway National Scenic Byway Projects!

CONGRATULATIONS to Jim Shaginoff for completing all of the college classes for a certificate in a Renewable Energy Program at Mat-Su College.

Hello Spring!  May 9-15^th will be the Sutton Community Clean-Up.  Bags and gloves for roadside trash pick-up will be available at Sutton Library, Sutton Post Office, CVTC Health Department and CVTC Environmental Department buildings.  The Environmental Stewardship Department will have a borough dumpster available Monday through Saturday for any roadside trash you clean up, and trash may be taken to the Sutton Transfer Station on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.   Please join the community effort and HELP US KEEP SUTTON CLEAN AND BEAUTIFUL!

 Ya Ne Dah Ah Students at archaelogical dig site.

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