Posts specifically from or for the Council Newsletter
By: Linden Staciokas Mariah Bifelt knew a number of health aides growing up, including her own aunt. But she never considered being one until she moved back to her home village of Hughes. “I was born in Fairbanks but raised in Hughes, leaving when I was an adult. I returned in June of 2015, and the position was sitting empty, …
Sometimes you go looking for a job, and sometimes the job finds you. Herbert “Herbie” Demit never had any intention of becoming a health aide. He’d been a carpenter, a trucker, a heavy equipment operator, and a village public safety officer, but learning precise details about the body and then applying that knowledge to diagnose and treat humans had never …
Construction has just wrapped up on a brand new 80,000-gallon bulk Tank Farm in the community of Hughes, AK competed by the City of Hughes in partnership with the TCC Energy Program. The city of Hughes received an $817k Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) award from the state of Alaska Department of Community and Regional Affairs passed through from the …
On October 13th, the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors elected a new Chief/Chairman to lead the organization – PJ Simon of Allakaket/Galena. Five candidates ran to lead the organization after former Chief/Chairman Victor Joseph who had completed his two consecutive terms. “I will work as hard as I can every single day to bring you the best service. …
What do you do when you are in your 60s, your children have left home and your husband has retired? Not many people would say, “I think I’ll become a village health aide!” But Betty Schmitz, known as B.J., did just that. She and her husband had lived in Bettles many years before, but moved to Fairbanks and raised their …
It has been over 7 years since the vision for the Chief Andrew Isaac Health Center (CAIHC) became a reality, and now it’s time for another expansion. The clinic, which opened services to the public in December of 2012, was designed with the expectation that additional services and expansions would be added in the future. It wasn’t long ago that …
TCC plans to begin operations of the Upper Tanana Health Center in Tok. The 16,000-square-foot clinic will be expected to open its doors and offer primary care, urgent care, dental, behavioral health, lab, radiology, and pharmacy services to patients in the Upper Tanana Health region. There will be a small ceremony where Chief Chaaiy Albert, tribal delegate from Northway and …
Food security for the Interior villages has been unstable given both the COVID-19 pandemic and the record low salmon runs which has limited the ability for tribal members to store enough food for the winter. Several tribes requested assistance from the State and Federal managers to provide emergency hunts. The State of Alaska denied the requests. The Federal Subsistence Board …
Family Time is essential for our youth’s mental health and wellness. Consistent family time can help youth feel important and loved. By spending time together, youth can build confidence, increase communication, and build trust. Through the establishment and nurtured relationships, a safe space is developed. Forming these bonds can be a great method for identifying signs and symptoms of suicide. …
The residents of Circle had no idea that the frightening illness of the recent newcomer would bring health to the entire community, but it did. Tina Nollner recalls, “I moved to Circle in March of 2018, and soon after got really, really sick. I felt like I was going to die and here I was in a remote village with …