Commentary
A rising awareness about sustainability
As Indigenous youth, we work continuously to strengthen our roots in the values that have shaped our ancestral heritage and continue to guide our collective journey. Over the past decade, with the rising awareness of global humanitarian crises and environmental disasters, investors and companies have become more sensitive to the impacts of their decisions on […]
BIA boarding schools’ devastating legacy continues to echo in Alaska
There was only one purpose for the boarding school system in Alaska. In fact, there was only one purpose for the Bureau of Indian Affairs educational program in America. It was all about white power. White supremacy. Assimilate the savage Natives by force. The Inupiat people of our Bering Straits region, first subjugated by the […]
Here are ways to filter out some harmful ‘forever chemicals’ at home
Chemists invented PFAS in the 1930s to make life easier: Nonstick pans, waterproof clothing, grease-resistant food packaging and stain-resistant carpet were all made possible by PFAS. But in recent years, the growing number of health risks found to be connected to these chemicals has become increasingly alarming. PFAS – perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances – are […]
Supreme Court to consider outlawing sleeping outside even if no inside space is available
On April 22, 2024, the Supreme Court will hear a case that could radically change how cities respond to the growing problem of homelessness. It also could significantly worsen the nation’s racial justice gap. City of Grants Pass v. Johnson began when a small city in Oregon with just one homeless shelter began enforcing a […]
As officials in Alaska talk about subsistence, Natives have lived it, season by season
It was a cold wintry day, and the sun was out, shining brightly against the blowing snow just above the ground, which is a normal occurrence around that time of year. The wind always blew just hard enough to feel like sand on your face. Grandma Kipo, a small Inupiat woman about 60 years old, […]
Alaska Native children, youth and family well-being depends on our rights to practice subsistence
From fish camps to whaling to berry picking, subsistence is more than a means of survival; it is a cultural practice integral to Indigenous peoples’ well-being. As Indigenous Peoples, we lack a specific word for “subsistence” in our languages. However, we understand these practices to be the sacred way we live in relationship with the […]
‘Facebook has nuked our page’: Inside Kansas Reflector’s clash with the social media Goliath
On Thursday morning, my phone began to flicker with notification after notification from Kansas Reflector readers. Something was going on with our Facebook page, they wrote. They couldn’t see posts anymore. They couldn’t share links anymore. Links they once shared had been removed. Many of them voiced concerns that Facebook was taking down our content […]
For a survivor of cultural genocide in Alaska, there’s a need to reconnect to language, culture
I don’t have a Ph.D. behind my name, but I know more about cultural genocide than most people here in Alaska do, and more about it than most doctoral graduates anywhere else on the planet. Being a victim of cultural genocide is a most painful form of suffering because it is unforgettable, even as you’re […]
E-cigarette tax would help reduce risk for Alaska consumers — especially teenagers
In elementary school I stumbled upon the harsh realities of tobacco. It wasn’t just a textbook lesson for me — it hit home, quite literally. My dad was a chain smoker and watching his struggle with addiction ignited a determination in me, amplified by my little brother’s support. We became my father’s cheerleaders on the […]
Nonpartisan open primaries let Alaskans choose values over party
In 2022, Alaska voters for the first time used nonpartisan open primaries to choose candidates for the general election. Every voter, regardless of political registration, received the same ballot. And every ballot listed every candidate in every race. In this style of primary, voters could support a mix of Republicans, Democrats, independents and third-party candidates, […]
We need to know avalanches inside and out
There’s a fine line between learning from the mistakes of others and shaming people for their ignorance. Twelve people have died in avalanches in the United States this winter, including an expert skier in Oregon who was also an avalanche forecaster. He was killed in early March despite deploying an airbag that kept him from […]
Many travel nurses opt for temporary assignments because of the autonomy and opportunities
Travel nurses take short-term contracts that can require long commutes or temporarily living away from home. Time and again, they have to get used to new co-workers, new protocols and new workplaces. So why would staff nurses quit their stable jobs to become travel nurses? Well, for one, they get bigger paychecks. But U.S. nurses […]