Exective Directors Report

To our Tribal Members and Community Residents
We’re proud to present and appreciate you taking the time to review last year’s programs, projects, issues and accomplishments, and our goals for 2010.

As always, Nome Eskimo Community is committed to “improving the quality of life of those we serve.” We provide this information to keep you informed, and to better assist our tribal members, as well as our community.

While our organization has evolved over the last 70-plus years, our goals and ambitions remain the same:

• Strengthen Nome Eskimo Community’s capacity and governance to sustain and grow our Tribal organization for maintaining successful self-governance.
• Create economic opportunities and strengthen program services that will enhance the quality of life and install pride, self-confidence, and sense of personal well-being.
• Promote an organization that incorporates our cultural values to maintain and strengthen our identity as a tribe.
  We welcome input and feedback from our Tribal Members.

If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact us by e-mail at nomeeskimo@gci.net or by phone at (907) 443-2246.

Nome Eskimo Community – Facts at a Glance

• Established: 1939
• Enrollment: 2,500+ members
• What we represent: The political, social, and cultural interests of Native peoples in the community of Nome and the Bering Straits region
• Service programs: Family Services, Tribal Services, Tribal Youth, Tribal Resources (Environmental Activities), and the Housing Program
• Mission Statement: Nome Eskimo Community is a federally recognized tribal government improving the quality of life of those we serve.
• Vision Statement: Nome Eskimo Community will be a proud, active,
  functional, and leading tribal government that provides a broad spectrum of services that benefit our tribal members and community.

Service Programs
Our Tribal Services program continues to provide services to our community at exemplary levels. Last year, we reported the closeout of a three-year Tribal Youth Grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and the pending receipt of a new grant that actually resulted in a reduction of funding for NEC. The prior 3 year grant was awarded as a five-year grant, and the annual allocation was reduced to $60,000 per year instead of the $100,000 allocated prior years. In spite of the significant reduction per year, we’ve been able to continue to offer the activities that have been provided through the program.

In August, we hosted the 2009 Nome Community Wellness Festival. This community-wide event consisted of health and wellness workshops, and educational workshops for youth and families. The three-day festival ended with a community potluck that included a variety of entertainment ranging from Inupiq dancing, Polynesian song and dance, and a rock ‘n roll band. More than 275 individuals attended this well received event.

Family Services intervenes on behalf of member children who are taken into protective custody by the State of Alaska when reports of harm are received. In May we learned that Sarah Battles, our Anchorage-based ICWA specialist, was moving to Fairbanks. Due to plans to expand the program, we decided to re-activate the Family Services Director position in Nome. In July, we hired Jason Floyd to fill the director position in Nome and Glenda Gologergen was hired as our ICWA Specialist in our Anchorage office, located at CITC.

In August, the Executive Director was asked to address the State Legislative Health Caucus regarding Child in Need of Aid (CINA) cases and Tribal relations with State agencies that are involved in these cases. Compelling testimony was provided that addressed the obstacles the tribes face when trying to ensure ICWA compliance and fairness for our member families. We continue to advocate for ICWA compliance and protect the rights of our children.

The Housing Program is designed to increase home ownership and affordable housing opportunities to eligible low income tribal members. In 2009, we expanded services through an agreement with Rural Cap to provide weatherization services to the community of Nome. NEC hired additional staff work who completed weatherization and energy efficiency cost saving measures on 17 homes. This program is open to all residents, both Native and non-Native. We anticipate offering these services in 2010.

Our three-year Planning and Development CEY grant ended Sept. 30, 2009. With the closing of this grant, Kendra Nichols moved into the position of Project Compliance Officer for the NSHC Hospital Replacement Project and Dora Davis was hired as Project Specialist.

Under the CEY grant, we contracted with Melissa Taylor to provide training to our Tribal Council for Roles and Responsibilities and ICWA. She is also in the process of reviewing our policies, children’s codes and ordinances, and will provide recommendations to update these governing documents.

Currently, we’re in the process of filling the Tribal Resources Specialist position to manage our EPA Indian Environmental General Assistance Program (IGAP) Grant. Bivers Gologergen has been appointed to serve as NEC’s representative on the Eskimo Walrus Commission.

As part of our Transportation Program, we were successful in finalizing a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the City of Nome to conduct roads maintenance in our community. In June, we provided $100,000 for these community services. An MOA for roads construction activities was signed in November, and NEC has two projects planned for Summer 2010.

Administration – Who We Are, What We Do
We’re at the end of our first five-year self-governance agreement with the Department of Interior. And, we’re considering a new ten-year agreement for 2010 through 2020. We also submitted a new indirect cost proposal to the National Business Center that included the finals for 2006, 2007 and 2008 and a proposal for three rates rather than the two under which we’ve been operating since 2005. In September, the Tribal Council approved the 2008 audit and, once again, we received an unqualified audit with no findings.

After several years of submitting comments and requests for language revisions, the draft MOA with the Corp of Engineers and City of Nome that addresses the Sand Spit Archaeological dig and future findings is near finalization. This year, with the assistance of Bering Straits Native Corp.’s Matt Ganley, we:

• Developed protocols for Cultural Resource Investigations and other Research on lands within the
  Nome area
• Drafted a Historical, Archaeological and Resources Management Policy with Sitnasuak Native Corp.
• Drafted a tri-party resolution with Sitnasuak Native Corp. and Bering Straits Native Corp. recognizing shared authority for management of cultural, archaeological, and historical resources
• The drafts are complete but not yet finalized. And all documents need to be reviewed by SNC & BSNC.
• This spring, we were notified by the New York College of Dentistry about the possession of human remains from the Cape Nome area. We filed a NAGPRA claim and the remains were returned to us in October. A burial will be held on Cape Nome this summer.
• In March, we were approached by Norton Sound Health Corp. (NSHC) to become a partner in its Hospital Replacement Project. Under contract, we retain responsibility for employment functions that include recruitment, screening of applications, drug testing, referral of applicants, and monitoring of Native hire. Our agreement does not include training activities and no funds were allocated for this purpose. Work will begin in the Spring.
• NEC received several pots of ARRA stimulus funding totaling $626,849, for energy efficiency and weatherization activities, housing activities and childcare activities. With the addition of funding for the new hospital project, this represents an increase of over one million dollars for NEC in 2010.
• We acquired two new Tribal Council members after last year’s annual election. Bantu Nichols and Jack Omelak were elected to serve on the Tribal Council. This year, we’ll pursue expansion of the Family Services Program, funding for Alaska Native curriculum, cultural preservation for our region, implementation of our road projects, facilities planning, and establish an intern program.

Looking Ahead
We have a lot of work ahead of us! With your support, Nome Eskimo Community will continue to strive to improve the quality of services and expand our programs.

Thank you for your contributions and support. We look forward to working on your behalf in 2010 and beyond.

Tribal Council
Effective January 2010

Lester Keller, John Bahnke III., Alfred Sahlin, Cynthia Ahwinona, Bantu Nichols and Jack Omelak. We’re recruiting to fill one seat vacated due to the retirement of Irene Anderson.

Staff
January 2010

Denise Barengo, Executive Director
Josie Stiles, Human Resources Manager
Linda Kimoktoak, Executive Assistant
Glen Iyahuk, Custodian
Bruce Klein, Planning & Development Specialist
Debra Evans, Finance Director
Stephanie Vacek, Accounting Specialist
Gerald Trigg, Tribal Resource Specialist/EPA
Kendra Nichols, NSHC Hospital Replacement Project
Dora Davis, NSHC Project Specialist
Glen Pardy, Housing Director
Stanley Okpealuk, Housing Specialist
Bivers Gologergen, Forman
Paul Hukill, Lead Carpenter
Jason Floyd, Family Services Director
Glenda Gologergen, ICWA Specialist (Anchorage Office)
Marsha Sloan, Tribal Services Director
Dawn “Birdie” Warnke, Tribal
Services Specialist
Katie O’Connor, Youth Services Specialist
Heather Payenna, Tribal Services Coordinator

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