American Indian Report - July 2008 - (Page 21)

cially elders,” Johnson said. This is a major issue in rural Alaska and within Johnson’s tribe. “This was the number one priority at NCAI’s Economic Summit [held in Alaska],” Johnson continued. As increasing amounts of dollars go toward transportation, tribal governments have to make decisions on what services to cut. Take education. “Tribes may have to make decisions like what do we need more, buses or teachers?” Johnson said. In southeast Alaska, Native villages are seeing some of the highest prices in the country. Some areas, like Wrangell, are hitting as high as $5.17 per gallon, said Loretta Wallin of the Tlingit Haida Central Council of Governance office. Her office covers 19 Native communities in southeast Alaska, and an informal survey of seven of those communities showed the average as $4.54 per gallon. In these communities, the cost associated with heating homes is more crucial than driving costs. “It may come to a decision about oil or food. And as winter comes closer, a tough decision gets tougher,” Wallin said. Home heating costs have more than tripled, said Sandra Cross, energy assistance coordinator for the Tlingit Haida Regional Housing Authority. “We thought fuel costs were high when filling up a fuel tank for the winter cost $1,600. Now that same amount of money only buys enough fuel to last for three months,” Cross said. Adding to the problems for the Juneau area, last spring an avalanche took down hydro electricity, and Alaska Electric Light and Power had to switch to diesel fuel. Electric bills that normally ran around $150 per month jumped to $800, Cross said. Many members still face paying that bill, although the utility company has offered to average payments over the year. THRHA unsuccessfully tried to declare an emergency in order to get general assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program provides some Alaska Natives with funds for energy needs, but that does not go very far under current conditions, Cross said. “It is really sad because the low-income households who depend on their car and are on a fixed income now have to decide between a fill up and groceries,” Cross said. “We are all learning a quick lesson on conserving energy, which is hard to do in Alaska.” NCAI is encouraging all tribes to look seriously at alternative energies and energy reduction in addition to immediate relief, like gas discounts. “We are encouraging tribal communities to get engaged around this,” Johnson said. n Theodore Roosevelt Middle School Ft. Apache, AZ A full service, non-profit day & boarding school. Located in historic Ft. Apache Departmentalized Curriculum with a technology emphasis School is adjacent to dormitory Intramural sports program Fully supervised dormitory 24/7 with evening and weekend activities including: • Swimming • Weekend trips to museums, sports events, cultural events, movies, rodeos, skiing, hiking, fishing, and much more! • Guest Speakers • Fully equipped computer lab • Full meal service Open to all middle school students Transportation provided for holiday leave. No tuition fees Now accepting applications for Spring and Fall Semesters 2008 928-338-4464 July 2008 21 American Indian Report

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of American Indian Report - July 2008

American Indian Report - July 2008 Contents Wolf Research; Native Language Scrabble; Indian Baseball History; Art; NEA Award Ethics & Standards of Conduct: Dual Roles - A Balancing Act Congress: Activity on the Hill Knowing Your Customer Grants: Tribal Transit Program - Putting Public Transportation in Rural Tribal Communities Indian Country Struggles with Skyrocketing Gas Prices Isolated Village Tackles Unique Environmental Issues CSKT and Wildlife Service Sign Bison Range Agreement Fostering Connections to Success Act Passed in House Tribal Government: Strategic Planning - A Shorter Assessment Process

American Indian Report - July 2008

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