Sunday, May 19, 2013
Weather
Tension in Shishmaref Changes with the WeatherAlready at the center of the global warming debate, Shishmaref braces for more erosion.Related Content
This winter’s fragile crust of sea ice that formed along the silty strip on which Shishmaref sits has broken up and been carried away by a Chukchi Sea fury. Up until today it protected the soft sand and dirt that’s already been disappearing at an alarming rate in recent years. Now unprotected, Shishmaref’s real estate is next.
“Thank god Ted Stevens got the money to build that wall.” Ken Stenek, who teaches science at the village school, credits the late U.S. Senator with buying Shishmaref time. The one thousand foot wall is made from boulders and gravel. Its shields most of Shishmaref’s buildings and roads from the surf, but there’s land on either end totally exposed. It’s here where about thirty families maintain property and the wooden racks they use to dry salmon, caribou and tomcod. Stenek says that land and those racks are in danger. “Things have kind of escalated on people. They’re taking care of business.” In the last few hours the winds have switched to the southwest, the waves have increased, and residents just received word of a blizzard warning. The principal canceled all after school and evening activities. The mood has changed. Stenek says folks in Shishmaref are concerned. “There’s certainly a very heightened awareness right now. We were kind of watching that shore-fast ice. Now that it’s gone, it’s going.” |
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled.
Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
|
You have indicated this comment should be removed.
The comment has been submitted for review. Thank you .
Ellis said on Thursday, Nov 10 at 8:57 AM
I think that the native villages have every right to be concerned and to want to do everything they can to protect their lands from any threat and I don't feel they should be disrespected by anyone who can't understand that. They love where they live or else they wouldn't be there. So stop hating.
76726587pawnch said on Thursday, Nov 10 at 12:57 AM
If you get a PFD check and choose to live there, deal with it. You've survived there for 1000's of years already, so what a few more? And global warming??? Keep driving your 2 stroke snowmachines up and down the gravelroads, yes gravel roads, in the summer. I've witnessed that one.
76708259Rachel said on Thursday, Nov 10 at 12:55 AM
That is a lot of money to spend on what is inevitable! I don't understand why they are so stubborn? Why not move more in land to a place where it is safe???? It is ridiculous to live like that...it isn't going to get any better!
76708232andrew greene said on Wednesday, Nov 9 at 11:31 PM
^jane gilbaud can you imagine what a little village could do with the money that is spent on the city you live in? i am native and proud of our traditions and where we live to hunt fish and live off the land. if it is so easy move out to a village and survive with us thats what we've been doing for thousands of years. another point for you, have you heard of global warming? look it up..... check if erosion like this was prevalent 50-100 years ago. nonsense? ignorance on your part.
76707243Jane Gilbaud said on Wednesday, Nov 9 at 11:12 PM
The amount of money wasted by occupying land that is hard to defend would be better spent a few miles up-land. Tradition? Nonsense, move to a city.
76706977Chris Nguyen said on Wednesday, Nov 9 at 8:59 PM
Coulkd somebody explain to me why many native Alaskans would rather live in remote villages instead of the convenience and safe of cities like Anchorage and Fairbanks?
76704043Add a comment
Most Popular