Barb Brown

My trip to Old Harbor helped me understand more about the Alutiiq culture and the way of life in Old Harbor. I got to meet one of the high school students who is considering attending Kodiak College in fall 2007 and I will keep in touch with her throughout the next year.

I would like to visit the Old Harbor school during the 2006-2007 academic year and talk to the high school students about college. There is an unusually large group of students who are graduating (5) so it could be a great time to make an impression about the services we can offer. If I am unable to visit due to weather or other obligations, I would like to ask the rural students to come to Kodiak College for a day to learn about filling out applications for admission and the FAFSA and to talk about the opportunities that are available for them.

It is worth time and effort to go to the environment from which we are trying to recruit student and to try to understand all that keeps prospective students from wanting to leave their homes. Relationships are not built in two days and it will require commitment on both sides to realize real benefit from this program.

It is not useful to offer communities something they do not want or need and then take offense when they refuse the offer. Likewise, Kodiak College needs to maintain reasonable boundaries about what we can and cannot provide for rural populations so that we do not break promises and damage the relationships we are trying to build.

Old Harbor residents live an enviable lifestyle immersed in living off the land and using skills passed down for generations. There is much to be valued there that cannot be accessed elsewhere.

Mark Schreiter

The villagers of Old Harbor served as generous hosts for Barbara Brown and me during Nuniaq Camp last summer.

Involving us in many activities, they demonstrated their healthy culture built on respect for each other and the natural world.

Through committed partnership with the college, the village of Old Harbor can continue to take advantage of rich educational opportunities while celebrating a vibrant cultural revitalization.

One valuable benefit of our partnership will assume the form of an expanded curriculum in Alutiiq Studies. In the future, the college will offer more courses in Alutiiq language, history, and culture.

I am especially excited to be involved in the development of a three-credit Alutiiq Studies survey course at the 200 or 300 level, as well as several intensive variable-credit workshops: hunting technologies (including bow building), wood carving (masks, etc.), kayak construction, drum-making, skin sewing, spruce root basket weaving, and others.