Stories

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Soldotna woman celebrates smoke-free anniversary

Kandy Dushkin has overcome many challenges in her life. She can add quitting a 40-year habit to the list.
Dushkin recently celebrated a year of being smoke-free with a gathering at the Dena’ina Wellness Center.
“I had been trying since 2004,” Dushkin said. “… I’ve tried two weeks, a day, I even made it four months back in 2017.”
Dushkin said she started smoking when she was 15. Read More

Tribe launches Early Head Start program

Samuel Semaken is a bundle of energy.
On this particular Wednesday morning, that energy is focused on applying paint to paper. The lesson had started with painting ice cubes before moving to painting paper, and Samuel is loading his canvas with color. Throughout the lesson, Samuel’ sing-song “ha-ha” fills the room.
Samuel, age 2, and his family are participants in the Tribe’s new Early Head Start program. Read More

Tribe’s emblem gets an update

Kenaitze Indian Tribal Members and employees will soon have a new Tribal seal and updated logo adorning their correspondence and clothing.
Tribal Council Members recently unveiled the new seal. The most significant change is the addition of the Kenai River and Cook Inlet to the design. Tribal Council Chairperson Wayne D. Wilson Jr. said that is important for the Kahtnuht’ana Dena’ina.
“That’s the biggest thing – because we’re the River People,” Wilson said. Read More

Annual General Membership Meeting paves path to the future while recognizing the past

Tribal Members re-elected two sitting Tribal Council Members, and elected a third candidate with past Tribal Council experience at Saturday’s Annual General Membership Meeting.
Incumbents Diana Zirul and Jennifer Showalter Yeoman were re-elected to serve two-year terms on the Tribal Council. Tribal Members also elected Mary Ann Mills, a current Tribal Court Judge and past Tribal Council member, Read More

Tribe pays off Wellness Center loan 16 years early

The tide indeed is coming back in.
As planning and construction for the Dena’ina Wellness Center progressed, the tribe focused on the concept of Naqantugheduł, the idea that the tide has turned, and with it, a return of the culture that had been eroded over the years.
Friday, July 27 marked a major milestone for the tribe as the Wellness Center construction loan was paid off in full. Read More

Chandler Satkowiak completed surface and underground mining training this spring through the University of Alaska’s Mining and Petroleum Service. Days later, he left for a promising new job at Greens Creek Mine in Juneau.
“The mine is mind-blowing,” Satkowiak said.
As a tribal member, he received support with airfare getting to and from the camp. 
“Without the tribe helping me out, I would not be 19 years old, working the job I am, Read More

Tribe celebrates First Fish Potlatch

Under ever changing weather on the Cook Inlet beach, members of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe and invited guests from other tribes in the region came together for the First Fish Potlatch during the first weekend in May.
“Today we celebrate our first fish, as we have been doing for thousands of years,” Liisia Blizzard, Tribal Council Secretary, said in her opening prayer.
Tribal Council Chairperson Wayne Wilson Jr. Read More

Tribe offers support services, but resources are limited amid strong demand

Barehanded, breath visible, Eunice Ruhl knelt down, brushed snow off the log and propped it upright. With a grunt, she slung an ax over her shoulder and thrust it toward the ground. Read More

After four decades of drug use, a tribal member discovers sobriety

Blood was seeping into the man’s brain and he was high on cocaine.
The white powder, which he had snorted, was deep in his system when the aneurysm ruptured.
He heard the pop, felt the pop, an excruciating pain.
But he could not go to the doctor. Not with drugs in his system. Not if it meant jail time. Read More