1. Organized Village of Kasaan Youth Presentation Alaska Forum on the Environment 8 February 2012

2. Kasaan, Alaska is located in southern Southeast Alaska on Prince of Wales Island

3. The Organized Village of Kasaan Mission Statement: The Organized Village of Kasaan is committed to promoting, preserving, and protecting indigenous Haida identity and values. For our elders and youth, we look to the future in unity, by developing economic opportunities, promoting education, and utilizing our cultural, natural, and social resources.

4. OVK- Indian General Assistance Program (IGAP) OVK successfully operated our IGAP program since 1999. Presentation will cover youth based activities from FY 2008- 2011. Since FY 2008, five (5) environmental planners have operated OVK-IGAP. Youth based activities is one of many successful ventures that OVK endured.

5. OVK Youth Based Activities We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children Native American Proverb

6. POW Earth Day 2008-11 Annually, the four (4) federally recognized Tribes (Craig, Hydaburg, Kasaan & Klawock) host and facilitate our Annual Earth Day Fair. Students and residents are invited & encouraged to attend. Environmental education and outreach are provided (Climate Change, Watersheds, Alternative Energy, etc.) We keep the Fair as close to Earth Day (22 April) as possible. Four Tribes work with schools, businesses, state & federal agencies to make all of this possible. Estimated 200-300 students attend annually. Consultation, collaboration and communication are the keys to success. This is a component of our (4 Tribe IGAP work plan).

7. Earth Day

8. Earth Day Logo Contest Annually, a Logo Contest is available to ALL P.O.W. students. Prizes are available for winners and honorable mentions. Businesses donate prizes or certificates. Winners are selected by TEC members.

9. Deer Celebration- 2008-2011 Craig Tribal Associations Annual Deer Celebration Purpose, to assist CTA in: Celebrating the traditional uses of Sitka black tail deer. Outreach & Education on resources, regulations, leave no trace, silviculture, etc. Traditional Dancing & Potluck Available to all interested students & residents OVK IGAP identified assisting Deer Celebration in work plan. OVK works with POW Tribes, POW schools, US-Forest Service, ADF&G, local businesses Morning activities: outreach & education. Evening activities: traditional dancing & potluck. Annually- 200-400 students attend. CTA celebrated its 9 th year hosting Deer Celebration. It is a huge annual success.

10. Deer Celebration

11. Deer Celebration Logo Contest A logo contest is available to ALL students. Prizes are provided by generous business donations. Logo prize winners are selected by TEC members.

12. POW Youth Academy FY- 2008 Primarily funded by: Reuben E. Crossett Foundation U.S. Department of Labor Denali Training Fund Organized Village of Kasaan

13. POW Youth Academy Purpose: develop and implement POW Youth Academy. Provide: employment readiness program adding cultural components for youth (16-20). Goals: Eight (8) week summer academy; assist in obtaining skills to pass GED or Alaskas HS Graduation Qualifying Exam (HSGQE); provide job skills training; indigenous stewardship; health & fitness. Issue: Alaska unemployment is 9.3%, 0.4% higher than national average (2009); POW Island was 2.2%, almost three times the national rate, and 2.5 times the Alaska rate.

14. POW Youth Academy 10-12 Youth were involved in the planning process. The concept, youth should be planned with, not for. The Academy provides counseling and substance abuse education to identify road blocks to success, build self-esteem, and foster a healthy mind & spirit.

15. POW Youth Academy Planning included: Three (3) Island school districts; U.S. Forest Service; P.O.W. Chamber of Commerce; private business owners; the four (4) POW Tribes; parents & youth that represent the target group. An eight (8) week academy was created for youth ages 16- 20. 10-12 youth participated in the program Businesses & agencies provided life building skills (interviews, resumes, preparing applications, communications). Mental & physical health provided by counselors as needed. Strength were identified to build confidence. Apprenticeship opportunities were available from USFS and local private businesses.

16. The final result: Nine (9) youth from POW were employed in internships from 7 June – 30 July 2010: Eight (8) through US Forest Service; and one (1) through Organized Village of Kasaan. Youth worked four (4) days a week; and met weekly to discuss successes and failures. Capacities were filled, such as: job interviews, resume building, on-the-job behavior, job skills training days. Youth also toured businesses to gain insight on what skills are necessary for employment. We apologize for not having more photographs.

17. Organized Village of Kasaan Summer Internship Program FY 2011

18. Summer Internship Program Identified and allowed in IGAP, OVK advertised, interviewed and hired a youth summer intern for approximately 160 hours (1 month). OVK hired Kasaan youth (current college student) Eric Hamar. Intern was assigned such duties as OVK Tribal newsletter articles, TEK research, Kasaan Community Garden, Weekly Curbside Pickup (for elderly), assist hauling alley cat as needed. This was a success. Eric was pleased to be involved in environmental issues that directly affected his home community of Kasaan.

19. Kasaan Community Trash Pickup Kasaan, Alaska Prince of Wales Island

20. Organized Village of Kasaan Annually, OVK invites students and residents to a day of stewardship. Trash is everyones fault and must be dealt with. The community of Kasaan unites and tackles this effort together. Students learn the importance of stewardship, and separate plastics and aluminum for recycling.

22. Working together

23. The Result All volunteers convened at OVKs Kasaan Café for light refreshments. This is a huge success because students and residents can see, feel and be a part of the final result: A Clean, healthy community.

24. Kasaan Bay Beach Cleanup Project Held on 19 September 2011. Primarily funded by the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies. Goal: Safely remove marine debris on one (1) mile of coastline within Kasaan Bay- from Chief Son-I-Hat Whale House to Kasaan Boat Harbor. Volunteer Effort: City of Kasaan, OVK Staff, Kasaan Students & Staff, Craig Tribal Association & Hydaburg Cooperative Association, Coffman Cove School (55 volunteers total) Local Business Support: R&M Engineering; Tyler Rental, Inc.; Log Cabin Sporting Goods; Island Charters; The Camo Shop.

25. Any persistent solid material that is manufactured or processed and directly, or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally, disposed of or abandoned into the marine environment or the Great Lakes What is Marine Debris?

26. Kasaan Bay Beach Clean Up Project All Debris was hauled to our Transfer Facility (48 miles away). Recycled were separated. Top debris items include: Styrofoam, plastic bottles, rusted cables, rope, aluminum cans. Safety (gloves, first aid, hand sanitizer, etc.) were provided to volunteers.

27. Kasaan Bay Beach Clean Up Project The project was a huge success. 55 volunteers. Credit goes to our past Environmental Planner, Dorinda Emmy Sanderson. She envisioned this successful project. Keys to success: Utilize local support, reward volunteers, advertise the success. Upon completion, volunteers were provided a light refreshment and a T-Shirt.

28. OVK Future projects FY 2012: Alaska Conservation Foundation Internship Program (Summer 2012) Assisting OVK with POW- Tribal Sea Otter Commission. Establish Constitution & By- laws. Logo Contest Presentations Forage Observation Data Collection Research TEK & Commercial benefits of a Management Plan Administration for Native Americans Creating a Recycling Log with Kasaan Youth. Provide education & outreach on recycling benefits. Provide other opportunities for local cleanup projects: National River Clean up (Karta or Thorne River) Marine Debris Removal Invasive Plant Pull

29. Thank you for your time. Questions? Dennis Nickerson, Environmental Planner Machelle Edenshaw, Environmental Technician P.O. Box 26-Kasaan Ketchikan, Alaska 99950-0340 P- 907-542-2230 F- 1-888-241-0091 www.kasaan.org