Strengthening Our Communities
Shareholders Empowering Shareholders
Storyknife, July/August 2024
The following story is republished from the Calista Corporation 2023 Annual Report.
Our communities are strong. Our communities thrive, thanks to the leaders who continue to show their dedication to the places they call home. Here are just a couple examples of the resilience and strength our Shareholders demonstrate when empowered by those who trust their dedication.
One community continues to build its opportunities for its Shareholders year after year. Another community is rebuilding after multiple crises. Both communities each have Shareholders with a passion to provide for their community.
Napaimute on the Rise
Audrey Leary is the Executive Director at the Native Village of Napaimute and a Shareholder who grew up in Bethel, Kalskag and Napaimute, and currently lives in Aniak with her family.
Many are familiar with the river barging service and ice road maintenance the Native Village of Napaimute provides to Kuskokwim River travelers, but Leary’s personal passion is bringing cultural development and Tribal health and wellness programs to the Region.
“Our culture camp is very healing for everybody involved,” Leary says. “The camp is located a few miles upriver of Napaimute and is very remote. We give our youth a place where they can learn their culture and traditional values and receive mentorship from our Elders and culture bearers.”
Leary earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Alaska Native Studies with an emphasis in Policy, from the University of Alaska Anchorage. She has interned at Calista and has a strong background in workforce development.
“My late grandma [Bea Kristovich] always instilled in me—she would say, ‘home’s always here. You go get education, come back, and give it to your people.’ That was my drive, to get my education, and come back home,” Leary says.
“We want to make sure our kids have the cultural and traditional tools to be balanced and healthy, so they can continue to give back to our Region in a positive way.”
Audrey Leary, Calista Shareholder and Executive Director at the Native Village of Napaimute
Leary coordinated a districtwide cultural heritage week in Aniak for the Kuspuk School District in 2023, with cultural activities in the school that were also open to the whole community.
“Everyone felt lighter by the end of the week. That just goes to show how important it is to keep our culture alive within our Region. It’s a big part of who we are. It keeps us healthy.”
Leary has coordinated the Jacob Wise Memorial Spirit Camp for youth in the Middle Kuskokwim, from Lower Kalskag to Stony River, since 2016. She says culture camps help create culture bearers for years to come.
“Our kids are the future of our Region,” Leary says. “We want to make sure our kids have the cultural and traditional tools to be balanced and healthy, so they can continue to give back to our Region in a positive way.”
They Empower Me
Crooked Creek, about 200 miles up the Kuskokwim River from Bethel, has been through quite the year to say the least. The village struggled through a series of power outages and a large flood causing many in the village to lose their homes, fish camps and other belongings. Through it all, Julia Zaukar has been there for the village, representing Tribal members in their time of need.
“The Tribal members of Crooked Creek are empowering us. Everyone wanted to stay here and rebuild. That just made it more empowering for us to keep going, because no one wanted to leave,” says Julia Zaukar, Crooked Creek Tribal Council President and Calista Shareholder.
Crooked Creek saw major power outages when a portion of the village was without power for over 10 days at a time, starting around Thanksgiving in 2022, when temperatures averaged below freezing. Additionally, the washeteria, where people get water, wash clothes and shower, was out of power, Zaukar says. Students had to haul water for teachers and the school to make sure everyone had water and heat.
“Our power was finally fixed by March [2023] and we had a little celebration because nearly every home had power. Then a few months after that a flood impacted our whole village,” Zaukar says.
Crooked Creek experienced a rise of 16 feet of water in the Kuskokwim in May 2023 due to an ice jam, according to the National Weather Service. This flood came after Crooked Creek experienced what was described as a ‘100-year flood’ in 2011.
“Our home did not get water in it this year, but as a survivor of the 2011 flood and having to rebuild my home, I know what our families are going through,” Zaukar says. “I just wish we could do more.”
The Kuspuk School District allowed families to stay warm and use the school for shelter, and the Association of Village Council Presidents (AVCP) was able to provide modular tent-like homes to families whose homes were damaged in the flood, Zaukar says.
Donlin Gold has helped Crooked Creek throughout recovery from the flood, and Calista continues to work with the Tribe as an advocate for state and federal funding and aid. Calista also donated funds to Crooked Creek and other Tribes impacted by flooding.
“Thank goodness everyone was safe. I was very grateful to see that everyone wanted to stay and rebuild,” Zaukar says. “Even with the conditions, everyone wanted to stay in Crooked Creek. This is our home.”
This story is republished from the Calista Corporation 2023 Annual Report.