Organized Village of
Kasaan
Youth Presentation
Alaska Forum on the Environment
8 February 2012
Kasaan, Alaska is located in southern Southeast
Alaska on Prince of Wales Island
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.
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.
OVK Youth Based
Activities
“We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we
borrow it from our Children”
Native American Proverb
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).
Earth Day
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.
Deer Celebration- 2008-2011
 Craig Tribal Association’s
Annual Deer Celebration
Purpose, to assist CTA in:
Celebrating the traditional uses of
Sitka black tail deer.
 OVK works with POW Tribes,
POW schools, US-Forest
Service, ADF&G, local
businesses
 Morning activities: outreach &
education.
Outreach & Education on
resources, regulations, “leave no
trace”, silviculture, etc.
 Evening activities: traditional
Traditional Dancing & Potluck
 Annually- 200-400 students
Available to all interested
students & residents
OVK IGAP identified assisting
Deer Celebration in work plan.
dancing & potluck.
attend.
 CTA celebrated it’s 9th year
hosting Deer Celebration. It is
a huge annual success.
Deer Celebration
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.
POW Youth Academy
FY- 2008
Primarily funded by:
Reuben E. Crossett Foundation
U.S. Department of Labor
Denali Training Fund
Organized Village of Kasaan
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 Alaska’s 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.
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.
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 1620.
 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.
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.
Organized Village of
Kasaan
Summer Internship Program
FY 2011
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.
Kasaan Community Trash
Pickup
Kasaan, Alaska
Prince of Wales Island
Organized Village of Kasaan
 Annually, OVK invites students
and residents to a day of
stewardship.
 Trash is everyone’s 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.
Working together
The Result
 All volunteers convened
at OVK’s 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.
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.
What is Marine Debris?
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
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.
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.
OVK Future projects FY 2012:
Alaska Conservation Foundation
 Internship Program (Summer
2012)
 Assisting OVK with POW-
Tribal Sea Otter Commission.
 Establish Constitution & Bylaws.
Administration for Native
Americans
 Creating a “Recycling Log”
with Kasaan Youth.
 Provide education & outreach
on recycling benefits.
 Provide other opportunities
 Logo Contest
for local cleanup projects:
 Presentations
National River Clean up (Karta or
Thorne River)
 Forage Observation Data
Marine Debris Removal
Collection
 Research TEK & Commercial
benefits of a Management
Plan
Invasive Plant Pull
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