Rural Alaska's struggle for survival (Anchorage, Fairbanks: school, casinos, living in)

[MeganAK]

I probably shouldn't even post this because it will sound like I don't care, and I do, but....... I am wondering what people spent the Dividend on? I read an article about a couple with 8 kids not having food in Emmonak, and I DON'T want to start a flame war or anything, but that means that family got $32,000 in October for the Dividend. Where did it go?

Like I said, it makes me sad that people are struggling, and there are BIG problems in rural Alaska with cost of living, and it needs to be addressed, but even a family of two got $6400. A family of five got $16,000. That would go pretty far for food and fuel.

Please don't take offense to this question, because I live out here in rural Alaska, and I know it's tough, but that is ALOT of money to get and still be hungry.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by gdude

very interesting links everyone.

I just wish the State of Alaska would do more to help people out in the bush

It's not that simple in Alaska. Take the States with indian reservations, where the federal and State governments support them. However, the average person probably does not see a penny of the moneys that come in. Not only that, but some of the lower-48 tribes suffer from malnutrition, a high incidence of diabetes and other deceases, and extreme poverty. In Alaska it's another situation in that there are no roads leading to a lot of the villages, and every single product, from lumber to food, must be barged to some villages, or flown in/barged to others.

[mal_flisk]

I don't know Megan. I have wondered myself.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by MeganAK

I probably shouldn't even post this because it will sound like I don't care, and I do, but....... I am wondering what people spent the Dividend on? I read an article about a couple with 8 kids not having food in Emmonak, and I DON'T want to start a flame war or anything, but that means that family got $32,000 in October for the Dividend. Where did it go?

Like I said, it makes me sad that people are struggling, and there are BIG problems in rural Alaska with cost of living, and it needs to be addressed, but even a family of two got $6400. A family of five got $16,000. That would go pretty far for food and fuel.

Please don't take offense to this question, because I live out here in rural Alaska, and I know it's tough, but that is ALOT of money to get and still be hungry.

A family of four received a little over $12,000 ($1,200 for the fuel rebate, each person, plus over $2,000 PDF each person). This applies to each Alaskan family of four, Native or non.

[Floyd_Davidson]

Originally Posted by RayinAK

A family of four received a little over $12,000 ($1,200 for the fuel rebate, each person, plus over $2,000 PDF each person). This applies to each Alaskan family of four, Native or non.

When my children were small I was buying 1200 gallons of heating fuel and 300 gallons of gasoline per year, which was delivered by barge. At $10 a gallon,
that would cost $15,000 today. At $8 a gallon it hits that $12,000 number dead on.

So much for the PFD going a long ways...

Note that milk cost just as much.

[Future Trooper]

Originally Posted by RayinAK

It's not that simple in Alaska. Take the States with indian reservations, where the federal and State governments support them. However, the average person probably does not see a penny of the moneys that come in. Not only that, but some of the lower-48 tribes suffer from malnutrition, a high incidence of diabetes and other deceases, and extreme poverty. In Alaska it's another situation in that there are no roads leading to a lot of the villages, and every single product, from lumber to food, must be barged to some villages, or flown in/barged to others.

True. Although at alot of Indian Reservations their is only like 4 jobs for 3,000 people

Originally Posted by MeganAK

I probably shouldn't even post this because it will sound like I don't care, and I do, but....... I am wondering what people spent the Dividend on? I read an article about a couple with 8 kids not having food in Emmonak, and I DON'T want to start a flame war or anything, but that means that family got $32,000 in October for the Dividend. Where did it go?

Like I said, it makes me sad that people are struggling, and there are BIG problems in rural Alaska with cost of living, and it needs to be addressed, but even a family of two got $6400. A family of five got $16,000. That would go pretty far for food and fuel.

Please don't take offense to this question, because I live out here in rural Alaska, and I know it's tough, but that is ALOT of money to get and still be hungry.

[quote=Floyd_Davidson;7432375]When my children were small I was buying 1200 gallons of heating fuel and 300 gallons of gasoline per year, which was delivered by barge. At $10 a gallon,
that would cost $15,000 today. At $8 a gallon it hits that $12,000 number dead on.

So much for the PFD going a long ways...

Note that milk cost just as much.[/quote]

I know that the cost of shipping stuff to the bush is high but that just shocks me that Milk is $10 a gallon

[Floyd_Davidson]

Originally Posted by gdude

True. Although at alot of Indian Reservations their is only like 4 jobs for 3,000 people

First, what Ray said is not true, second neither is your statement true.

Have either of you ever spent any time on a reservation or made any effort to learn something about even one of them?

Where does anyone come up with "...with indian reservations, where the federal and State governments support them."???

[peacegirl12]

I have a close friend who is a school teacher in Nunam Iqua. We speak almost daily via the Internet, and we've been taking about this impending crisis constantly since winter's early arrival in the village. Believe me, you think it sounds bad in that article - try hearing a first hand account of the situation. If these kids were not receiving lunch at school (which I think is funded by the school district, and therefore the state?) they would be starving. Literally. As in seriously malnourished, knocking on deaths door, starving, no exaggerations here. To the people who are wondering how the natives spend their money etc. Let me try to explain the situation. Many families in the village support themselves, at least in part, by fishing. For reasons that I can't recall, there was almost NO king Salmon this year, in addition to a sparse fish population the river froze early, cutting the season short as well. This was a huge loss of income for these families; akin to loosing a job. I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume everyone in the workforce knows how much they make per year, and budgets their lives accordingly. Now imagine loosing your job - imagine everyone in your village loosing their job. Imagine there being NO available jobs in your area, and not having the money to travel to find work. Thats the situation folks. So while, yes, they receive money from the government, tribal council - whomever! They're used to having an additional income, and are therefore struggling like many other Americans who have lost their jobs this year.
When the river froze early this year, barges that were scheduled to bring supplies to the village could not get through. This is contributing to the cost increase as their are less resources available on the delta right now and it is more expensive to bring them in. Thanks to everyone who has offered their help and support. They really need it up there right now. I hope I was able to shed some more light on the situation.

Peacegirl12

[NorthWord]

Originally Posted by MeganAK

I probably shouldn't even post this because it will sound like I don't care, and I do, but....... I am wondering what people spent the Dividend on? I read an article about a couple with 8 kids not having food in Emmonak, and I DON'T want to start a flame war or anything, but that means that family got $32,000 in October for the Dividend. Where did it go?

Please don't take offense to this question, because I live out here in rural Alaska, and I know it's tough, but that is ALOT of money to get and still be hungry.

And that's why you don't see many of us filling up boxes for them.
Sad, but true.

[warptman]

A lot of people come to Bethel and Anchorage during dividend time. They all go shopping to bring groceries and other goods home. Keep in mind, airfare from a village to Bethel is expensive, even flying to Anchorage is. Round trip from a village like Scammon Bay to Bethel is around $100+ one way to here. A round trip to Anchorage is $400 bucks. Gas here in Bethel is $5.67 a gallon, and it costs double that in a village.