My friend Fannie moved to a small Eskimo village last fall to teach special ed. She's an activist, but probably didn't dream she would end up in a national political drama in that remote place.
I called her this morning after seeing Droogie's diary. What she told me is even more alarming than that. She says the situation is "grave" and she is concerned that people will freeze to death. They are taking what money they have to buy fuel, then going hungry. She says to earmark donations for food.
It's too cold for ice-fishing, and those that attempt it are suffering serious frostbite. To go TRY to get a moose takes $300 to $400 of fuel. Then maybe return emptyhanded. There are few caribou. Food at the store is unbelievably expensive. The cold will be worst until the end of February.
Jump for how you can help.
She also says she needs posterboard for her class asap. It will take too long to get it through the school channels, too late for the Science Fair. So posterboard, markers, and anything related to make science projects can be sent her, as well as $ donations, boxes of food, etc. to
Fannie Bates
Emmonak Public School
100 School Drive
Emmonak, Alaska 99581
She didn't suggest this, but I would send donations for fuel and food to her directly. She is a long time progressive community organizer and folks in need will get it a lot sooner and with less red tape and grief if she's in charge of it.
Here are some photos she took right after arriving last August (she didn't provide captions, so not sure what some of them are). And below are some reports she sent from happier times in the town.
Fannie's first email
Dear Family and Friends,
The houses here are all on stilts. I guess the river floods a lot.
They built a boardwalk so I can walk from my house to the school, even if there is several feet of water. All the houses look a lot alike. Like manufactured homes on stilts. The stilts are about 4 feet high. I assume most of the original houses were washed away at some time in the past.
When I look out my kitchen window, it almost looks like a jungle. The grass is extremely thick, about 3 feet tall. There are lots of trees here, but they are only about 10 feet tall. The trees in Anchorage were extremely tall. I'd say around 20 feet tall.
We are planning to go out on the Yukon River in a boat and look for berries to pick along the shore. They have three kinds of berries that grow wild. Millions of them.
More later,
Fannie
Excerpt from a later letter:
Dear Family and Friends,
I went to another Eskimo celebration last night, Sunday evening, August 31.
This celebration was in honor of a lady who passed on one year ago.
I really like the way the Yupiks do this. They have a funeral shortly after the person passes on. Then they have another 40 days later. Then they have another on the one-year anniversary of the passing. I think this makes a lot of sense. For many, the first funeral is something of a blur. And there may be people who missed the first funeral.
The family had been collecting small gifts all year to give to the people who came together to help celebrate the life of this mother and grandmother. All family members were dressed in new clothes. The little girls wore long, shimmery dresses. The older girls and women all wore the traditional Eskimo dress. Several of the Eskimo women had the large pocket in the front of their dress stuffed with candy, which they passed out to the guests. I was surprised at how much the pocket would hold.
As before, several small gifts were given to each guest. I received an orange plastic glass, a roll of toilet paper, candy, soda pop and Eskimo ice cream (the blackberry kind). The toilet paper was much appreciated because it is very expensive out in the Alaskan bush.
After the gift giving, everyone stood and prayed the Lord's prayer. Then the drummers began playing their song of remembrance. Numerous women and children slowly made their way to the stage area and began to dance. Most of the Yupiks do not smile during the dancing. Their is one dancer, a 58-year-old woman, who always has a small smile, almost a glow, when she is dancing. She is one of the most graceful dancers. I think she is anxious to turn 65 so she can become an elder. She has a heart full of forgiveness. She will be a very wise elder.
Above the dancers, hanging from the ceiling, is the frame of a kayak. Years ago, it was covered in seal skin. The Eskimos traveled many miles down the Yukon River in this kayak.
More later,
Fannie
Finally, I'll add that the Oklahoma City Mayor was mightily relieved when activist "pit bull" (sorry, couldn't resist) Fannie left his town. Now I think Sarah Palin can expect the same treatment, and it will make the "bored bloggers" look very friendly to her by comparison.