Center for Environmentally Threatened Communities

We support communities to address environmental threats and achieve their vision for a safe, healthy, and sustainable future.

Newsletter Issue 48

Kongiganak Elders Tell of Changing Land

“Our land is sinking as we speak.” –Ralph Kinuya, Kongiganak Elder

Kongiganak, Alaska is a community of 544 residents located in the vast coastal wetlands of the Yukon-Kuskokwim River Delta. Credit: Association of Village Council Presidents. 

The Elders of Kongiganak, Alaska have a deep understanding of their lands and waters that is informed by generations of traditional wisdom and practices. They have invaluable knowledge of how the land has changed and what will come in the future. In May 2021, Theresa Kinegak, with the Native Village of Kongiganak, spoke with seven Kongiganak Elders about environmental changes in the community. We listened to the audio recordings and pulled key highlights into this issue.

Kongiganak Elders. Credit: Theresa Kinegak

How has the land changed? 

“Our land is sinking as we speak. This is permafrost right here. Especially our township here, is sinking.” -Ralph Kinuya 

“The hills used to be bigger but they shrunk due to permafrost thaw and global warming.” - Martina Azean 

“Erosion is right here. Right here in our town, our land is going down every year since last year. More like two feet already down. You can see the impact to the houses, even my cousin’s way up there.” - Ralph Kiunya

Boardwalks connect infrastructure in Kongiganak. Here, permafrost degradation is causing water to pool under homes. Credit: Theresa Kinegak

Should the Village move to higher ground?

"Our Village already moved because the land where we used to live on was sinking. One day, after a big flood, we got together as a community and decided to move here to the higher ground. We are lucky we did. That land over there [Kwigillingok] is getting low. They get lots of floods." - Tommy Mute

“No, I think we are good over here.” - Minnie Ivon 

“This ground is high enough. I like it.” - Elsie Azean 

“Maybe not within the next 50 years. I think this land will be safe for the next 50 to 100 years.” - Paul Paul

“Maybe, but we have to go through our Elders because they know what to do in the future. We have to follow what their thoughts are.” - Sarah David 

What should we be cautious of in the future?   

"When I was a baby, a big flood came in and covered all the land. My mother held me in her parka all night for survival. I know a flood like that is going to happen one of these days. The water will come up higher than usual. It worries me sometimes. I just hope that it is not in the wintertime. " - Tommy Mute

“The heat! If the summer heat prolongs, I bet most of the lower land like in front of the ocean will go under, like how it did in Kwigillingok years back. Some of the land that was in front of the water sunk because of the permafrost under melted.”- Minnie Ivon 

“Our high tide is becoming really high almost reaching flood stage, we probably will be seeing more high tide than usual.” - Paul Paul

“People need to know how to respect the land.”- Elsie Azean 

Listen to an interview 

If you are interested in listening to an interview, we recommend this two-minute clip of the conversation between Theresa and Ralph. 

What are we going to do? Send our kids to school with life jackets on? 

Aerial view of the school in Napakiak, Alaska on June 26, 2021. Credit: State of Alaska Coastal Hazards Program.

In 2018, Napakiak, Alaska lost 112 feet of land due to erosion. Community leaders came to Anchorage that August for an interagency meeting on the erosion threat. Napakiak resident Jacqueline Andrew asked, “What are we going to do? Send our kids to school with life jackets on?” Now, three years later, the school is less than 79 feet from the river and there’s no plan or funding to decommission the infrastructure. The State Coastal Hazards Program recommended immediate action to move school buildings. Decommissioning old schools is typically included in new school funding. However, the State of Alaska Department of Education has not prioritized funding a new school in Napakiak school because environmental threats are not a criteria for decision-making.

Upcoming Events

Intro to Climate Change Adaptation Planning Course for Tribes

The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) is hosting a week-long virtual course August 9-13, 2021designed for Tribal staff who are in the beginning phases of the climate change adaptation planning process. The course is free to attend. View the description here. Register here by Friday, July 23, 2021.

Incorporating Tribal Wellness in Climate Adaptation Planning

The Alaska Tribal Resilience Network is hosting an in-person training in Anchorage from August 11-12, 2021 on incorporating wellness and mental health into climate adaptation planning. Click here to learn more and apply. Applications are due July 21, 2021. 

News Roundup

Dispossessed, Again: Climate Change Hits Native Americans Especially Hard

This article features Chefornak, Alaska, and their challenges in accessing support to address erosion, flooding, and permafrost impacts to community infrastructure.

Kwigillingok, Alaska Experiences Severe Tidal Flooding

Tidal flooding in Kwigillingok on June 24, 2021 was the worst non-storm flooding the community has experienced.

Why Does Disaster Aid Often Favor White People?  

Research shows that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster aid often favors white disaster victims more than people of color, even when the amount of damage is the same.

About the Center for Environmentally Threatened Communities 

The goal of the Center for Environmentally Threatened Communities (CETC) is to support rural Alaskan communities experiencing infrastructure impacts associated with flooding, erosion, and permafrost degradation. The team does this primarily through grant writing, technical assistance, and project coordination.

ETC@anthc.org | (907) 729-4521 | www.anthc.org/cetc | 4500 Diplomacy Drive, Suite 561, Anchorage, AK 99508

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