Kisimagiuqtuq site
WELCOME TO KISIMAGIUQTUQ SITE
THE SITE SELECTED BY VOTE OF THE PUBLIC!
On November 2011, school district officials came to Kivalina to discuss the possibility of a new school for Kivalina. Kivalina was one of five of the recipients of the lawsuit for a new school in the lawsuit case Kasayulie vs. State. Superintendent Dr. Norman Eck and the Regional School Board representatives came to Kivalina to inform us of that. Agenda item was to request that local governmental entities select a site for the new school so that it can be built and soon. Since an access road was already in discussion by the Tribal Council, it was suggested that the school be built at the end of that road because time was very limited. The district personnel requested that the City hold an election with the question; "Should a new school be built at Kisimagiuqtuq?" The majority voted for it.
(In 1997, plaintiffs filed an "adequacy" and "equity" suit, Kasayulie v. State, against the state of Alaska, claiming that the state's method of funding capital projects for education violates the education clause and the equal protection clause of the Alaska Constitution and the implementing regulations of Title VI of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964. http://www.schoolfunding.info/states/ak/lit_ak.php3)
After the City had it's election in January 2012 to finalize the site, the ball was turned over to the Northwest Arctic Borough School District to lobby for funds for the new school. Craig McConnell is the contact for the school district. The access road is in control of the Tribal Council in Kivalina under Maniilaq Association. Stanley Hawley, Tribal Administrator, is the local contact for that but the Roads Program under Maniilaq is the lead. Maniilaq's environmental program is seeking to include a piping system for filling the water tanks so are in contact with the Tribal Office. Paul Eaton is the contact for that. United States Army Corps of Engineers are anxious to get funding for the studies to be done this coming spring and are speaking with those who can speed up the process. Donald Fore is the contact for that.
Kisimagiuqtuq is 7 miles North of Kivalina between the Kivalina and Wulik River. Should the school be built, but the people remain in the village, getting the students to school will be a problem, especially since our winter season is 5 months out of the year with storms being very frequent during those times. A string of events would have to happen. We would need a school bus, we would need storm fences to keep the road clear of snow or monies for road maintenance, we would have wildlife to contend with, so walking 7 miles to school is not an option, there would be a need to address the need for water for the school.
Having an access road wILL address many issues besides gainful access to the school.
1. We would be able to relocate the landfill, freeing the airport of the dangers of incoming planes hitting sea gulls or ravens.
2. We would have easier access to fishing from both the Kivalina and Wulik River because the majority of the people rely on subsistence for survival.
3. Hunting for caribou by ATV would become a very welcome option. Currently, our hunters request access on Teck Cominco's haul road for hunting caribou and they are very good about allowing it. Thank you, Teck Cominco!
4. Most importantly, we would have an escape route in the event of a flood, which hasn't happened since 1885, an estimate based on the age of one of our ancestors Regina Qiagan Swan-Walton, grandmother of Austin and Lona Swan of Kivalina, who was 15 at the time of the 1885 flood. That puts a kink on the 100 year flood predictions set forth by scientists, which was just an estimate, as I was told by an expert, who turned out to be 'only human', afterall, when he answered that question for me.
5. We would be able to have a water pipe system adjacent to the road for the City's waterplant operations, making it easier to fill the water tanks which serves the people with drinking water.
6. Easier access to a new airport to address cross wind situations and more security.
KIVALINA EVACUATION ROAD PROJECT
DRAFT Preliminary Environmental Report
The Draft Premilinary Environmental Report prepared by WHPacific is available for comments. The document can be found at the City Office for your review if you would like to comment.