The Mekoryuk Online Community Development plan is an amalgamation of planning efforts that started with the Mekoryuk Comprehensive Plan prepared in May 1993 under a grant from the Administration for Native Americans, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to assist and support all development efforts within and affecting the community. A Community Profile on Mekoryuk completed by the Alaska Department of Community and Regional Affairs was instrumental in the development of the comprehensive plan. A link to the full Mekoryuk's Compehensive plan is provided below under "More Info."

The ANA funded planning initiative was followed up in 1998-1999 with the development of an Overall Economic Development plan that involved the participation of the Mekoruk residents, the City of Mekoryuk, the NIMA Corporation and the Mekoryuk IRA Council to determine economic priorities for the present generation and future generations. A link to the "Overall Economic Development Plan" is provided under the "More Info."

In the early spring of 2010, work continued on developing the community plan.
The project used community input, focus groups, asset inventory and research into existing documentation to assess the community’s existing strengths and weaknesses.

Community planning workgroup sessions were convened to continue refining the priorities and goals. Work groups made up of Council members and community members that represented as many interests as possible in the community, were convened to identify the goals and priorities of the different components (“dimensions”) that together encompass aspects of community life relevant to planning.  In doing so, the work groups ranked and prioritized needs in terms of short-term (needing to be addressed within 0 – 5 years), mid-term (needing to be addressed within 6 – 10 years), and long-term (needing to be addressed within 11 – 20 years).

This plan was initiated by the Executive Director, Mr. Hultman Kiokun, who played a key role in City operations since the Memorandum of Agreement between the tribal government (Native Village of Mekoryuk) and the municipal government (the City of Mekoryuk) was signed in 2004. With over sixteen years as Land Planner for the NIMA Corporation, Hultman possessed the kind of forward-thinking needed to develop and manage the Comprehensive Community Development Plan. Sadly, Mr. Hultman passed away on February 1, 2010 in a tragic snowmachine accident before the work began. 

Work has continued spearheaded by City Administrator Mona David with the assistance of Northern Management and a dedicated team utilizing Docmeister as the developmental tool. The City of Mekoryuk would like to thank all individuals, local entities, regional service providers and agencies for contributing to the development of the online community plan. 

This plan was produced in part with CDBG funds made available through the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.The City of Mekoryuk committed $2,450 cash-match and $2,550 in-kind match. The Native Village of Mekoryuk contributed $2,500 in the form of a cash-match and the NIMA Corporation contributed $2,500 cash-match. The total of the cash and in-kind matching amounted to $10,000. 

The City of Mekoryuk contributed time and research into developing the plan. Northern Management provided technical support and assisted in the development of the Community Plan, while Bizware Online Applications developed the online planning and project management system. 

Department-level directors participated in the specific focus groups pertaining to their area of work, providing an overview of the work currently being done, planned as well as addressing questions from participants. The directors as well as the community participants all demonstrated a high level of pride and commitment to the well being and quality of life for their community.

To the extent this plan borrows from narrative and documentation completed previously by others, appropriate credits will be noted in the relevant sections of the plan. It is important to note that previous community plans were prepared for Mekoryuk, including Mekoryuk's Comprehensive Plan developed in May 1993 under a grant from the Administration for Native Americans, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the preparation of Mekoryuk's Overall Economic Development Plan (OEDP) in 1999. The 1993 Comprehensive Plan focused on primarily on tribal programs such as village governance, economic development, human resources policies, and cultural resources. The work done on this community development plan provides necessary updates on the 1993 plan as well as expanding upon it.

As part of the original scope for this project, the intent was to build a planning system that could be used to support not only the initial planning effort, but support project management during the implementation stage. Mekoryuk's community planning and project management systems consists of the following components:

Public Website/Planning Portal:

Online Community Plan & Public Comment Tracking System:

The online community plan utilizes a web-based document editing and publishing system that allows for public comments to be posted by using the paperclick icon. Plan narrative and implementation tables can be edited in real time with your username and password.

Online Digital Library:

The online digital library is a repository of community planning documents as well as project related documents. The public version of the Digital Library can be accessed by clicking on the URL for the Digital Library at the www.Kwinhagak.org. If you would like to post documents to the Digital Library, please email your proposed attachments/documents to the following drop box:

This drop box email address may be regenerated from time to time to minimize spam. Please check back to this page for the current drop box email address.

Online Task Management System:

Priority:  Short-Term - Needing to be addressed within 0 - 5 years

Background:

Issues:

=> Adults and those in positions of authority within the community need to be knowledgeable about the environment and their natural resources in order to make informed decisions that are in the best interests of the community. They need to know the impact of various project proposals and other political issues in order to balance economic development, protecting the environment and maintaining the lifestyle and flavor that exists in Mekoryuk.

Solutions: 

=> Acquire the knowledge and experience through human resource development. 

=> Develop business management skills and resources as well as how to market our natural resources

Implementation:

Comments:

Priority:  Short-Term - Needing to be addressed within 0 - 5 years

Background:

Issues:

=> The youth are not involved in Natural Resources and the Environment.  It is very difficult to get them interested.  Taking care of the environment needs to become an automatic behavior. 

Solutions:

=> Develop a comprehensive program that promotes pride, ownership and responsibility. Create a written format.

• Develop something similar to a 4-H club
• Natural resources and environmental related themes should be taught in school
• The parents need to be involved; outside agencies; intergenerational approach
• NPT (a local non-profit) needs to be involved; they have provided programs for youth in the past; they made maps, held trash collection events and are now recording the Elders.
• Develop and offer hands-on training in natural resources and environment
• Educate youth on the process of food - from hunting to the dinner table - and the nutritional value of traditional foods.
• Involve youth in beach clean-up projects
• Research marine debris issues and programs, as this is becoming an issue for the island
• Focus on marine and land biology
• Involve youth in counting endangered waterfowl species
• Seek funding for the NIMA Science Camp
• Establish fisheries enhancement programs at Nash Harbor
• Collect debris that has built up at different sites and not taken care of
  

Implementation:

Comments:

Priority: Long-Term - Needing to be addressed within 11 - 20 years

Background:

Issues:  

=> Global warming may bring changes to the varieties of fish that are currently in the waters. Marine mammals are moving farther out to sea and becoming increasing difficult to hunt and harvest, affecting the availability of local subsistence resources that the community has relied on for centuries.

Solutions:

=> Continue to monitor new fish species that are found to determine what we may need to do to adapt. In addition, the Tribe needs to begin monitoring efforts by EPA, NOAA, et. al. to declare species endangered, which may affect the ability of the community to harvest those critically needed resources. The Tribe needs to take a proactive stance to protect subsistence resources that may be affected by global warming.

=> The community could also look into becoming a support and logistics base for climate-change related research in the Bering Sea. It should be noted that increased vessel traffic from the opening of the Bering Straits and Arctic shipping routes may have an effect on the community and its subsistence resources as well.

Implementation:

 
Comments:

Priority:  Short-Term - Needing to be addressed within 0 - 5 years

Background:

Water and Sewer. The flush and haul system in Mekoryuk was the first of its kind in Alaska installed between 1990 - 1995. Currently water is piped from the water source to the water lagoon closer to the village, where it is then pumped into the water treatment plant.  Enough water is treated to serve the entire village for the winter given the current flush and haul system.  While there is a sewer line in place through several areas of the town, it is not operational with the exception of the school and washeteria.

Sewage is pumped from the houses into a storage unit that is located just outside of each house.  Referred to as "dog houses" for their size and shape.

The pastor commented that he has had to bury three children for illness related to bad water and the sewer.  He has only been pastor for four years.

Issues:

=>  The current flush and haul system is costly, inefficient, and poses serious risks to the health of the community.

Solutions:

=> Create or join a consortium to subsidize operating costs in teh implementation of a new system

=> Find a company that can cover them at a regional level.

=> Research different technologies such as the circulating system used in Hooper Bay

=> Incrementally update the Flush and Haul system to make it better

=> For the short term, update the existing Water Treatment Plan and system

=> For the long term, implement a piped water and sewer system

Implementation:

Comments:

 Mekoryuk continues to deal with failing equipment. Many systems are no longer in use.  If the individual homeowner can afford it, they can purchase parts for repairs.

Priority:  Short-Term - Needing to be addressed within 0 - 5 years

Background:

Issues:

=> The youth in the community are not active.  They ride 4-wheelers and snow machines instead of walking.  In doing so they are not working their hearts and are becoming unhealthy.  

=> The youth are attracted to conveniences. While the village is fairly small, many of the youth have cell phones.  They also watch considerable amounts of t.v. and play video games.

=> It appears that they do not respect their physical being and heritage and they try to be someone other than their Cup'iq heritage.

Solutions:

=> Promote the use of dog teams and mushing for both recreation, sport and subsistence

=> Introduce "reindeer mushing"

=> Revive the Nash Harbor Science Camp

=> Establish an arts and crafts center

=> Establish a Boys and Girls club

=> Promote cultural dancing groups

Priority:  Short-Term - Needing to be addressed within 0 - 5 years

Background:

Issues:

=> In the community, everyone comes from a different experience in life.  These include being male or female, age, education, friendships, etc..  Some individuals make bad choices and are labeled because of that choice.  Others are labeled because of historical actions and/or beliefs.  The labeling can impose limitations on what an individual can do and aspire to.  In an extreme, and individual can become suicidal from their labeling.  

Solutions:

=> We need to make full use of everyone in the community.

=> Youth need five (5) or more positive connections or role models each, in order to promote wellness.

Implementation:

Comments:

 Priority:  Short-Term - Needing to be addressed within 0 - 5 years

Background:

Issues:

=> There is a concern that establishing a marriage and family in the traditional approach is almost completely diminshed for the age group less than 50 years of age. There isn't a pattern or model for young people (< 50) to follow in establishing familes.  (ex.  a single young mom, moves in with her parents - the grandparents end up raising the children).

=> Seeking out pre-marriage guidance through post-marriage guidance (how to be a parent and nurture the relationship) is not occuring anymore. 

=> Discussion on sexually transmitted disease is not being discussed

Solutions:  

=> Involve the Elders and the church in helping individuals and families in establishing and nurturing a strong, healthy relationship.

=> The church is at the center of adult life in Mekoryuk.  On a weekly basis 50% attend at least 1 service.

Implementation:

 Comments: 

Priority:  Short-Term - Needing to be addressed within 0 - 5 years

Background:

Issue:

=> The community has a VPSO who operates with limited support systems, equipment and housing.  

=> The VPSO is limited in their authority on handling issues.  

=> The State Troopers seem unresponsive to major incidences that occur within Meloryuk.

Solutions:

Implementation:

Current Program & Project Plans to Address Issues:	Program/Project Plans Aligned w/ Need?	Current Status (Date)
NVM Justice Grant Awarded for Tribal Court	Yes	Grant expires 2013
COPS Grant Awarded for 1 Tribal Officer	Yes	Grant expires 2013

 Comments:

Priority:  Short-Term - Needing to be addressed within 0 - 5 years

Background: 

Issue:

=> There have been odd health occurrence in wildlife recently.  Examples: a walrus without tusks - just open space where they should be; a ring seal that died of pnuemonia; and spots on the liver of a walrus.

Solutions:

=> As the fishing season progresses, the women when cutting fish should be looking out for health issues in the fish and report them. In addition, the community may want to look into bringing on board a local biologist to begin systematically tracking and documenting changes and anomolies in the fish and wildlife.

Implementation:

Current Program & Project Plans to Address Issues:	Program/Project Plans Aligned w/ Need?	Current Status (Date)
project Plan to be Developed	N/A	6/15/11

 Comments:

Priority: Long -Term - Needing to be addressed within 11 - 20 years

Background:

Issues:

=> Marijuana use is an issue.  It prevents individuals from being responsible citizens.  This is also captured under "Capacity."

Solutions:

=> There has been progress made since 1996.  They will see how they can continue to expand on the successes.

Implementation:

Comments:

Priority:  Short-term - Needing to be addressed within 0 - 5 years

Background:

Mekoryuk currently does not have an emergency plan in place. 

Issues:

=> If a disaster were to occur there could be a high incidence of injury to people and property.  Worse case, there could be a high incidence of fatalities.

=> Man-made disasters such as drilling leaks, oil and fuel spills from increased shipping through the Bering Straits, and even in areas outside of Nunivak Island can have a negative effect the community. An example is the very recent offshore drilling platform disaster off the coast of Louisiana.

Solutions:

=>  Develop a plan to prepare for, respond to, and recover from, a disaster

=> Haz-Mat Remediation with oil spills and contaminants is a viable service now. Mekoryuk, with training and equipment, could be on standby to assist in clean up - even on a small scale.  This could become a service Mekoryuk could offer.

=> Attending local Hazwoper training, would expand the local response capabilities, and help to develop emergency spill response plans.

Implementation:

Current Program & Project Plans to Address Issues:	Program/Project Plans Aligned w/ Need?	Current Status (Date)
Project Plan to be Developed	N/A	6/15/11

 Comments:

The State of Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHS&EM) can assist local officials in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from emergency and disaster situations.  Yearly they announce funding opportunities for emergency management.

To date, nothing has been done to prepare for a natural or man-made disaster that will protect and save the community.

 Priority:  Short-Term - Needing to be addressed within 0 - 5 years

Background:

Mekoryuk is the single remaining Cup'ig village in the world. There is an urgency for the preservation of their historical and cultural identity in a rapidly changing world where the divide between youth and elders continues to expand.  The knowledge and wisdom on the cultural traditions, values and beliefs, and histories that are the foundation of the cultural and spiritual heritage of the Cup'ig people in Mekoryuk is feared to be diminishing with the passing of each Elder.

Two well attended focus group sessions were conducted for "Culture and Traditions."  All of the issues that were identified are very much intertwined and difficult to separate into distinct issues with neat solutions.  The Elders in attendance see this as a much more involved topic that needs more discussion.  (Some issues and  solutions were brainstormed and recorded below)  

Issues:

=> The advent and advancement of technologies coming into the village, has increased the gap between generations. Youth are distracted and do not respect their Cup'ig heritage.  

Solutions:

By the Community as a whole:

• Have children participate in community meetings
• Potlucks
• Instill commitment
• Learning the traditional ways needs to be repetitious from the time a child is still very young.  It is not written down and must be passed on generation to generation.
• Develop an incentive system that rewards youth for their participation in the culture and traditional ways
• Before any meetings have a traditional message

By the Covenant Church:

• Apply church activities for both men and women

By the Native Village of Mekoryuk:

• Have NVM track progress

By NPT:

• Interview Elders individually.  (Howard and Muriel Amos) (Link to their website is included below and contains "Nunivak Cultural Programs")

By the School:

• Teach respect in the classroom - "What does it look like? Sound like? Feel like?"
• Once a month conduct a culture session with the children
• Cup'ig cultural pledge each day
• Storytelling for the very young
• Start a club at the high school level similar in approach as the 4-H

Other Thoughts:

• Role models that can bridge between youth and Elders
• Youth get involved with regaining back the island

Implementation:

 Comments:

Priority:  Short-Term - Needing to be addressed within 0 - 5 years

Background:

The "No child Left Behind" initiative has imposed challenges for the local school and for the individuals employed from Mekoryuk as teachers.  There are now stiffer requirements and they must pass tests to become "Classified" and retain their jobs. 

Issues:

=> Teachers not passing the rigorous tests will loose their jobs.  That will increase the ratio of students to a teacher and place additional burden on the remaining teachers. This also impacts the economy.

Solutions:

=> The school is already working with these teachers to get them prepared to take and pass the tests.  These tests will be administered within the next 18 months.

Implementation:

Comments:

Priority:  Short-Term - Needing to be addressed within 0 - 5 years

Background:

Issues:

=> Maintaining the water and sewage system is being hindered by the performance of the accounting department. The customers are not being billed and as a result they are not submitting their payments.  When this occurs, there are not enough funds collected to pay the worker who delivers the water and pumps out the sewage tanks.  This results in the worker discontinuing his job until he does get paid.  This negatively impacts the health and safety of community.

Solutions:

=> Make sure the accounting department is fully trained in all elements of their jobs and then hold them accountable for performing

=> Determine if the clerk has the support they need to do their job.

Implementation:

Comments:

Priority:  Mid-Term - Needing to be addressed within 6 - 10 years

Background:

Issues:

=> When youth leave the village to attend college, vocational tech training or other training, more often than not, they return to the village to find no opportunity to apply these new skills. They often return to find they will use their skills for family and relatives and receive not pay.  Eventually they quit using the skills.

=> It is hard for youth from the village to make the transition to college life outside the village. UAA does not provide an effective program to assist students in the transition.

Solutions:

=> Community awareness of successes and failure rates of insitutions.  All colleges (trainings) are not equal. For example UAF does have an effective program to transition students from the villages.

=> In collaboration with the school, the IRA, City and NIMA, develop and implement a transition program that will prepare students for basic life skills and begin to prepare them for student life away from home and village life.

=> Offer Training Scholarships with strings attached. The student will receive a scholarship that will pay for one year training/education, which will be waived if they commit to returning to the village to work in that skill set  after training.  (This would require planning ahead to determine which skill set is going to be needed.  An example might be Accounting)

=> Identify resources that can help to insource businesses.  A possibility could be the development of a telework center.

=> Conduct college and career trips for Jrs and Srs to increase their exposure to these institutions.

Implementation:

Comments:

Priority: Mid -Term - Needing to be addressed within 6 - 10 years

Background:

Issues:

=> The village lacks mechanical repairs skills for equipment such as diesel engines.

Solutions:

=> When possible, and there is funding available, send individuals to operator training.

=> Incorporate training into on-the-job-training during a construction project.  The individual will be trained while on the payroll. This would reduce the burden to the budget.

=> Set boundaries for fishing on Nunivak Island to generate funds to pay for training and wages. (National Marine Fisheries.)

Implementation:

 Comments:

 Priority: Long -Term - Needing to be addressed within 11 - 20 years

Background:

Issues:

=> Everyone in the community is already maxed out with community responsibility positions. These include: City, IRA, Church, School, NIMA, Calista, CVRF Boards, plus making a living and subsistence.  

=> When someone vacates a position, it is difficult to fill them from within the community. There is a lack of interest. So quite often, these individuals recycle through the position or are elected back in, term after term.

=> There is a concern that marijuana use prevents some individuals from participating.

Solutions:

=> Youth development.  Begin getting them involved early in knowing why these positions are important and how to become a positive contributing member of the community.

Implementation:

Comments:

Priority:  Short-Term - Needing to be addressed within 0 - 5 years

Background:

Issues:

=> Lack of sanitary, safe and energy efficient homes

=> In 2011 there were ten families applying for the only two homes that are available

=> No new housing construction is planned for the immediate future

=> There is one family of six that does not have any income, yet applies for new housing and will not be considered.

=> While there is village designed  AVCP - RHA Housing in the newer section of the village it is still not enough.

=> People who have left the village and want to come back to live often do not have a place to stay and may end up taking what they can get which is substandard.

Solutions:

Implementation:

Comments:

Priority:  Short-Term - Needing to be addressed within 0 - 5 years

Background:

Issues:

=> There are several homes in the old section of the village that are falling into a state of disrepair.  

=> There are three families that have no options but to live in very substandard housing that poses health and safety hazards.  

=> The AVCP house built as recently as 2007 are not energy efficient and are already showing signs of mold.

Solutions:

Implementation:

Comments:

Priority:  Short-Term - Needing to be addressed within 0 - 5 years

Background:

Issues:

=> Land Ownership.  Community members have never received title to their land under their houses from the Corporation.

Solutions:

Implementation:

 Comments:

 The Selectee must get the land surveyed and then wait [ten] years according to 14 c 3 land use

Background:

Issues:

Solutions:

Implementation:

Comsments:

Priority:  Short-Term - Needing to be addressed within 0 - 5 years

Background:

Issues:

=> The youth facility is not a healthy environment for children.  It is run down and in a state of disrepair.

=> The youth facility is not supervised.

Solutions:

=> Coordinate a church youth group that is supervised

=> Through the church, offer job training for youth in construction

=> Provide a sewing machine for youth to sew kuspuks to sell

=> Make computers available

Implementation:

Comments:

Priority:  Short-Term - Needing to be addressed within 0 - 5 years

Background:

Issues:

=> The existing Fire Station is not adequate to meet the community's needs.  It is no longer structurally sound.

Solutions:

=> Construction of a new facility. 

=> Seek out funding to address this issue.

Implementation:

Comments:

Priority:  Short-Term - Needing to be addressed within 0 - 5 years

Background:

The church was constructed by the women in the village in 1962. Within the past 2 years there has been up upgrades to it to reinforce the structure but the structural integrity is still compromised. 

Issues:

=> While there were recent renovations to the church, the foundation of the church is breaking down.

Solutions:

Implementation:

Comments:

Priority: Mid -Term - Needing to be addressed within 6 - 10 years

Background:

Issues:

=> The community hall, fire station, youth center and the City office need to be replaced

=> An emergency shelter does not exist

Solutions:

=> For efficiencies of scale the following functions could be housed under one roof:

==> New community hall,

==> Youth center and

==> IRA and City offices

==> Meeting space

==> Training space

==> Special events

Further, this facility would serve as the community's emergency shelter

Implementation:

Comments:

Priority:  Short-Term - Needing to be addressed within 0 - 5 years

Background:

When there is threat of a disaster, residents will rely on each other and often will stay at someone's house that is more sturdy than their own.

The school and the church are options.  The church however is not structural sound and could pose additional safety hazards in an extreme situation.

Issues:

=> An actual emergency shelter does not exist in Mekoryuk.

Solutions:

=> Plan, design, and construct an emergency shelter that will be used as a place of gathering

=> To minimize costs the multi-purpose facility can be constructed to serve as the emergency shelter. 

Implementation:

Comments:

See Section 5.5 and 7.1 of the Community Profile

Priority:  Short-Term - Needing to be addressed within 0 - 5 years

Background:

Issues:

=> The community is awaiting NIMA Port and Road Develpoment Proposal.  The NIMA and new port will affect fuel stores and lightering.  There is potential for international impact such as storage access.

=> The small boat harbor needs repair and erosion control.

Solutions:

=> If the NIMA port proposal is approved and moves forward, the small boat harbor can be converted to a boat storage and repair facility.

Implementation:

Comments:

Priority:  Short-Term - Needing to be addressed within 0 - 5 years

Background:

Issues:

=> The dusty roads affect health. During periods without rain this problem becomes significant

=> Dust is transmitted through the air and gets into our lungs and it settles on food

Solutions:

Implementation:

Comments:

Priority:  Short-Term - Needing to be addressed within 0 - 5 years

Background:

Issues:

=> The sewage tanks inside of houses "Burps" spewing sewage onto the ground, causing unsanitary conditions. 

=> Flush and Haul repairs and toilets are very costly.

Solutions:

Implementation:

Comments:

Priority:  Short-Term - Needing to be addressed within 0 - 5 years

Background:

Issues:

=> The land fill burn box is not in use. It has been condemned.  

Solutions:

=> They are in the planning stages to get it back in operation.

Implementation:

Comments:

Priority:  Short-Term - Needing to be addressed within 0 - 5 years

Background:

Issues:

=> The City, IRA and Corporation do not work together to fulfill the best interests of the community (a.k.a expansion)

Solutions:

=> The board needs to start using the term "We" instead of "I," and combine the three facilities

=> The City, IRA and Corporation need to work collaboratively on the needs the group has listed:

Implementation:

Comments:

BYOT - Bring Your Own Tools!  The focus group enjoyed this comment made by a participant.

 Priority: Long -Term - Needing to be addressed within 11 - 20 years

Background:

Nunivak Island is divided by three different boundaries: Wilderness; Wildlife Refuge; Corporation.This has been a long term issues that goes back generations. Some community members used their own money to travel to Washington to make a statement.The land restrictions make to difficult to conduct an archaeological excavation to record history.

The land use restrictions deprive the community from becoming self-sustaining by preventing them from being able to take advantage of resources.

Rules have been imposed that they do not belong here - diminishing the Inherent Rights.In 1971 there was an opportunity for the community to own the island.  When given the option of Reservation vs Corporation, they chose Corporation.

"We need a voice."

 Issues:

=> The community would like to have ownership of the island and rights to access ancestral grounds.

Solutions:

=> Start lobbying at the state and federal level.

=> Reverse Lands Claim Settlement Act.

=> Get evidence. Get Lawyers and spend big bucks.

=> Invite Barack Obama to Mekoryuk - have the children write the letter of invite to Obama.

=> Get the Corporation to give their land over to the TribeGet an order from the PresidentGet the land back piece by piece from NIMA Implementation:

 Comments:

 Priority:  Short-Term - Needing to be addressed within 0 - 5 years

Background:

Under the BIA the Reindeer operation in Mekoryuk was a full blown operation.  They supplied meat to the soldiers stationed in the Aleutian Islands in the early 1940's.  They would send down "sides" of reindeer.  At that point in time the meat was not "Value Added."

The BIA gave the operations to Mekoryuk.

Issue:

Mekoryuk needs more economic development opportunities to become more self-sustaining.

Solution:

Revive the Reindeer operations with value added products.  An example would be reindeer jerky.  Identify this as local and get local recognition for it.   Also associate the product with tradition and culture.

This would also extend the employment season.

A business plan is in place.  They are working on an MOA with the Tribe to create economic opportunities and look at this from the long-term perspective.

The next step is to have a 1st meeting with the community.

Implementation:

Comments:

Priority:  Short-Term - Needing to be addressed within 0 - 5 years

Background:

The reindeer herd population has decreased to 3 - 4,000 from 5,000 over a long period of time. Reinder facility is very important. The NIMA Corporation is making plans to repair the facility and this will be a substantial investment.

Issues:

=> The slaughter house is currently out of commission and awaits two compressors.

Solutions:

=> Bring the facility up to health code.

=> Determine what "Value Added" product to develop and market. A high end product could be very profitable.

=> Recruit a local labor force although it may be hard to recruit youth.

=> Locate a secure grazing area.

Implementation:

Comments:

Priority:  Short-Term - Needing to be addressed within 0 - 5 years

Background:

Issues:

=> Mekoryuk needs more economic development opportunities to become more self-sustaining.

=> Business management skills need to be developed and fostered to successfully market their products.

Solution:

=> There is an opportunity to get into the Korean Market for Reindeer Antlers.  The Koreans currently have full antlers shipped over and grind them in Korea. Mekoryuk could find out how to grind the antlers, market them and ship them to Korea.

Implementation:

Comments:

Priority:  Short-Term - Needing to be addressed within 0 - 5 years

Background:

Over 25% of the money within the community is spent on airfare for passenger flights and cargo.  Expansion of the airstrip is in the planning stages, extending it 300 - 400 feet making it over 4,000'.  Larger planes will be able to land in Mekoryuk, opening the door to further economic development.  An example would be halibut processing and shipping.

Issue:

=> Mekroyuk needs to identify economic opportunities for the community to become more self-sustaining

=> Existing air service providers are very expensive

Solution:

=> Set up a local airline.  There are skilled and experienced pilots in the village.

Implementation:

Comments:

Priority:  Short-Term - Needing to be addressed within 0 - 5 years

Background:

Issue:

=> Business management skills and being knowledgeable about environmental and natural resource issues is needed to make sound business decisions in terms of economic development using their natural resources.

Solution:

=> Develop strategic partnerships.  An example would be partnering with a research vessel in the Bering Sea.  In a partnership with them,a local worker would be employed to assist with scientific research of the surrounding waters and fish.  The village would benefit from the resulting report and explanations.

Implementation:

Comments:

Priority: Mid -Term - Needing to be addressed within 6 - 10 years

Background:

Issue:

=> Mekoryuk needs to identify economic opportunities within the village

Solution:

=> Telework could work for medical coding in partnership with YKHC.  By sharing equipment with YKHC when it is not in use can serve to reduce associated costs.

=> There are Tele Fiber Optics already in place between Nunivak and the mainland.  That can help facilitate telework jobs.

=> Although youth in the village are familiar and work with computers, there will still be a training curve to learn medical coding or any other telework position.  The focus group thought it wise if the community were to only focus on one aspect of telework at a time.

Implementation:

Comments:

Priority: Mid -Term - Needing to be addressed within 6 - 10 years

Background:

There is potential for the fish plant to eventually be owned by the community.  If so they could develop a "Value Added" product to bring in more profit and increase employement. Thecurrent fish plant is okay for Head/Gut but should do more value added.  This could add 3 months to the season. With global warminig there is also potential for different species of fish coming into this region.

Issue:

=> CVRF owns the fishery at this point and it works well for the fishermen. The fishermen get paid okay and there is a fishery support center with a mechanic. There may be some resistance to change. 

Solutions:

=> Mekoryuk becomes owner of  the plant and develops "Value Added" products to market and sell.

=> This issue should wait until it is determined what CVS will be doing as well as what the change in fish stock coming into the area.

Implementation:

 Comments:

Priority: Mid -Term - Needing to be addressed within 6 - 10 years

Background:  

Issues:

NIMA Store.  The store is very small and in a state of disrepair.  

Solutions:

Seek funds and/or financing to remodel and renovate the building. 

 Implementation: 

Comments: