Life in the Arctic

Ethics – moral principles that govern a person’s behavior or the conducting of an activity or business.

Ethics – the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation they are charged to do.

Good ethical behavior refers to acting in a way that demonstrates good values and moral principles. Practicing good ethical behavior involves showing integrity which aligns with societal standards of honesty, fairness, equality, diversity, etc.

Acting in ways consistent with what society and individuals typically think are good values.    Ethical behavior tends to be good for business and involves demonstrating respect for key moral principles that include honesty, fairness, equality, dignity, diversity and individual rights.

Good Ethics should be our guiding tool for all our governments.

Definition of a port authority (less commonly a port district) is a governmental or quasi-governmental public authority for a special-purpose district usually formed by a legislative body (or bodies) to operate ports and other transportation infrastructure.

§ 4.01.020 – Purpose and boundaries.

(A)
The purpose of the Authority is to plan for, finance, construct, operate and maintain transportation related facilities and activities within the boundaries of the North Slope Borough. These facilities and activities, or Projects, are intended to provide emergency response capability, environmental protection, improved efficiency of local cargo operations, facilitation of resource development, and provision of training and employment opportunities for local residents. These facilities and activities shall be pursuant to the Development Plan.
(B)
The boundaries of the Authority shall be coterminous with the boundaries of the North Slope Borough.

Spirituality – Ukpiqqutiqaġniq

• Knowing that our ancestors were spiritual people
• They knew that there was good and bad
• Our Elders talked about a new thing coming
• They understood it was Christianity
• Understanding the power of prayer
• Always being thankful for what we have
• Knowing that we can never out give God
• Asking for wisdom from God in everything we do.
• Our elders believe that there is Heaven and Hell.
• They believe that we have a choice.

Our parents and grandparents always went to church together when we were growing up. There was no one left home unless you were dying when the church doors opened. My father would have his whaling crew move up from the open lead to honor the sabbath and then return that evening after church.

I believe that because there is no spiritual discipline, our families have broken up, our communities are in turmoil and there is so much depression, division and bitterness. Our families are not involved in the spiritual value of our elders that spring structure and wholeness to their families.

Things to discuss with your family: Talk about the importance of prayer with your children. Talk about the Bible and Jesus with them. There is an eternity to think about.

Siġġaġniuġapta, niġiunaitchuatigun, qallilaaġuurugut God-mun.
Ivaqłiqtuatun paqinnialiġuugikput qanitquvlugu. Iḷisimasukługu.
Sugaluaġli iñuuniaġniq, suuŋinmatun suna iḷisuuruq, aglaan
paqitchuksiññaqługu God suli iḷitchuġisuurugut iḷaata pigisuktaatigut. Siġġaġniuġutivut qavsukpata, piiguġnatikput suli tutquġnatikput sumun.

It’s usually through our hard times, the unexpected and not-
according-to-plan times, that we experience God in more
intimate ways. We discover an unquenchable longing to know
Him more in those hard times. It’s a passion that isn’t concerned that life fall within certain predictable lines, but a passion that pursues God
and find out that He is relentless in His pursuit of each one of us. When our hard times end, let’s not put Him back on the shelf.

What does secede mean?

verb (used without object), seceded, seceding. 1. to withdraw formally from an alliance, federation, or association, as from a political union, a religious organization, etc. Origin of secede.

Would the other communities want to create a new State?  As North Alaska?

Some of our leaders have talked about this in the past but no action has ever been started

Why should we Secede?   Because we as bush communities do not receive the same equal service that urban Alaska gets.   Some of our southern villages still use “honey buckets”, they don’t have running water in their homes, we don’t have State government offices within our communities, not even satellite offices.

We have heard from State officials that we don’t even have to sent our criminals to jail because living in the Bush is already punishment enough.

If we were to secede, we will not have to be segregated like we are today.   Look at ASAA for our schools.   Barrow is considered western region and we are no even western, we are north, they might as well say the native region.

I think it’s time to Secede and become our own State.   This needs to come up at AFN or ICC.   All our oil money goes to provide for urban Alaska and then some but no services for us.    If this leadership doesn’t do it, a new leadership that does not sit idle will do it.   Be that generation that does something.    We understand some leadership will not do it because they are comfortable and make enough money to not worry about the things a lot of our people worry about.     Leadership is about serving others that vote you in.   To do it to the best of your ability.

It was in the mid to late 60’s that our leaders were talking about creating a borough so they can control and tax whomever came on their homeland.   At that time, we had reindeer herders traveling from the Canadian border to Point Hope.

In the book “Taking Control” the story of self determination, you will read and find the key individuals as they united to chart our history and our future in the north.

Preamble of the North Slope Borough:

We, the people of the North Slope Borough area, in order to form an efficient and economical government with just representation, and in order to provide local government responsive to the will of the people, and to the continuing needs of the communities, do hereby ratify and establish this Home Rule Charter of the North Slope Borough of Alaska.

IĻISIMARAKSRAQ North-Slope Borough-kun

Uvagut, iňuuruaguut irrituruam nunaŋani, inillaiňiaġupta savalluataġniaqtuamik kavamamik iluqaisa iňuvut nipiqallasiļugich, suli iňuŋisa nunapta tilikpatigut savaaġitqulugu suna piļļalugu, iglauniksraŋannun nunaaqqillaat, iviġagigikput suli inillakkikput Pitqurriuġumiňaqsivlutalu aŋalatchiyumiňaqsivlutalu uvaptigun tamaani nunaptigni.

*this book “Taking Control” needs to be a required read in our Schools.

•  Soft spoken

• not rude or mocking

• Never try to be noticed

• not being obnoxious verbal or physically.

• Respecting others

• Not trying to be first in everything.

• Putting others before yourself.

• Caring for the needs of others.

• Respecting yourself

• Dressing modestly, taking care of yourself physically and spiritually.

For family discussion: Taking care of yourself and how to care for others. Talking about how to be treated as a human and treating others how we want to be treated. For instance, if an elder or anyone older needs a chair, offer them a chair even if it is yours.

Respect for Nature:

Our families can practice respect for nature
• Don’t leave your trash when you are leaving your campsite.
• Learn about the landmarks of each area and their traditional names and how each place got their names.
• Remember that weather changes really quickly and be ready or prepared when you are traveling for change in weather.
• Respect all creatures, great and small
• Don’t mock any living creature

For Family discussion:  Taking care of our land and animals. What can our family do to help take care of our resources?  What are our other resources?