|
|
|
|
|
|
Nulato
|
|
Location and
Climate
History,
Culture and Demographics The Koyukon
Athabascans traditionally had spring, summer, fall, and winter
camps, and moved as the wild game migrated. There were 12 summer
fish camps located on the Yukon River between the Koyukuk River
and the Nowitna River. Nulato was the trading site between
Athabascans and Inupiat Eskimos from the Kobuk area. Western
contact increased rapidly after the 1830s. The Russian explorer
Malakov established a trading post at Nulato in 1839. A small pox
epidemic, the first of several major epidemics, struck the region
in 1839. Disputes over local trade may have been partly
responsible for the Nulato massacre of 1851, in which Koyukuk
River Natives decimated a large portion of the Nulato Native
population. The Western Union Telegraph Company explored the area
around 1867. Nulato was a center of missionary activity, and many
area Natives moved to the village after a Roman Catholic mission
and school, Our Lady of Snows Mission, was completed in 1887.
Epidemics took heavy tolls on Native lives after the onset of the
Yukon and Koyukuk gold rush in 1884. For instance, food shortages
and a measles epidemic combined to kill as much as one-third of
the Nulato population during 1900. In 1900, steamboat traffic
peaked, with 46 boats in operation. Through the turn of the
century, two steamers a day would stop at Nulato to purchase
firewood. A post office was opened in 1897. Gold seekers left the
Yukon after 1906. Lead mining began in the Galena area in 1919.
Nulato incorporated as a City in 1963. A clinic, water supply, new
school, telephone and television services were developed through
the 1970s. In 1981, large-scale housing development began at a new
townsite on the hills north of the City, about 2 miles from the
old townsite. A federally recognized tribe is
located in the community: Nulato Village Council. 94% of the
population are Alaska Native or part Native. Nulato
residents are predominantly Koyukon Athabascans, with a trapping
and subsistence lifestyle. Virtually all of the residents are
Catholic. During the 2000 U.S. Census, there
were 119 total housing units, and 28 of these were vacant. 26 of
these vacant housing units are used only seasonally. Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care Water is derived
from wells and is treated. A piped water and sewer system was
completed in 1996 for 53 homes in the Nulato new townsite, with
bathroom and kitchen plumbing. The washeteria has recently
undergone major renovations. 34 unserved residences in the lower
townsite haul water from the Blackberry Well or the Church, and
use honeybuckets or outhouses. Some residents dispose of
honeybuckets over the riverbank. Funds have been requested to
construct a low volume haul system for this area. The City also
needs a new landfill. Electricity is provided by AVEC. There is one school located in the
community, attended by 117 students. Local hospitals or health clinics
include Nulato Health Clinic. Auxiliary health care is provided by
Nulato EMS (Clinic 898-2209); flight to Fairbanks. Economy
and Transportation Most of the
full-time employment in Nulato is with the City, school, clinic
and store. During the summer, BLM emergency fire-fighting
positions, construction work and fish processing are important
sources of cash for Nulato. 12 residents hold commercial fishing
permits. Trapping is Nulato's largest private sector income source
in winter. Subsistence foods are a major portion of the diet, and
many families travel to fish camp each summer. Salmon, moose,
bear, small game and berries are utilized. Poor fish returns in
the past two years have significantly affected the community. The State-owned 3,000' lighted
airstrip provides year-round access. The airport has recently
undergone major improvements. The River is the primary mode of
local transportation -- barges deliver cargo during summer months,
and it becomes an ice road during winter for vehicles and
snowmachines. Numerous trails are used for trapping and
woodcutting. Cars, trucks, snowmachines, ATVs and skiffs are used
by residents. Organizations
with Local Offices City - City
of Nulato, P.O. Box 65009, Nulato, AK 99765, Phone 907-898-2205,
Fax 907-898-2203 Regional
Organizations School District
- Yukon/Koyukuk Schools, 4672 Old Airport Way, Fairbanks, AK
99709-4456, Phone 907-474-9400, Fax 907-474-0657, E-mail: kedempster@yksd.schoolzone.net,
Web: http://www.ptialaska.net/~yksd |