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Traditional Foods for Healing

In 2023, more than 280 pounds of ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Native Tlingit (Lingít) potatoes were harvested from the Palmer Farm by ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Native Tribal Health Consortium employees and volunteers to be used by the ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Native Medical Center as part of a program to ensure patients have access to traditional foods during times of healing.

 

 

 

Reaching ²ÝÁñÉçÇøns off the Road System

 In 2023, ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Cooperative Extension faculty embarked on a third summer on the waters of Southeast ²ÝÁñÉçÇø, traveling to many communities around Prince of Wales Island and offering nearly 50 classes in food preservation, wild harvest and gardening alongside subjects like slug and bug management, avian influenza, yoga, strength and balance. The agents also tested over 50 canner gauges, an essential service to ensure the safe canning of fish and other local foods.

Mining and Petroleum Workforce Development

The Mining and Petroleum Training Service is a world- class training entity with three divisions that provide service to most of ²ÝÁñÉçÇø’s industries: Petroleum, Mine Safety and Health Administration, and Underground Mining. Demand for critical minerals has created an even greater emphasis on MAPTS programs and curriculum. The MAPTS program’s ability to adapt to ²ÝÁñÉçÇø’s ever-changing industrial needs is critical to ²ÝÁñÉçÇø’s workforce development.

 

 

 

 

Herding as Economic Driver 

 Reindeer herding in ²ÝÁñÉçÇø has long been considered an important industry for economic development and food security in the state. ²ÝÁñÉçÇø’s Cooperative Extension faculty is bringing high latitude range management expertise to ²ÝÁñÉçÇø in coordination with ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Northwest Campus in Nome. Through an international cultural exchange, ²ÝÁñÉçÇø delegates and students from ²ÝÁñÉçÇø, Kawerak Reindeer Herders Association and Nunivak Island Mekoryuk have shared new ideas to increase workforce development, youth involvement, commercial meat sales, tourism, and value-added byproduct craft production all stemming from the development of the ²ÝÁñÉçÇø reindeer industry.

Pesticide Safety Education Program

The Pesticide Safety Education Program provides training to people in ²ÝÁñÉçÇø who apply restricted use pesticides, apply any pesticides on property other than their own or their employers, or apply pesticides on public school (K-12) grounds and facilities. ²ÝÁñÉçÇø’s Cooperative Extension provided this Department of Environmental Conservation-mandated training to over 100 ²ÝÁñÉçÇøns last year, ensuring our communities, homes, farms and schools are safe from dangerous pesticide application.

Nutrition Education

By teaching nutrition and physical activity classes free of charge to low-income families, children and young adults, the Expanded Food Nutrition and Education Program (EFNEP) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) programs support families and individuals in making healthy and informed lifestyle choices. Combined, the programs reached more than 4,000 ²ÝÁñÉçÇøns last year.