Y-K leaders agitated by lack of rural reps on Board of Game

Mon, February 4, 2008
Posted in Alaska News, Top Stories

Leaders in the Yukon-Kuskokwim delta are upset over Governor Sarah Palin’s recent appointments to the Alaska Board of Game which does away with both Rural and Native representation.

Angela Denning-Barnes, KYUK - Bethel

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Comments

4 Comments to “Y-K leaders agitated by lack of rural reps on Board of Game”

mpb on February 5, 2008 at 8:26 am

The story misleads in saying no rural rep is appointed. Tok is rural.

However, the absence of anyone from 2/3 of the state west of the road system is very unfortunate.
True Alaskan/Endangered Species on February 5, 2008 at 12:08 pm

It is not surprising that we are once again left in the closet, it is with everything especially these days, and I thought that there was some form of in writing about subsistance finally, as same with fishing, In Kuskokwim NO fishery, Non-Native population $10. a pound, In education Natives Down, In our lands for subsistance, Open country to mine, Wonder if my kind workforce, how many in Gas pipeline?
John Proffitt on February 5, 2008 at 12:15 pm

@mpb… I guess it depends on how you define “rural.” Tok sure seems rural to me, too, but at least it’s on the road system. From the perspective of Bethel (where the reporter lives) Tok might seem a lot less rural. Yet it seems to me that Bethel is probably larger than Tok.

In any case, I agree the use of the word “rural” here is unfortunate — it’s not specific enough.
mpb on February 5, 2008 at 1:15 pm

John–
Myron Naneng in the audio made the accurate distinction. There actually are formal definitions of “rural” (US Census) and even “frontier” (US health services). The use of the Unorganized Borough is appropriate in some situations too, as far as legislative inclusiveness, tax base, etc.

As to the comparability within those regions– we do need a better way to compare incomes, costs, resources for sparsely settled areas and mixed cash/subsistence economies.

I like the Wal-Mart measure– how many miles as the raven flies? Any others?

Defining Frontier, WICHE.edu (population densities of less than seven persons per square mile), out here (YK Delta) we have 1/2 person per square mile but that assumes everywhere is habitable, etc.

Measuring Rurality: What is Rural? USDA ERS

Rurality from the Rural Policy Research Institute