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TR BAL WASTE
Un ted States
Envronmenta Protect on
Agency
Issue 3 • February 2004 • EPA530-N-03-005
ALASKA VILLAGES CHART
THEIR OWN COURSE TOWARD
SOLID WASTE SOLUTIONS
7 GENERATIONS
CLEAN UP TRAINING
THE CHALLENGE
OF THE TUNDRA
KEYS TO ENDING
BURNING
-------
The Challenge
IN THIS ISSUE:
CHALLENGE
%- THE TRIBAL VOICE
Communities <
Training Continues After
7 Generation Classes End . . . . (
FEATURE:
CHALLENGES FOR
ALASKA NATIVE
VILLAGES
Alaska Villages Profiled
Selawik Accepts the Challenge
of the Tundra 10
Beyond Barriers: Cleanups Give
Villages a Fresh New Look ..13
Bridges of Power:
Leveraging Resources Through
Collaboration: The Key to Ending
Burning? 17
Charting Their Own Course:
Kokhanok Village Uses "Real Life"
Examples to Teach Kids 19
RESOURCES 21
& CONTACTS
- KIDS PAGE
United States Environmental
Protection Agency
Solid Waste and Emergency
Response (5306W)
www.epa.gov/tribalmsw
Janice Johnson, Creative Director
Region 10 Contributor:
Joe Sarcone
Tne word "Alaska" conjures images of tundra, rugged terrain, and
narsh conditions. This stereotype, however, doesn't pay tribute to
the state's diversity. Alaska is one-third the size of the continental
United States and is divided into five unique climate zones. Alaska
Natives are as diverse as the climate and topography of the state, from
the Sugpiaq Aleuts of the Alaskan peninsula to the Inupiat, Yup'ik, and
Siberian Eskimos of the Bering Sea and Arctic Ocean coasts to the
Athabascan people of the interior to the Tlingits, Haidas, and Tsimshians
of the southeast coast.
Although there are hundreds of
Alaska Native villages, and each vil-
lage has a unique culture and histo-
ry, Alaska Natives are united in
their quest for funding, recognition,
and social justice.
Raven Sheldon of
Selawik village
believes, "Everyone
is entitled to basic
services. The tribes
up here are 3, 4, or
even 5 years behind
tribes in the lower
48 states when it
comes to being able
to provide basic
services for mem-
bers." Tribal leaders
throughout Alaska
are working to
secure services that
are critical to the
health and safety of
their people. Proper
solid waste management ranks near
the top of the list.
Many Alaska Native villages do not
have the funding, technical expert-
ise, staff, or equipment required to
close open dumps, or ensure safe
disposal of solid wastes. Common
difficulties associated with solid
waste management in Alaska Native
villages include:
"I want the people who
read this issue of the Tribal
Waste journal to understand
the big picture. I want to
open peoples' eyes and
focus more attention on
Alaska. Federal agencies
should send representatives
to visit Alaska villages to
gain a better understanding
of our situation. Tribes up
here are being overlooked."
—Raven Sheldon, Selawik Village
Residents import and dispose of
manufactured goods that gener-
ate plastic, metal, and paper
waste.
A remote location makes
shipping (back-
hauling) waste dif-
ficult and
expensive.
• Permitted land-
fills are more
expensive to build
and maintain than
open dumps.
• Burning waste
reduces waste
volume, but con-
centrates toxic
materials and
produces harmful
smoke.
The villages fea-
tured in this issue
of the Tribal Waste journal have
overcome some of these common
obstacles through creativity, persist-
ence, and partnerships.
Environmental trainers gave vil-
lagers the tools to tap into the lead-
ership and creative potential of the
community. Partnerships enabled
them to leverage private, state, and
federal resources to achieve commu-
nity goals.
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TRIBAL WASTE JOURNAL
Open dumps such as this are common in rural Alaska, especially in regions
dominated by tundra.
Considering Culture and
Climate
Villages interviewed are working to
implement solid waste management
practices that are compatible with
the local environment and culture.
For thousands of years, Alaska
Natives lived subsistence lifestyles,
hunting and gathering to survive
and producing very little waste.
Rosalie Kalistook, environmental
planner for the Association of
Village Council Presidents explains,
"In the past, people did not gener-
ate a lot of trash. Any garbage they
produced came from the land. They
used to bury bones from terrestrial
animals under the ground, giving
them back to Mother Nature." The
biodegradable nature of the waste
stream changed as nomadic tribes
assumed a sedentary lifestyle, and
Alaska Natives began to consume
outside goods. Villages are inundat-
ed with plastic, metal, and paper
goods and packaging, but most of
them do not export waste. This
change in lifestyle has created waste
management problems that did not
exist in the past.
Some Alaska Natives, such as the
Athabascans, were traditionally
highly mobile. According to Roy
Andrew of Kokhanok, "Between
1955 and 1963, our people gave up
the nomadic life style and settled in
Kokhanok permanently." As a
result, community members became
more dependent on durable goods
such as snowmobiles and appliances.
There are five distinct climate zones
in Alaska—arctic, interior, west
coast, south-central, and maritime
(which is further subdivided into
western maritime and eastern mar-
itime). Each climate zone has spe-
cific temperature and precipitation
patterns. These patterns, along with
differences in underlying bedrock,
produce characteristic soils and veg-
etation patterns, from grassland tun-
dra in the arctic to temperate
rainforest in the southeast. Solid
waste management solutions must
be compatible with, among other
factors, the distinct climate and
soils of each village.
Tundra dominates the west coast
and arctic regions of Alaska, where
a thin layer of soil rests on top of
permafrost, a permanently frozen
layer of ground. Open dumps and
landfills can exert pressure on the
permafrost and cause it to melt. As
the permafrost melts, the ground
begins to sink. Some villages have
discovered disposal options that pre-
serve the tundra, which is not
resilient once damaged. For exam-
ple, Selawik is planning to build
above ground disposal areas sur-
rounded by berms and fill them with
special storage bags to prevent waste
and leachate from disturbing the
tundra.
Solid waste management planners
for St. Paul Island must take into
consideration sandy shorelines in
addition to a treeless tundra interi-
or. Residents are working to open a
new landfill and close an old one,
which is located in a sand dune.
Landfill leachate percolates quickly
through sandy soils and ocean winds
blow plastic bags and other waste
onto the tundra.
Unlike Selawik and St. Paul Island,
Chilkat Indian Village is located in
southeast Alaska on permeable silt
soil rather than tundra or sand.
While Chilkat's environmental
planner does not need to worry
about protecting permafrost, she
must consider the impacts of the
village landfill on a nearby river.
Leachate from the landfill could
potentially move through the silt
soil into Chilkat River.
''Alaska has five distinct
regions with different cul-
tures and climates. You
can't develop a single
solid waste management
plan for every community
in Alaska because each
community is unique."
—Patricia Warren, environmental
planner, Chilkat Indian Village
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TRIBAL WASTE JOURNAL
THE TRIBAL
VOICE
7 Generations Training Empowers
People to Clean Up Communities
Against the vastness and diversity of Alaska, one environmental trainer stands out in the eyes and hearts
of Alaska Native villagers: Bill Stokes and his "7 Generations Training." The TWJ set out to explore
how a white engineer from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) in
Anchorage could illicit such heartfelt praise from so many villagers, many of whom still view white men with
suspicion and mistrust and, for years, hated the ADEC for its strict regulatory policies.
Expecting to ask Mr. Stokes how he inspired so many, the trainer turned the interview into a learning session
filled with stories, questions, and exercises—much like the ones that the 300 Alaska Native villagers have experi-
enced since the training began in 1997. The following are excerpts of TWJ's interview with Mr. Stokes, including
how the training came about, how it respects village culture and tradition, and how countless Alaska Natives,
including elders and children, have been inspired to improve the health and well-being of their communities.
TWJ: What prompted development
of the 1 Generations Training?
Mr. Stokes: When I began at
ADEC, the standard operating pro-
cedure was strict enforcement of
regulations. ADEC staff were hated
by the villages. I quickly realized
that the villages needed technical
assistance, not regulation. They
needed to know how to manage
hazardous waste, used oil, and other
wastes. I also saw that villages need-
ed to own the problems and solu-
tions. Compliance by enforcement
is dictatorial. Compliance by agree-
ment is understanding. We simply
had to explain the hazard and its
harm to the villages, and then let
them make their own choices and
decisions.
TWJ: Since you were an outsider
and worked for a regulatory agency,
why do you think villagers accepted
your advice?
Mr. Stokes: Whenever I visited a
village I always made sure to ask the
village council for permission. That
way, I came to the village as a guest.
Once in a village, I watched, lis-
tened, and learned. I never told
them, "You must do this," or "You
are required to do that." If I saw a
problem, I explained the harm or the
hazard. I said, "If this is important to
you, and you want to do something
about it, I will do everything I can to
help you. If not, I will leave."
At one village I visited, for example,
they were burning Styrofoam. I told
the village council that Styrofoam
smoke is very toxic, and it's affecting
the whole village. I told them, "It's
your choice whether you do some-
thing about this or not. You live
here. If it's important to you, you will
find a way to stop." Six months lat-
ter, the council banned the burning.
TWJ: Did some villagers ever refuse
to change?
Mr. Stokes: I was in a village above
the Arctic Circle. They were furious
because they felt they were being
done in by the white man. I listened
for awhile. Then, I took the council
to one of their dumps, filled with
refrigerators, Freon, and other
household materials. I told them,
"You can't yell at someone else for
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TRIBAL WASTE JOURNAL
polluting your environment when,
in fact, you're doing it yourself." It's
interesting to see their reaction. I
watch their eyes—the view ports of
their hearts—see how the village's
contribution adds to the problem.
TWJ: There are so many Alaska
Native villages. How did you visit
all of them?
Mr. Stokes: By 1997, I had con-
ducted more than 20 village envi-
ronmental assessments, and the
requests from the villages far out-
stripped my ability to do them. At
this point, I realized that I needed
an environmental toolbox that
allowed me to train the villages to
conduct their own environmental
assessments and educate themselves.
It was at this point that I began
developing a rough draft of what
Sue Unger finalized as 7
Generation?,: Addressing Village
Environmental Issues for the Future
Generations of Rural Alaska.
TWJ: How do the environmental
tools you developed work?
Mr. Stokes: The first part of the 7
Generations training is the environ-
mental planning survey, and the sec-
ond is the technical environmental
survey. The planning survey is used
to help a community identify issues
and build a consensus on priorities.
When you survey 100 percent of a
community, the community mem-
bers have essentially voted on the
issue. Tribal council meetings can be
a lot like dog fights. There's a lot of
internal politics. The survey takes
the politics out of these decisions
because the community speaks and
says, "We want this fixed." The sur-
vey also helps create ownership over
the issue and empowers villagers to
solve the problem themselves.
The technical environmental survey
helps villagers know the right ques-
tions to ask so that they can check
the viability of a facility. For exam-
ple, someone who knows nothing
about a water system, but knows the
right questions to ask, can get a good
idea of how well the system is work-
ing and whether or not the operator
is doing a good job by using this tool.
It tells you all the questions you need
to ask to get a thorough assessment
of village environmental facilities.
TWJ: We understand your training
program will cease to exist as of July
30, 2003. How do you feel about
this decision?
Mr. Stokes: We're finding that com-
munities now come to the ADEC and
say "These are our issues, how can you
help us fix them?" not "Can you fix
them for us?" This is a huge change
from 10 years ago. More importantly,
we have trained more than 300 peo-
ple and addressed more than 10,000
school children. These are the people
who will keep 7 Generations alive.
TRAINING EXERCISES TOUCH THE HEART
Bill Stokes understands that change occurs when people are moved by their hearts, not
their minds. "Our culture and values live in our hearts," he says. So, he starts his training
with the premise that pollution has a "real world" impact on people's value systems. A
variety of techniques, including exercises, stories, and questions allow villagers to experi-
ence this principle first in their hearts and their own lives. He then offers them environmen-
tal tools that they can use to improve village life as a whole.
Exercise 1. Participants start by listing four of their values in one column, and four pollutants in their
lives in another. "In many cases," Mr. Stokes explains, "this may be the first time that a villager sees how their value of
cultural preservation could be impacted by a pollutant in their life, such as alcoholism." He says many elders have even
cried when they saw how the pollutants in their lives are impacting their values. Since people have some control over
their values, Mr. Stokes believes participants then become more willing to own both the problem and the solution.
Next, the training moves to the community as a whole so villagers understand how their choices and actions can
contribute to pollution of their entire village. Again, he brings the ideas of ownership and responsibility back to
their own lives. "During all of my training sessions, I always tell participants to look out the window, and I ask
them, "What do you see in the village that you don't like?" The stuff in the dump doesn't grow there, we put it
there." Then he tells them, "If you don't fix it, your grandchildren will have to live with it."
Exercise 2. To help empower villagers to see beyond their problems and begin to look for ways they can improve
the situation, Mr. Stokes uses another simple exercise. In column A, participants list four main environmental prob-
lems in their community. In Column B, they list three solutions to each of these problems. In this way, Mr. Stokes
explains, "Villagers not only make the issue theirs, but also the solutions." He encourages participants to start by
making changes in their own house before they tackle more complicated environmental problems.
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TRIBAL WASTE JOURNAL
Training Continues After 7 Generations Classes End
Bill Stokes' 7 Generations training workshops have recently been phased out, but a cadre of enthusiastic
students are now assuming the teaching responsibility for their villages, providing them with the knowl-
edge and tools required to prioritize and tackle serious environmental problems. The village environ-
mental planners we interviewed are combining the tools from the 7 Generations training with field experience,
local traditions, and other training to create successful education and outreach programs. The following is a
summary of their activities.
Inspired by Mr. Stokes' training,
Roy Andrew, president of the
Kokhanok Village Council, returned
to his village and created an envi-
ronmental survey to assess commu-
nity priorities and build support for
his village's solid waste management
program. He invited every adult to
participate in the decision-making
process by answering questions such
as:
• How do you rate the impor-
tance of different solid waste
programs?
• Is it important to start teaching
school students about environ-
mental issues?
• How should Kokhanok Village
Council inform you of environ-
mental issues within the vil-
lage?
Mr. Andrew supplemented survey
results with his own observations
about the community to develop an
environmental plan. For example,
he noticed that a comprehensive
village cleanup in 2001 produced
mixed emotional reactions. After
the event, a sense of sadness and
gloom pervaded the community.
Some of the elders felt that discard-
ing abandoned items that had been
part of the village for more than 40
years removed part of its identity.
At the same time, villagers experi-
enced joy and felt cleansed, physi-
cally and spiritually. Based on
observations like this one, Mr.
Andrew decided to draft an envi-
ronmental plan that respects
Kokhanok traditions, incorporates
aspects of local culture, and address-
es the concerns raised by communi-
ty members in the environmental
survey.
Patricia Warren of Chilkat Indian
Village found that village-oriented
leadership experiences and courses
on solid waste management issues
TIPS
FROM TRIBES
Look for workshops and
courses that:
• Provide planning tools
for small communities.
• Demonstrate how to
involve village residents.
• Present funding opportu-
nities and explain grant
requirements.
• Facilitate networking
with representatives
from funding agencies
and other villages.
• Foster the technical
expertise required to
tackle environmental
issues in rural Alaska.
helped her assume a greater envi-
ronmental leadership role, while
strengthening her village's solid
waste management programs. As an
Americorps volunteer in the village,
Ms. Warren developed leadership
skills that allowed her to build com-
munity support for a recycling pro-
gram. She enlisted local students to
paint a new recycling center and
educate the community about it.
Impressed with her enthusiasm and
skills, the tribal council advanced
her into a new position—environ-
mental planner. In her new role,
Ms. Warren obtained technical
expertise on solid waste manage-
ment plans by attending the
University of Northern Arizona's
Institute of Tribal Environmental
Professionals Solid Waste
Management course. After working
with a consultant to draft a solid
waste management plan for Chilkat
Indian Village, she enrolled in a
University of Alaska environmental
technology course and revised the
plan with her professor's assistance.
Likewise, Carole Holley of Galena
Village used the leadership skills
and technical expertise she obtained
through similar courses and field
experience to create a successful
education and outreach program in
her community. According to Ms.
Holley, "The best way to get people
to participate in cleanups is to use
every possible method for informa-
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TRIBAL WASTE JOURNAL
GRANT WRITING ASSISTANCE: JUST A PHONE CALL AWAY
When an environmental planner in Tuluksak, Alaska, needs help writing a grant, she
contacts the Association of Village Council Presidents (AVCP). AVCP is one of 12 /Ja
nonprofit organizations managed by the various tribes of Alaska—each organiza- /r^
tion serves villages in a specific region. AVCP provides social services and techni- iLf*
cal assistance to the 56 federally recognized tribes of the Yukon Kuskokwim lH[
Delta, directing villagers with environmental concerns to Rosalie Kalistook, a ^j
woman with answers.
One of AVCP's tasks is to help villages build solid waste management programs from scratch by provid-
ing grant-writing assistance. At first glance, grant applications can be daunting. Experienced grant writers
are rare in Alaska Native villages, and more than half of the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta tribes have never
received funding for environmental projects. Ms. Kalistook is working to change this statistic.
Before joining AVCP's staff, Ms. Kalistook wrote solid waste management grants for her own village.
She relates to villagers struggling with applications. When these individuals call for advice, Ms.
Kalistook explains the requirements and sends samples of completed grant applications. AVCP urges
villages to develop long-term plans and sustainable programs to increase their chances of receiving
funding.
AVCP encourages villages to network and share information on funding opportunities and environmen-
tal programs. Ms. Kalistook organizes an annual conference, for example, enabling villagers to discuss
traditional environmental practices and share solid waste management success stories. In 2003, she
invited a tribal administrator, a tribal council member, an elder, and a student from each village of the
Yukon Kuskokwim Delta.
tion dispersal, including standing
outside with a sign." Ms. Holley uses
posters and the public radio channel
to broadcast information about
cleanup events. Prizes provide addi-
tional incentive for residents to dis-
pose of household hazardous waste
and used oil properly. Ms. Holley
writes articles for the tribal newslet-
ter to keep the community informed
of her department's activities. She
also started a recycling club to edu-
cate students about proper solid
waste management. If Ms. Holley
left Galena tomorrow, her programs
would continue to flourish because
the community supports them.
Ann Wyatt and Paula Peterson,
environmental planners on Prince
of Wales Island, attended a grant
management training in Anchorage
after receiving Indian General
Assistance Program (IGAP) funding
from EPA. According to Ms.
Peterson, "One of our greatest chal-
lenges was learning how to meet
EPA's requirements after we
received IGAP funding." The train-
ing helped both women submit
progress reports on time and use the
grants properly, making them strong
candidates for future funding. The
IGAP grant management training
also offers environmental planners
an opportunity to meet individuals
from other villages, discuss common
problems, and learn from one
another. The Alaska Native Health
Board and other organizations spon-
sor conferences that offer similar
networking opportunities.
Training and education can also be
used to build human capital within
a village and create momentum for
solid waste management programs.
When Jeanette Carlson organized a
cleanup in Chignik Bay, she hired
workers from a pool of residents cer-
tified to handle hazardous materials.
In 2002, these individuals received
HAZWOPER (hazardous waste
operations and emergency response)
training and learned about the
Occupational Health & Safety
Administration's requirements for
handling hazardous waste. The
training proved to be an asset—with
properly trained community mem-
bers, Ms. Carlson did not need to
hire an outside contractor to per-
form the cleanup.
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TRIBAL WASTE JOURNAL
ALASKA VILLAGES
PROFILED IN THIS ISSUE
5ELAWIK
Selawik is an Inupiat Eskimo community active in traditional subsistence
fishing and hunting. The village is home to 792 tribal members and less
than a dozen non-tribal members. During the summer, many residents
move to subsistence camps near the village, and move back to town for
the winter. Because of its location on the tundra 10 miles above the
Arctic Circle, the village uses a system of boardwalks rather than roads.
Arctic
Ocean
GALENA (LOUDEN)
The Native Village of Galena, also known as Louden, is located
on the Yukon River. Louden was a semi-permanent summer fish-
ing camp established by nomadic Koyukon Athabascans. In
1918, lead miners established Galena 14 miles down-river from
Louden, and Athabascans living in Louden began moving to
Galena. As a result, the Native Village of Galena is also known
as Louden Village. Not connected to the state road system, the
village relies on planes landing at Galena Air Field and barge
service for supplies.
ST. PAUL ISLAND
Located north of the Aleutian Islands approximately 300 miles from
the mainland, St. Paul Island is the largest of the five Pribilof Islands.
This 14-mile long by 8-mile wide island of treeless tundra and sandy
shorelines is home to more than 500 people. Russian fur traders were
the first outsiders to reach St. Paul, but fishing eventually replaced fur
trading as the main occupation on the island. Thanks to U.S. govern-
ment investment in running water, sewer, roads, and other conven-
iences, St. Paul is one of the most modern villages in Alaska.
SELAWIK
Kotze
GALENA
Bering
Sea
VILLAGE OF CHIGNIK BAY
Chignik Bay, accessible only by sea and
air, has a winter population of less than
100. During the spring and summer when
the local salmon canneries reopen, the
population multiplies 10-fold. Built in the
late 1800s, the local cannery attracts
workers from all over the world, making
Chignik Bay a melting pot of different cul-
tures. The name Chignik is an Aleut word
meaning "great wind" and legend has it
that storms are born in Chianik.
KOKHANOK
ST. PAUL ISLAND
C\ IIGNIK BAY,
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TRIBAL WASTE JOURNAL
KOKHANOK
Kokhanok Village lies on the shores of Lake Iliamna, the largest fresh-water lake in
Alaska and a major spawning ground for sockeye salmon. This village of approxi-
mately 1 70 people, became a permanent settlement in 1959. Prior to this time,
families moved continually, fishing, hunting, and trapping game for subsistence.
CHILKAT INDIAN VILLAGE
(CHILKAT VILLAGE OF KLUKWAN)
Chilkat Indian Village, also known as the Chilkat Village of Klukwan, is
located on the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. Home to approximately
150 people, the village lies in the Chilkat River valley and is attached to
the Alaska road system. All five species of Pacific Salmon run up the
Chilkat River and are a valued resource. Unlike many tribes in Alaska,
Chilkat Indian Nation owns the land in the village.
Fairbanks
KLAWOCK COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION
The four tribal villages of Klawock (pop. 673), Kasaan (pop. 54),
Hydaburg (pop. 369), and Craig (pop. 1,500) make up the
Klawock Cooperative Association. The villages are located on
Prince of Wales Island, the third largest island in the United
States. The island's mill and cannery provide the majority of jobs
on the island. Islanders communicate with the rest of the world
via satellite telephone and mail.
Anchorage
CHILKAT
(VILLAGE OF
KLUKWAN)
uneau
Pacific
Ocean
KLAWOCK.
^M **** •> A
CRAI6©@K
©KA55AN
HYDABU
ice of
Wales Island
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TRIBAL WASTE JOURNAL
10
Selawik Accepts the Challenge of the Tundra
Like many Alaska Native villages, Selawik has more than its share of
solid waste management challenges. Located 10 miles above the
Arctic Circle on the banks of the Selawik River, geographic isola-
tion, extreme temperatures and winds, and the melting and freezing of the
tundra makes road-building and trench-digging difficult or impossible.
With perseverance, patience, and ingenuity, however, Selawik faced these
issues head-on and developed an integrated solid waste management pro-
gram to solve its number one problem: an uncontrolled open dump.
The entrance of Selawik's dump
stands a mere 1,500 feet from the
edge of the village.
Selawik's current dump is little more
than an unlined, unfenced open
area whose boundary continues to
creep closer and closer to the vil-
lage. Today, the dump's entrance
stands a mere 1,500 feet from the
edge of the village. Joe Sarcone of
EPA Region 10 describes Selawik's
dump as "one of the worst I have
seen." Raven Sheldon of the
Selawik environmental program
agrees. "Our community hates visit-
ing our existing dump site . . . and
everybody knows it is too close to
town. All you have to do is look out
the back window of our medical
clinic or last row of houses to see it
or smell it."
Adding to the concern about the
dump, a recent epidemiological
study of the villagers revealed that
simply visiting the dump greatly
increased the risk of illness.
Villagers have also noted that pollu-
tion from the dump, such as blown
litter, smoke, and leachate, nega-
tively impacts subsistence practices.
Many villagers, for example, will
not fish in certain parts of the river
because of leachate contamination.
"I hope that other tribes can
benefit from our experience
with designing a new type
of landfill. Many villages in
Alaska face similar obsta-
cles. We can help tribes
overcome them. We want
to create a step-by-step
guide to help tribes build a
landfill like ours."
— Raven Sheldon, Selawik
Environmental Program
From Dump to Landfill
Through the process of developing a
long-term solid waste management
plan (made possible through a 1999
EPA grant), the community deter-
mined that the central component
to solving the problem of the dump
would be constructing a state per-
mitted landfill.
Selawik's first challenge was obtain-
ing a Class III permit from the
Alaska Department of
Environmental Conservation
(DEC). Alaska DEC returned
Selawik's first landfill permit appli-
cation with a series of questions
concerning the proposed facility's
impact the tundra. In response,
Selawik reassessed its landfill design
and selected a new, innovative tech-
nology that is "the newest trend in
Alaska," according to Mr. Sheldon.
Recommended by an engineering
consultant who initially was provid-
ed through the Central Council of
Tlingit-Haida Indian Tribes of
Alaska, "Super Sacks" became the
answer to Selawik's landfill chal-
lenges. Super Sacks are large bulk
shipping bags—the average size is 3
feet square and 4 to 5 feet tall—
made from woven polypropylene
(plastic). They weigh only about 5
pounds when empty, but are
designed to hold loads from 1,500 to
4,000 pounds.
The plan is to fill the Super Sacks
with non-combustible waste and
burn box ash residue and then place
the full bags into a disposal area sur-
rounded with berms above the tun-
dra. Selawik decided to use this
above-ground design to avoid dam-
aging the tundra. Once built, the
new landfill will operate for at least
20 years, according to Mr. Sheldon.
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11
TRIBAL WASTE JOURNAL
The new landfill will be connected
to the village by a new gravel road,
compliments of the Alaska
Department of Transportation
(DOT) and other sources. At the
suggestion of EPA's Joe Sarcone,
Selawik contacted DOT to inquire
about funding for a road. DOT was
very receptive and sent representa-
tives to Selawik for a site visit. After
seeing the condition of the village's
open dump, DOT committed funds
to build the road.
To prevent the new landfill from
becoming another open dump, the
village plans to limit public access to
the posted hours of operation when
facility staff are on site. In addition,
villagers can only drop off waste at
the facility transfer station or the
salvage pad (see next section for
more details), not the burn box or
landfill itself.
A Comprehensive Facility
Because its solid waste man-
agement plan called for the
construction of a compre-
hensive new waste handling
and disposal facility, Selawik
began work on two other
important elements of the
facility (in addition to the
landfill)—a facility transfer
station, and a burn box—
even while the landfill pro] -
ect was being reviewed and
redesigned.
Facility Transfer Station:
The facility transfer station
is where villagers will drop
off certain types of waste
and reusable or recyclable
items that the mini-transfer
stations (described on page
12) cannot handle. Design
plans include:
• Separate bins for waste and
recyclables, as well as a series of
large, covered totes ("fish
totes") for subsistence wastes,
lead-acid batteries, container-
ized used oil, and other haz-
ardous wastes.
• A salvage pad and prefabricated
shed for storing reusable or
recyclable items including vehi-
cles, vehicle parts (including
tires), equipment and appli-
ances, furniture, toys, construc-
tion materials, and
safely-contained hazardous
materials such as paints.
Reusable items will be resold
with all proceeds going back
into the solid waste manage-
ment program account, and
non-reusable items will be
recycled.
Burn Box: Selawik's solid waste
management plan includes the use
of a burn box to reduce the volume
of waste and destroy wastes that
attract insects, birds, bears, dogs,
and other vermin and scavengers.
To ensure worker and village safety
and meet the state opacity require-
ments, burn box operators will sort
waste prior to burning and regulate
the waste's moisture content accord-
ing to the village's strict burn box
operating procedures outlined its
Solid Waste Operations and
Maintenance Plan.
Short Term Solutions with
Long-Term Benefits
While waiting for the landfill permit
and funding, the community contin-
ued with several complementary
endeavors to support both its short-
term needs and long-term goals.
"We had some setbacks in the last
few years . . . but we decided we had
to upgrade our existing site to at
least reduce the most severe risks to
our community health and the envi-
ronment," Mr. Sheldon explains.
Selawik's open dump during the summer. Note the remains of the containing fence
destroyed by the wind.
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TRIBAL WASTE JOURNAL
The village's original open dump on the bank of the Selawik River.
To this end, the village used its first
Open Dump Cleanup Grant funding
of $250,000 to: 1) purchase a bull-
dozer to improve conditions at the
existing dump, 2) implement a
waste collection program and design
mini-transfer stations, 3) begin a
recycling program, and 4) buy a
used oil burner.
Bulldozer: The community pur-
chased a new bulldozer to close por-
tions of the current dump site. The
bulldozer is used to push waste back
from the edge of the boardwalk, and
compact and cover it with gravel.
At the new landfill, the bulldozer
will be used to push waste into the
burn box and load ash into the
Super Sacks.
Waste Collection and Mini-
Transfer Stations: Selawik and
Alaska DEC officials both agree
that an effective waste collection
system is needed to ensure the suc-
cess of the new landfill facility. Such
a system makes it unnecessary for
villagers to visit the facility, except
to drop off large items or large vol-
umes of subsistence waste. This pro-
cedure allows landfill operators to
control dumping and manage the
facility.
Because full door-to-door waste col-
lection service is too expensive
(Selawik currently provides a limit-
ed door-to-door service for village
elders and others requiring special
assistance), Selawik is planning to
build five mini-transfer stations
within the village. The sites will
consist of waste bins on 3-foot deep
pads of gravel and insulation to pro-
tect the tundra. To empty the bins,
the village will purchase a Bobcat
forklift—the only machine small
enough to fit on the 6-foot wide
boardwalk. Once the new landfill is
operational, the Bobcat also will be
used to move and stack filled Super
Sacks.
Recycling: Selawik purchased ship-
ping containers to store and ship
aluminum cans, lead-acid batteries,
non-reusable computers, and other
recyclable household hazardous
wastes. Since Selawik is only serv-
iced by barge once or twice each
summer, the village purchased a sec-
ond container to continue storing
recyclables while the first container
is barged down river. Materials are
barged to Anchorage where they are
either recycled or shipped to Seattle
for processing.
Used Oil Burner: Buying a used oil
burner solved two of Selawik's prob-
lems: 1) safe disposal of the large
amount of used oil generated by
ATVs, snow machines, and other
heavy equipment, and 2) heating
the storage shed that protects the
new bulldozer and other mechanical
equipment from the extreme arctic
temperatures.
Though all the pieces of its solid
waste management plan are not yet
in place and much work remains,
Selawik has shown that desire and
determination, coupled with signifi-
cant community and outside assis-
tance, can help create solid waste
solutions for small, remote Arctic
villages.
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13
TRIBAL WASTE JOURNAL
Beyond Barriers:
Cleanups Give
Villages a Fresh
New Look
Fi
or decades, the debris piled
up along roads and near
homes in Kokhanok Village.
Like many other villages, the snow
machines, appliances, storage
drums, tires, batteries, and other debris left Kokhanok in need of a makeover. But in 2001, a comprehensive
cleanup gave the community a fresh new look.
From funding to tribal council approval, and from "junkoholics" to the weather, the obstacles faced by Alaska
Native villages planning cleanups vary widely. Thanks to new funding rules, trained environmental managers
and workers, and community support, villages such as Kokhanok are overcoming these barriers and achieving
results.
Several of the villages we spoke with cited funding as the key obstacle to cleanup success. During an Indian
General Assistance Program (IGAP) training session in 2000, one villager dumped a waste basket onto the
floor and said, "You can look at it. You can talk about it. You can even write a plan on how to pick it up. But
you can't pick it up!" At the time, Alaska Native villages could not use IGAP funds to implement environmen-
tal programs. They hired and trained environmental staff, planned cleanup projects . . . and waited. In 2001,
EPA amended the IGAP funding restrictions, allowing many villages to move forward with cleanups. Some vil-
lages, however, lack IGAP grants, and even grantees face additional challenges.
Village of Chignik Bay
Jeanette Carlson, environmental
coordinator for the village of
Chignik Bay, took advantage of
EPA's new funding rules and includ-
ed a cleanup in her 2002 IGAP
work plan. She organized several
meetings with the tribal and city
councils to obtain support for her
project, which addressed abandoned
vehicles, storage drums, batteries,
and debris from an old open dump.
Chignik Bay is only accessible by air
and sea, so the tribal council hired a
barge company to haul debris from
the community to a landfill in
Kodiak. The city council supplied
heavy equipment, such as bulldoz-
CLEANUP
TIPS
FROM TRIBES
Meet with tribal and city lead-
ers to obtain project support.
Locate an adequate supply of
workers qualified to handle
hazardous waste.
Allow extra time to gather
items that will be hauled out.
Expect pockets of resistance,
particularly from "junkoholics."
Plan for weather-related delays.
Identify hidden costs such as
tipping fees at the landfill.
ers, to move items from the village,
but did not provide staff to operate
the machinery and remove haz-
ardous materials such as antifreeze
from old cars. In the past, Ms.
Carlson used IGAP funding to offer
hazardous waste operations and
emergency response (HAZWOPER)
training to community members.
Therefore, she was able to locate
three qualified residents to complete
the job.
It took longer than Ms. Carlson
expected for the HAZWOPER
workers to move all of the debris to
the dock, and mother nature inter-
rupted operations. Sub-zero temper-
atures made it difficult to drain
fluids from vehicles. Most commu-
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TRIBAL WASTE JOURNAL
14
nity members supported the cleanup
effort, reporting old vehicles or
other litter to the HAZWOPER
team. One man, however, resisted
because he was attached to the
items lying on his property.
Despite minor obstacles, the
cleanup was successful and commu-
nity members applauded the results.
The HAZWOPER workers collect-
ed more than 60 old propane tanks,
four totes of lead-acid batteries, and
34 abandoned vehicles. To keep the
village clean, the tribal and city
councils passed a joint resolution to
enforce a no dumping or littering
ordinance in subsistence and recre-
ational areas.
Galena (Louden) Village
Carole Holley, environmental pro-
gram director for the Louden Tribal
Council, also organized an ambitious
junk car removal project, supple-
menting IGAP funding with free
services. She contacted Captain
Moore of Yutana Barge Lines and
asked him to haul the cars from her
community to Nenana for free.
Captain Moore's barge company was
involved in an illegal dumping law
suit in the late 1990s and agreed to
provide free back-hauling services for
villages as part of the settlement.
Captain Moore committed to the
junk car removal project immediate-
Kokhanok's HAZWOPER team removes batteries
and other hazardous materials.
ly. Ms. Holley also called
a railroad company at his
suggestion, which offered
to move the cars from
Nenana to Anchorage
for free.
After securing barge and
train service for the proj -
ect, Ms. Holley searched
for people to move the
cars from the village to
the barge. She
approached the city
council, which offered to provide
workers. Nearby villages also
expressed interest in participating
and promised to deliver cars to the
barge. Unfortunately, these villages
were unable to find volunteers to
move the cars and lacked funding to
hire workers. Despite a disappointing
turnout from surrounding communi-
ties, more than 40 junk cars were
removed from Galena and the project
was considered successful. When Ms.
Holley organizes another cleanup
event, she plans to help neighboring
villages obtain IGAP funding for it.
Kokhanok Village
While the village of Chignik Bay
and Louden Village relied on IGAP
funding and free services to com-
plete cleanup projects, Kokhanok
Village used an Alaska Native
Health Board (ANHB) solid waste
management grant.
Kokhanok hired 20 resi-
dents to move 50 truck-
loads of broken
appliances, cars, snow
machines, and other
items from the village to
the dump. During the
cleanup, workers built
storage boxes for batter-
ies; burned waste oil; and
collected pipes, wires,
and drums at central
locations. School
children contributed to
-Pi
Abandoned vehicles waiting for the barge in
Chignik Bay.
the effort by cleaning up litter
around the village.
At first the cleanup project in
Kokhanok produced mixed emo-
tions. Some of the elders felt that
the abandoned items were exten-
sions of themselves and resisted the
cleanup, but they were impressed
with the results—they felt cleansed.
St. Paul Island
Like Kokhanok Village, St. Paul
Island located funding to supple-
ment its IGAP grant. At one time,
the residents of St. Paul Island used
55-gallon oil drums as garbage cans.
Frequently, the open drums blew
over, allowing foxes, seagulls, and
stray cats to strew waste throughout
the village. The Alaska Intertribal
Council provided St. Paul Island
with money to build sturdy, wooden
containers and replace the drums.
After completing the new contain-
ers, environmental planners used
community cleanups to give the
island a makeover.
In addition to cleaning up munici-
pal solid waste, St. Paul Island tack-
led a marine debris problem. Each
year, tons of derelict fishing gear
wash up on the island's shores, lit-
tering beaches and trapping local
wildlife. In 2003, workers gathered
25,000 pounds of marine debris and
shipped it to a mainland landfill.
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15
TRIBAL WASTE JOURNAL
Bridges of Power:
Leveraging Resources
Through Partnerships
Known for their carving skills, the Tlingit and Haida of Southeast Alaska
create beautiful totem poles. Their carvings appear similar at first glance.
Tlingit figures are isolated from each other while Haida figures intercon-
nect and overlap. Like the Haida figures, these villages are forming connections
with other villages, businesses, and governments. Many Alaska Native villages
recognize that some partnerships can produce benefits.
While environmental planners on Prince of Wales Island answer to different tribal
councils, they believe that partnerships are a source of support and call each other
frequently to share ideas. In addition to providing inspiration, partnerships helped
the villages we interviewed access funding, free labor, and technical assistance.
From creating local alliances to building relationships with federal officials, these
villages are reaching out and reaping rewards.
LJLJ
tic*
Local Alliances
In most Alaska Native villages, two
distinct governing bodies—the tribal
council and the city council—deter-
mine the fate of the community.
Tribal and city councils can work
synergistically to plan, fund, and
staff solid waste programs. For exam-
ple, the tribal and city councils of
St. Paul Island are working to create
a sustainable recycling program. The
tribe won grants for storage contain-
ers, balers, and other recycling
equipment and would like the city
to provide funding to collect materi-
als and maintain the equipment.
In Galena Village, city employees
collect waste from residents and staff
a landfill, but the
Louden Tribal
Council is responsi-
ble for environ-
mental protection.
Carole Holley,
environmental
planner for the Louden Tribal
Council, cultivated a relationship
with the facilities manager for the
city. As a result, the tribal and city
councils are working to integrate
environmental protection into solid
waste management. The two gov-
erning bodies don't always agree, but
open communication enables them
to sort through differences and reach
consensus.
In addition to reaching out to the
city council, tribal environmental
planners can build relationships
with individual villagers and ask
them to volunteer expertise or time
to solid waste management pro-
grams. When Patricia Warren, of
Chilkat Indian
Village, decided to
establish a recycling
center in an old fire-
house, student volun-
teers provided free
labor for the project.
The students helped paint the build-
ing and set up containers for recycla-
ble materials. Villages on Prince of
Wales Island rely on volunteers to
assist with cleanup events.
Tribal environmental planners can
also cultivate local alliances by edu-
cating the community about their
programs. Patricia Warren is proof
that this strategy works—she
became so excited about environ-
mental issues that she decided to
serve her village as an Americorps
volunteer. Each year, the Rural
Alaska Community Action Program
uses a grant from Americorps to hire
25 individuals from Alaska Native
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TRIBAL WASTE JOURNAL
16
villages to serve their own commu-
nities. During her year of service,
Ms. Warren established a recycling
program and beautified Chilkat
Indian Village. After completing
these projects, the tribal council
hired her as an environmental plan-
ner.
Beyond Village Borders
Paula Peterson, environmental
planner for the Organized Village of
Kasaan, believes that partnerships
with other villages can supple-
ment local expertise and
resources. Prince of
Wales Island is home to
four tribal communi-
ties—Klawock,
Hydaburg, Craig, and
Kasaan. In 2000, these vil-
lages formed the Prince
of Wales Tribal
Environmental Coalition to coordi-
nate efforts between their EPA-
funded environmental departments.
In an early victory, the coalition
convinced the Alaska Inter-Tribal
Council to reverse a decision to
exclude Kasaan from an Integrated
Solid Waste Systems Project Grant.
Originally, the council awarded
funding to Klawock, Hydaburg, and
Craig, but not Kasaan. According to
Ms. Peterson, "Representatives from
Klawock, Hydaburg, and Craig real-
ized that their own villages would
receive less funding if the Alaska
Inter-Tribal Council provided fund-
Kasaan TEC
Entrance to the Klawock Transfer Station.
ing to Kasaan, but they didn't want
to leave any Native village behind."
Residents of Galena, Koyukuk,
Huslia, Ruby, Kaltag, and Nulato
understand the benefits of working
together. These villages comprise
the Yukon-Koyukuk Environmental
Consortium. Carole Holley works
for the Louden Tribal Council in
Galena but helps all of the villages
draft I GAP grant work plans and
apply for additional grants. In the
future, she would like members to
pool their resources and ship
waste out of the region.
Private Partnerships
Pay Off
Several of the villages we
interviewed convinced busi-
nesses to donate goods or
services by reminding them
that benevolent activities can boost
corporate image and attract new
customers. When the Prince of
Wales Tribal Environmental
Coalition organized an Earth Day
fair, local businesses agreed to
donate gifts and prizes for students.
When Carole Holley organized the
junk car cleanup for Yukon-Koyukuk
Environmental Consortium villages,
she asked Captain Moore of Yutana
Barge Lines to provide free hauling
service from Galena to Nenana.
Captain Moore agreed and suggested
that Ms. Holley call the Alaska
Railroad Corporation and ask them
to transport the cars
from Nenana to
Anchorage. According
to Ms. Holley, "We told
the railroad service that
Yutana was back-hauling
the cars for free and the
company agreed to help
out. In the end, we
removed between 40
and 50 cars from the
villages!"
"Reach out to other tribes.
Usually, they are willing to
help you, but they need to
know you need help."
—Paula Peterson,
environmental planner,
Organized Village of Kasaan
If they have extra space, some barge
services and airlines will backhaul
waste or recyclable materials for
free. Alaskans for Litter Prevention
and Recycling (ALPAR) established
a "Flying Cans" program that
matches villages with airlines that
volunteer to transport aluminum
cans to Anchorage. Galena partici-
pates in this program.
Cashing in on Government
Connections
Raven Sheldon of Selawik advises
villages to build a network of gov-
ernment contacts by approaching
state and federal officials at training
sessions and conferences. Villages
can demonstrate that they are com-
mitted to pursuing solutions by
keeping in touch with these individ-
uals. Networking paid off for
Selawik. Mr. Sheldon cultivated a
relationship with Joe Sarcone of
EPA, who eventually helped
Selawik obtain funding from many
sources.
Chignik Bay's environmental coordi-
nator, Jeanette Carlson, maintained
contact with EPA that helped keep
her informed of changes in IGAP
funding. When tribes became eligible
to use IGAP funds for project imple-
mentation, Ms. Carlson's EPA con-
tact let her know immediately, and
Chignik Bay diverted money to a
cleanup project.
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17
TRIBAL WASTE JOURNAL
Collaboration: The Key to Ending Burning?
m w I re^use to accePt that burning waste is the only option for managing waste in Alaska Native villages,"
I declares Carole Holley, environmental program director for the Louden Tribal Council. "Alaska Native
I villagers rely on the land for subsistence, and burning waste threatens this way of life," she explains.
Instead, Ms. Holley proposes creating a regional consortium of tribes to coordinate the back-hauling of all
waste from Alaska Native villages and is working with a contractor on a feasibility study for this plan. Through
such consortiums, she sees a viable way for the tribes to achieve regional waste management goals while
maintaining their sovereignty.
Recognizing it will not be easy to
eliminate burning, Ms. Holley is
counting on cooperation and part-
nerships to make back-hauling
waste possible. "I really think that
by working with neighboring vil-
lages, the Alaska Department of
Environmental Conservation
(DEC), and federal agencies that
Alaska Native villages can find a
solution to this problem," says Ms.
Holley.
To date, Ms. Holley, representing
the Yukon-Koyukuk Environmental
Consortium, has successfully negoti-
ated one such agreement with
Captain Moore of Yutana Barge
Lines. Under this agreement,
Captain Moore back-hauls junk
cars, snow machines, old boats,
refrigerators, and other large items
collected from Galena
and five neighboring
villages once a year.
Expanding this pro-
gram requires fund-
ing, but that is hard
to come by, says Ms.
Holley. Without it,
she explains, "we have
to rely on companies and individu-
als to sympathize with our situation
and donate services."
Chilkat Indian Village
Galena Village
In the meantime, Ms. Holley is edu-
cating leaders in the Louden Tribal
and Galena City Councils about the
harmful effects of burning wastes.
She is concerned that her village
and other villages are deciding to
burn without fully
understanding its
impacts upon their
health and wel-
fare. This problem
is exacerbated, she
asserts, "by gov-
ernment-spon-
sored grant
programs that offer
villages grants to purchase burn
boxes and provide technical assis-
tance to help them burn."
Bill Stokes of the Alaska DEC's
Rural Issues Program, understands
Ms. Holley's concern. He
believes that controlled
burning of waste is a
viable and effective vol-
ume reduction approach,
but he cautions: "It is not
free." When he visits a
village that is currently
burning its waste or con-
sidering this approach, he explains
that burning waste creates and emits
dioxins and numerous other danger-
ous pollutants, but lets them decide
what to do about it.
Patricia Warren, environmental
planner for Chilkat Indian Village,
elaborates about the decision Alaska
Native villagers face: "If we do not
burn our waste, dogs, bears,
foxes, flies, rats, and other
animals get into it and
carry diseases to the vil-
lage. We have to chose
between the lesser of two
evils—dioxin emissions or
disease carrying vermin."
win.*
When educating Louden
Tribal officials about
burning, Ms. Holley used an infor-
mational approach. She pointed out
the link between burning trash and
the emissions of the group of toxic
chemicals known as persistent
organic pollutants (POPs).
Previously, tribal council and other
village leaders expressed concern
about POPs in a letter they wrote to
support the Kyoto Protocol. POPs,
also referred to as persistent, bioac-
cumulative, and toxic pollutants
(PBTs), are highly toxic chemicals
that do not break down in the envi-
ronment.
By tying her message about the
harmful impacts of burning waste to
POPs, climate change, and the
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TRIBAL WASTE JOURNAL
18
THE HAZARDS OF
BURNING
The smoke from burning waste
(referred to as open or backyard
burning) is more than just an irri-
tating nuisance. It also contains
many harmful pollutants, including
particulate matter, sulfur dioxide,
lead, mercury, hexachlorobenzene,
and dioxins. These pollutants can
cause immediate and long-term
damage to the lungs, nervous sys-
tem, kidneys, or liver. Children, the
elderly, and those with preexisting
respiratory conditions are often
affected the most.
Dioxins are some of the most toxic
chemicals produced by open burn-
ing of household waste. They accu-
mulate in the food chain, are toxic
at extremely low levels, and are
linked to several health problems,
including cancer and developmen-
tal and reproductive disorders.
For more information on the
health and environmental hazards
of burning waste, including diox-
ins, visit EPA's Backyard Burning
msw/backyard/>.
Adapted from EPA's Tribal Leaders
Are Key to Reducing Backyard
Burning (EPA530-F-03- 016).
\
Kyoto Protocol, Ms. Holley
believes she's helping people
"understand how burning fits into
the big picture." So far, she's
found many people receptive to
the information because they
want their communities clean.
The city council, however, has
been more difficult to convince,
says Ms. Holley. Currently, the
city burns household waste in
piles at its Class III permitted
landfill and burns medical waste
behind the clinic, which is locat-
ed next to the public school. Ms.
Holley believes she has made
some progress in reaching city
officials. While the city believes it
needs to continue burning waste
to reduce the volume of trash,
certain materials, such as plastics,
are being separated and not
burned. The city has told Ms.
Holley that it will continue to
burn waste until she comes up
with a better solution.
As a first step towards finding that
solution, the Louden Tribal
Council Environmental Program
is building a waste transfer sta-
tion. In 2001, the village received
grants from the Alaska Native
Health Board, the Interagency
Working Group Tribal Open
Dump Cleanup Program, and the
Alaska Inter-Tribal Council
Integrated Solid Waste Systems
Project to plan, build, and equip a
transfer station. The transfer sta-
tion will house recycling opera-
tions and a new compacting
dumpster. The compacting dump-
ster reduces the volume of waste
and alleviates some of the need
for burning waste at the landfill.
It will also play a crucial role in
future waste back-hauling by com-
pacting waste to facilitate han-
dling and shipping.
Separating recyclables from waste
further reduces the amount of
waste destined for burning and the
landfill or needing to be back-
hauled. Arranging transport and
finding end users for recyclables
can be challenging, but it should
prove easier than arranging for
waste back-hauling and less costly
than paying for disposal.
The village currently recycles its
aluminum cans through ALPAR's
(Alaskans for Litter Prevention
and Recycling's) Flying Cans pro-
gram, a statewide back-hauling
program. Ms. Holley is investigat-
ing ways to expand the village's
recycling efforts beyond aluminum
cans. She has particularly high
hopes for recycling corrugated
cardboard, which comprises nearly
60 percent of the village's waste
stream.
While she realizes she has her
work cut out for her, Ms. Holley
remains optimistic that back-
hauling can become a viable
solution to Alaska Native villages'
waste management problems.
"There must be a way," she says,
"When you stop trying, you're not
going to find a solution."
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19
TRIBAL WASTE JOURNAL
Charting Their Own Course:
Kokhanok Village Uses "Real Life'
Examples to Teach Kids
Developing an environmental education pro-
gram for your village or tribe that reflects its
unique history, culture, and values is a lot
like navigating uncharted waters. That's what Roy
Andrew, president of the Kokhanok Village
Council (KVC), discovered when he decided to
pursue a customized approach to teaching that
used "real life examples taken from our own
people, village sites, problems, and history."
The KVC had decided to focus on
educating children because it recog-
nized that any money spent on
cleanups and other environmental
improvements would be wasted
unless the next generation under-
stood how the village's growth and
development had affected its envi-
ronment and learned safer disposal
practices. "We must impart our
knowledge to future generations so
that they don't repeat the same mis-
takes," Mr. Andrews asserts.
Like any maiden voyage, however,
Mr. Andrew's quest to develop a
unique education program encoun-
tered many difficulties. The biggest
setback occurred when Mr. Andrew,
fresh from college and full of "pride
in my work and my communication
skills," gave young village children
"college style lectures" on the envi-
ronment.
Instead of giving Mr. Andrews their
rapt attention, he says "the kids
became impatient, lost interest and
just endured what I had to say"
because their teachers were in the
room. The school subsequently can-
celled the lectures.
Feeling defeated and despairing, Mr.
Andrews thought about never
teaching kids again. He eventually
realized, however, that "he had
nowhere to go but up." He decided
to learn from his mistakes and
change his approach. Instead of
doing everything alone, he brought
in the KVC, Kokhanok School staff,
village residents, and the students so
they could "design a program
together."
Together, Mr. Andrews explains,
"we took into account all of our
mistakes and worked to develop a
new type of curriculum utilizing
many different types of education
approaches for students from K-12."
Besides the curriculum, the village
education plan includes:
• Student produced videos that
document village environmen-
tal history and progress.
• An environmental fair and
awards ceremony to recognize
school kids' environmental
achievements.
• A printing and learning center
for kids to print booklets and
posters.
To fund its plan, Kokhanok Village
received two "small, but potent"
$10,000 grants from the Alaska
Native Health Board. According to
Mr. Andrews, small grants work well
because "they force you to develop
short-term, attainable goals." The
short, 4-page application was also
appealing.
The Kokhanok Village president
believes that values he learned
growing up as a child in this small
village of 170 people helped get him
through the tough times and offer a
model learning program for his peo-
ple. He urges others to always keep
their goals and a sense of higher
purpose in mind so that when disap-
pointments occur, "you don't feel
victimized and insignificant." He
adds: "Be persistent and ready to
work hard!"
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TRIBAL WASTE JOURNAL
In the end, this advice paid off.
True to Mr. Andrews' original
goals and vision, the finished
curriculum combines modern
environmental concepts with
"emik," or what Alaskans call the
"insider's point of view."
Cultural messages are woven
throughout its pages. For exam--
pie, the lessons use village geo-
graphical features, such as Lake
Iliamna and animals and birds
such as seagulls, swans, caribou,
and seals that live in and around
the lake, to help children under-
stand that "we are all connected
in a very special bond and unity"
that deserves respect.
Each chapter of the curriculum
examines the changes in village fuel
use, along with solid waste, water,
and wastewater management prac—
tices from 1955 to the present.
Detailed maps and diagrams show
visually how the village has
evolved, including who lived where
during the various time periods, and
what family dump they used.
The curriculum is also filled with
terms like "culvert" and "chlorine
test," but they are explained in sim-
ple language, and the concepts are
Abandoned appliances and other scrap metal collected during Kokhanok'
cleanup.
driven home by diagrams of how, in
this case, water flows through the
village—from source to sewers.
Drawing on his love of anthropolo-
gy, Mr. Andrews peppers the techni-
cal material with anecdotes and
stories from elders so that young vil-
lage children understand traditional
culture and values. For instance, for
years, families got water from Lake
Iliamna in the winter by boring
holes into five feet of ice and "pack—
ing" it in 1 five gallon buckets. The
lake in winter served not only as a
source of physical sustenance, but as
a meeting place as well, much like
the coffeehouses of today.
However, village elders assert that
"self-reliance in providing water for
ourselves" ended in 1996 when the
IHS installed a modern water supply
system, and brought in a core of
qualified personnel to operate and
maintain it. "Gone were the days of
water holes, packing water, socializ-
ing, frozen water buckets...knowing
who lit their steam baths on certain
days and watching who and when
anyone would go out to chop a hole
in the ice," the elders lament.
It is village culture and history such
as this that Mr. Andrews fought so
hard to see come to light. And
through his persistence, vision, and
hard work, he's been able to see
something equally as amazing—the
children's eyes "light up" as they
look at the maps and hear about
their village history.
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TRIBAL WASTE JOURNAL
RESOURCES % %fc %& %fc %fc
Copies of the listed EPA publications can be obtained at no charge by contacting NSCEP (phone:
800 490-9198 or 513 489-8190; fax: 513 489-8695; e-mail: ncepimal@one.net). You will need to provide
the document number for the publication(s) your wish to order. Contact for non-EPA documents are
provided below.
PUBLICATIONS
Alaska Department of Environmental
Conservation, Rural Issues Program.
7 Generations: Addressing Village
Environmental Issues for the Future
Generations of Rural Alaska. March
1999.
Or call 800510-2332.
Alaska Native Health Board (ANHB).
Solid Waste Management &
Planning for Rural Communities in
Alaska: Community Resource Guide
& Planning Workbook. Draft 2003.
Available soon from ANHB.
Central Council of Tlingit and Haida
Indian Tribes of Alaska. A Guide to
Closing Solid Waste Disposal Sites in
Alaska Villages. July 2001.
Napoleon, Harold. Yuuyaraq: The
Way of the Human Being. Fairbanks:
University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Center
for Cross Cultural Studies, 1991.
The Rural Alaska Community Action
Program, Inc., (RurAL CAP), Rural
Alaska Village Environmental
Network (RAVEN) AmeriCorps
Program. Savin' Raven Game and
Educational Kit. To order a copy, con-
tact Ellen Kazary, RurAL CAP
Environmental Program Coordinator, at
907279-2511 or
.
U.S. EPA. Tribal Decision-Maker's
Guide to Solid Waste Management.
EPA530-R-03-013. November 2003.
U.S. EPA. The Decision-Maker's
Guide to Solid Waste Management,
Second Edition. EPA530-R-95-023.
August 1995.
U.S. EPA. Tribal Leaders are Key to
Reducing Backyard Burning.
EPA530-F-03-016. August 2003.
U.S. EPA. Reducing Backyard
Burning in Indian Country.
EPA530-F-03-01 7. August 2003.
U.S. EPA. Site Specific Flexibility
Requests for Municipal Solid Waste
Landfills In Indian Country, Draft
Guidance. EPA530-R-97-016.
U.S. EPA. Waste Transfer Stations:
A Manual for Decision-Making.
EPA530-R-02-002. June 2002.
U.S. EPA. Tribal Waste Journal: Issue
1, "Respect Our Resources: Prevent
Illegal Dumping." EPA530-N-02-001.
May 2002.
U.S. EPA. Tribal Waste Journal: Issue
2, "Against All Odds: Transfer Station
Triumphs." EPA530-N-03-003. May
2003.
U.S. Office of Technology
Assessment. An Alaskan Challenge:
Native Village Sanitation. OTA-ENV-
591. May 1994.
Zender Environmental Services.
Left Out in the Cold: Solid Waste
Management and the Risks to
Resident Health in Native Village
Alaska. 2001. .
Zender Environmental Services.
Making Your Dump Safer For You
And Your Community: An
Operator's Workbook: WOW
Information Sheet #7. 2002.
WEB SITES
Alaska Department of Environmental
Conservation, The Division of Air
and Water Quality's Open Burning
Information Web page
Central Council of Tlingit and Haida
Indian Tribes of Alaska, Solid Waste
Alaska Network (SWAN).
U.S. EPA. Backyard Burning Web
page,
U.S. EPA. Waste Management in
Indian Country.
U.S. EPA Region 10 Tribal Office
Home page.
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TRIBAL WASTE JOURNAL
CONTACTS
\ I
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Ihe Tnfoa/ Waste Journal would like to thank everyone who shared their stories and experiences for this
issue. Interviewee contact information is provided below for those who are interested in learning more
about specific tribes' programs.
Village of Chignik Bay
Jeannette Carlson
Environmental Coordinator
907 749-2481
jcar205840@aol.com
Chilkat Indian Village (Chilkat
Village of Klukwan)
Patricia Warren
Environmental Planner
907 767-5505
igap@wytbear.com
Klawock Cooperative Association
Klawock
Ann Wyatt
Environmental Planner
907 755-2265
klwepd@aptalaska.net
Organized Village of Kasaan
Paula Peterson
Environmental Planner
907 5423008.
paulakayne@hotmail.com
Hydaburg Cooperative Association
Cherlyn Holter
907 285-3660
epajada@yahoo.com
Kokhanok Village Council
Roy Andrew
President/Environmental Coordinator
907 282-2325
royaepa@aol.com
Louden Tribal Council (Galena)
Carole Holley
Environmental Program Director
907656-1711
muck21@hotmail.com
Native Village of Selawik
Raven Sheldon
Environmental Director
907 484-2006
rpsheldon@maniilaq.org
St. Paul Island
Phillip Zavadil
Co-Director
907 546-2641
pazavadil@tdxak.com
Aquilina Lestenkof
Co-Director
907 546-2641
aquilina@tdxak.com
Alaska Department of Environmental
Conservation, Rural Issues
Bill Stokes
Environmental Specialist
907 269-7580
sevengenerations@nat.com
Alaska Native Health Board (ANHB)
Rural Alaska Sanitation Coalition/Solid
Waste Management
Jacqueline Agnew
Project Manager
907 743-6119
jagnew@anhb.org
The Rural Alaska Community Action
Program, Inc., (RurAL CAP)
Rural Alaska Village Environmental
Network (RAVEN) AmeriCorps
Program
Brian Connors
Community Service Director
907279-2511
bconnors@ruralcap.com
Ellen Kazary
Environmental Program Coordinator
907279-2511
ekazary@ruralcap.com
Association of Village Council
Presidents (AVCP)
Rosalie Kalistook
Environmental Planner
907 543-7300
rkalistook@avcp.org
U.S. EPA Region 10-Alaska
Operations Office
Jean Gamache
Tribal Coordinator
907271-6558
gamache.jean@epa.gov
Joseph Sarcone
Rural Sanitation Program Coordinator
907271-1316
sarcone.joseph@epa.gov
To be placed on our mailing list or submit ideas or success stories, send an e-mail to Janice Johnson,
U.S. EPA Tribal Solid Waste Program at .
-------
OF THE EPA TRIBAL WASTE JOURNAL
Urhi
landfill Lady
Meet Lulu the Landfill Lady. She
calls the St. Paul Island landfill
home. Lulu, also known as
Aquilina Lestenkof, was created
for the St. Paul Island Ecosystem
Conservation Office's household
hazardous waste (HHW) collec-
tion event. Ms. Lestenkof trans-
formed into Lulu by pulling on
orange and black-striped socks
and pairing an old flannel shirt
with a floral skirt. She also
accessorized, draping a string of
Christmas lights around her
neck, adding a gaudy hat with
pink flowers, and tying a mesh
bag to a rope around her waste.
After residents dropped off drain
cleaner, batteries, and other haz—
ardous items at the collection
event, Ms. Lestenkof offered to
take them on a tour of the local
landfill, leading interested chil-
dren and adults onto a school
bus destined for the dump.
Young children eyed Lestenkof
suspiciously, recognizing her face,
but not her clothes. During the
ride to the landfill, she talked
fondly of her home among debris
and many children began to
believe that she was really Lulu.
DECEMBER 2OO3
At the landfill, Lestenkof
described proper waste disposal
practices and explained where
waste goes on St. Paul Island.
She spiced up the tour by
referring to specific piles of
debris as her "kitchen"
or "bedroom." Back on
the bus, she chal-
lenged children to
think of waste
reduction tech-
niques, including
reuse and recycling.
As Lulu, she also
bestowed buckets of
"green" cleaning sup-
plies to a few lucky pas-
sengers. The buckets
contained vinegar, bak-
ing soda, and other
alternatives to harsh
cleaning products,
which can contaminate
local water supplies if
disposed of improperly.
-------
ONE PERSON'S
WASTE IS
ANOTHER
PERSON'S
WARDROBE
During an Earth Day fair, students
on Prince of Wales Island used
recyclable materials to create
clothing and accessories, model
ing their designs during a "trash-
ion" show. The fair also featured a
trash art display as some of the
children used recyclable materials
in collages and sculptures.
After the
trashion show,
students
admired Earth
Day logos
designed for
the event and
participated in a poetry contest.
They also strolled to tables
the U.S. Forest Service, the
Alaska Department of
Conservation, and the Alaska
Department of Fish and Game,
where they received information
about environmental issues and
learned how to crochet back-
packs, handbags, bath mats, bas
kets, and other items out of plas
tic bags. Students from the
Organized Village of Kasaan
talked about their red worm com
posting project. They feed food
glers that process the organic
material into nutrient-rich com
post and sell small bags of the
final product to community
members.
The \JltLtDate Can Crusher
Can crushing and a solid waste man-
agement lesson produce a smashing
combination in the classroom.
Students learn that it is important to
reduce the volume of waste by
designing their own can crushers.
Many Alaska Native villages ship
recyclable materials such as alu-
minum cans to Anchorage or Seattle
on barges or airplanes, where space
is limited. By compacting materials,
villages can ship more recyclable
items. For some villages, recycling is
not logistically or economically fea-
sible, but landfill space is at a premi-
um. Compacting can reduce the
volume of waste and provide an
alternative to burning.
After introducing the concept of
simple machines such as levers and
pulleys, teachers can collect rope,
wire, hinges, screws, nails, wood
scraps, bricks, blocks, and other
materials and ask students to design a
can crusher with them. Before begin-
ning the construction phase, students
should write instructions for building
their machine. They should also be
able to explain how the machine will
work. Under adult supervision, the
construction phase can proceed, and
when the students are finished, a
testing phase can stimulate a discus-
sion of waste volume reduction
options available to villages.
For additional information about this
activity, visit , or
order a free copy of The Quest for
Less: Activities and Resources for
Teaching K-6 (EPA530-R-00-008)
from EPA's RCRA Call Center at
800 424-9346 or 703 412-9810.
Savin' Raven
Be the first to experience the
excitement of RurAL CAP's
Savin' Raven game. This color-
ful board game is popular in
schools, community halls, and
homes throughout rural Alaska.
Savin' Raven inspires children to
discuss waste management issues
affecting their communities.
The board includes nine destination
sites, ranging from a dump to a com-
munity recycling center, spread
across a map of Alaska. Players race
to dispose of items such as styrofoam
packing peanuts and used oil at the
proper site. Along the way, they
learn about environmental hazards
and answer questions about solid
waste management.
Rural CAP also distributes an
educational kit that includes videos,
educational posters, activi-
ty books and curriculum.
^^^^^ Discovering Alaska's
Salmon focuses on
the life-cycle
^Tr 7q^^~ * and cultural
significance of
salmon. The teachers'
guides also contain information and
activities tailored to children in
rural Alaska. One exercise, for
example, involves interviewing eld-
ers to obtain information on past
waste management practices.
Rural CAP provides Savin' Raven
and the educational kit to rural
educators for free. To order a copy,
contact Ellen Kazary, RurAL CAP
Environmental Program
Coordinator, at 907 279-2511 or
< ekazary @ruralcap. com >.
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