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May 8, 2006
Dear Journey North,
It’s 6:00 a.m. and it's SNOWING in Shageluk. Well, we're still
experiencing some cold temperatures, which is normal. Students noticed
that not as many flocks of Canadian Geese had been flying over, since
the temps were so cold. Even our Robins seemed
a little reluctant to make themselves known until last week, as temps
warmed.
Native
Villages an the Migrations
Spring Canadian Geese and some Ducks are
considered very important subsistence
foods for all Alaska Native villages. After a long winter
it's nice to have fresh meat again. That is our food; that is what
we are raised on for thousands of years. Our dependence on the
migrations has to do with survival for our people. This is the way
it's always
been. We do not hunt for sport. There is no such thought here.
In fact, sport- hunting is considered wrong and a violation to what
we believe
in here as Native people.
Concern About Avian Flu
We
have been reading a lot about the Avian flu. Scientists
in Alaska right now are preparing for the migrations
so they can test the birds. The Alaska
Department of Fish and Game have employed several trained villagers in
the interior to help in the testing for Avian flu. We have been getting
posters
and fliers now from them
as well as from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation.
They tell us that if North America gets
the bird flu, it will first be seen in Alaska because of the Asian
flyway that goes up the Aleutians and into Alaska. Here at home,
parents are warning their kids that they cannot hunt geese and
ducks this year because of the danger of the flu. Ducks and
geese are a
primary source of subsistence food during the spring months. This
year, even in our small village, the impact of what is happening
world-wide will be felt here.
NOTE:
To learn more facts, please read the response for the Avian
Flu question to Ask the Expert, Laura Erickson.
Spring Ice-Out is Next
The next migration we will be anticipating is when the Innoko
River ice goes out and the White and Shee fish migrate up the
river to their spawning
streams!
That will be sometime in the next week or so, although the river ice
is pretty solid yet. People are still using their snow machines around
here to get
out to the hunting blinds that are set up here and there. When our
ice goes out and frogs start singing we will post our data on the Journey
North MapServer.
We have enjoyed updating you with our news. I'm sorry we haven't
gotten a spring picture of a Robin yet! They really have been
reluctant to
make themselves
available to the camera! The
students wanted to share with you some of the dates that our other
spring birds came. Click
here!
Joyanne Hamilton
Innoko River School
Shageluk, Alaska
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