Nick Tucker, John Moller

Nick Tucker of Emmonak writes in Alaska Newspapers (amongst other places):


First off. I am outraged.

Think of this: Did Martin Moore and I have to go meet Gov. Sarah Palin there in Russian Mission and Marshall? Why did she not come here to Emmonak?

It took away the most precious time of my life to have to be absent from my granddaughter's and nephew's first Yup'ik dance in Alakanuk that evening.

We returned late and Dorothy, my wife, had to go down. By the time I got home, I was already over a half-hour late and would have been over an hour late if I had been able to go - my oldest son's snowmachine had no gas.

I don't have the latest figures, but Martin had told me that there are over 20,000 people in our region, the Wade Hampton district. If at least 50 percent are employable and are not working, where are these 10,000 young and older men and women going to exodus in trying to find jobs; who has 10,000 jobs available?

I felt like Governor Palin treated Emmonak with most disregard and disrespect by not coming here where it all started. Instead, we had to go up to Russian Mission to meet her and followed her to Marshall.

I was there. About whom and to whom was she referring that top leadership in what village(s) should be changed? This is a blow to all rural villages telling each one of us that our past and current leadership isn't worth being there!

Why and on what basis? This message is dismal, not of hope. How do I take things?

Here, I had a person whom I voted for and who turns around and stabs us? I tell you, I want things done for Emmonak. And now, for all rural villages. We deserve better than that - respect.

In my original letter, I stated that we do not have time for debates - attention was needed then and it will not disappear overnight. Usually, I refrain from this type of outrage, but I am hurt to the core of my heart and spirit.

Let's see some things get done - talk and PR are cheap until you have solid accomplishments to back them up. Our villages need that now. That is why I mentioned to our governor, "Who else do we have to look up to?"

Emmonak leadership has always been superb, otherwise we would not have our present infrastructure as it is. It has advanced from a tiny village of about four houses 80 or so years ago to some 220 houses.

Considering the harsh, remote challenges, it has paved its way to what it is now. Yes, we have a very long way to go in terms of matching up with Bethel, Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau.

I have faith in my fellow rural villages and their leadership. They have brought their villages to where and what they are today with challenges greater than most in our vast state. Is it not embarrassing enough to have to cry out, let alone be put down by our state leadership? I think all rural Alaska deserves an apology and never to be treated like this again. We are unique to the state, contribute our rich resources into the state and urban cities and barely have anything in return to improve ourselves.

How about a 50-50 split between the state and the region where resources are extracted from; then each region can split its 50 percent similar to the 7(i) distribution.

I doubt if anyone will hear me cry out again. I believe our region stands to have one of the richest gas deposits right beneath my house!

Will I still cry out? I am an open man, but I feel insulted myself and on behalf of our rural native villages

And here is John Moller's complete statement in response to Nick Tucker:

I was a member of the fourth team of state officials to visit Emmonak since January 14, and was on the ground in Emmonak when the aid mission operated by Samaritan's Purse was delivering food aid to Marshall and Russian Mission.

I spoke to Mr. Tucker three times while in Emmonak, including just before he left for Marshall. At that time, Emmonak had already received thousands of pounds of food from both state and private resources. Samaritan's Purse made the right decision to deliver aid to Marshall and Russian Mission. The governor and lieutenant governor were guests and not in control of the destinations. Both had also previously made an attempt to fly to Emmonak but were weathered out.

I spoke with many citizens while I was there and the main issue is jobs and increased earnings from fishing. On the issue of jobs in rural Alaska, several state agencies, including the Department of Fish and Game and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, have been, and will continue, working on several fronts to improve the opportunities in rural Alaska.

Alaska Department of Labor representatives have already signed up more than 100 residents in the area to receive employment information and assistance, and are working with local leaders from four communities (Alakanuk, Kotlik, Nunam Iqua and Emmonak) on a mid-April career fair in Emmonak. Employers could include Native corporations, the Department of Public Safety, tribal organizations, the CDQ group, Yukon Delta Fisheries Development Association, and other seafood employers.

ADF&G managers are currently working with stakeholders on plans for the next fishing season to allow maximum sustainable use of available fish. A budget amendment has been proposed for ADF&G to conduct in-season salmon research efforts that should lead to additional harvest of chum salmon.

The state's efforts will continue.