The Hoonah Stewardship Council met for their monthly meeting this September 16th, 2021. To get on the email list for these meetings please contact Ian Johnson ian.johnson@hiatribe.org
On the call : Erica Drahozal (ISP), Jackie Dick (Community Member), Jillian Schuyler (AmeriCORPS/HIA), Jeromy Grant (IGAP), Adam Culley (NC University) , Ricardo Contreras (HIA) , Ian Johnson (HIA) , Niccole (Community Member), Marlene Duvall (USFS), Jennifer Nu (Sustainable Southeast Partnership)
Indian General Assistance Program
Beach Program – Testing Hoonah’s Waters for Fecal Matter
Beach Program link : https://dec.alaska.gov/water/water-quality/beach-program/hoonah/
HIA tested 16 samples this past summer season trying to quantify the amount (if any) of fecal matter in our waterfronts. The aim for this testing was to inspect local accusations of cruise ship’s gray matter possibly being harmful and testing Hoonah’s treated water. This was completed by the help of Hoonah City and Icy Strait Point. Four types of DNA were compared to the gathered samples; ducks, gulls, humans, and dogs, to see what is dispensing fecal matter into Hoonah waters (if there is any). Click on the link above to learn more and see all of the data.
E-waste Program
HIA did an e-waste backhaul in partnership with AML and Hoonah City Administration for the 2021 season. In the year 2020, 8,500lbs were collected and properly disposed and this year HIA estimates more e-waste was collected (weight to be determined). The e-waste was shipped it to Washington and by working with AML, Hoonah will get data on the safely processed Hoonah’s discarded electronics soon. This is the second year and we hope to do more in the future.
Shellfish Monitoring in Hoonah – Is it safe to harvest?
Hoonah had a shellfish change due to heavy rains in the winter. HIA is waiting on maps on old and new shellfish locations. This year HIA is going to investigate if the shellfish will return to their original locations. HIA is concerned about community safety, due to high Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) levels in blue mussels year-round, which abnormal. The testing is year-round and it is important to remember our youth and elders are most susceptible to PSP.
Sustainable Southeast Announcements – Local Foods Challenge
Jennifer Nu- A couple updates, the locals food challenge is being wrapped up with a 7 day social media campaign (Eat local). #locafoodschallengeseak
Follow this link to learn more https://www.saltandsoilmarketplace.com/eatlocalchallenge
Virtual skill shares, last week we did a processing of a moose to the bones. There is an upcoming video by Mary Goddard making sushi pizza. All videos are uploaded and streamed at
https://www.saltandsoilmarketplace.com/calendar-of-events
Be sure to click the link to learn more.
Any interest in composting? SSP is aiming for a compost meetup throughout Southeast, contact us if you are interested.
Hoonah’s Advisory Board
10/5-7/2021 Advisory committee meetings. These boards operate to serve rural communities and it’s important to have Hoonah community members there.
In Hoonah there is a proposal to prevent nonfederal citizens to be limited to two bucks if hunting on Hoonah land. This is an attempted step toward local subsistence.
Happy Hoonah News
Edible Alaska article-Xunaa Stewardship of the Lands and Water | Edible Alaska (ediblecommunities.com)
Traditional Food Fair success Traditional Food Fair 2021 – HIA Environmental (hia-env.org)
Meeting Notes
Start at 5:05
Introductions
Beach Program link : https://dec.alaska.gov/water/water-quality/beach-program/hoonah/
Jeromy- Beach program. To test water quality. DEC already tests for ecoli and intrococci bacteria. Shows everything we are testing at inner point Sophia and the harbor (boat launch), Gus’s beach (treated waste spot). This season was a learning season and we are excited to start next season. Shows sample dates, level of what is found in testing. Used Admiralty, a lab in Juneau, where samples are sent to. Hoping to utilize GIS to show to share with community all the found data.
Ian-Talk about NST sample and how that will add to the results
Micro satellite tracing
Jeromy- DNA tracing, samples of MST at inner point sophia. Tested a total of five species and what is being looked for what contributes to high level of fecal coliform
Erica- dates?
Jeromy- August 10 from outfall point.
Jackie- what was the minor issue that you had?
Jeromy- being on an island and trying to ship things out when the weather acts its own way. Foggy day, but data was collected the next day. Another hiccup is time, having two points and collecting the data in time to be shipped out is difficult.
Jackie- types of DNA tested
Ian- 4, Ducks, gulls, humans, and dogs
Jeromy- procedure can be found at the bottom of shown page.
Ian- why are we doing the study and why is it important.
Jeromy- Community is concerned with cruise ships are leaving a lot of fecal matter and pollution in our water. As a tribe we listened and searched to find the answer through science to answer the question. Even though if there is no evidence, it answers the questions. Aim to put minds at ease.
Jackie- I have a comment. I had a meeting with our business people and they are closely monitoring to make sure the waters we harvest and farm in our clean. They are very concerned
Jeromy- They can look at our results to use in their efforts. The city tests their water too. This is to reaffirm and double check Hoonah’s water system
Erica- It is useful for us (ISP) as well, because we know what the ships are supposed to do. Although we know it is better to check.
Jeromy- we are done for the season, we had 16 samples planned for this season. We had a lot of ambient samples without the cruise ships, so we can compare if the cruise ships are really bringing any additional pollution .
We did an e-waste backhaul this year. We partnered with the City (Hoonah) to do this. Rare minerals are extracted, harmful substances that can harm the environment. I have a blog coming out soon that foes into depth. Year 2020-8500lbs and this year I think there is more. We shipped it to Washington, working with AML to get data and to process Hoonah’s discarded electronics. This is the second year and we hope to do more in the future.
Erica- Who collects metals and aluminum in Hoonah?
Hoonah Recyclers, Sally email sent.
Jeromy- I want to mention our shellfish and their change due to heavy rains in the winter changing location. We should be getting maps back and there were a lot of shellfish we used to get that are not there anymore. This year we are going to see if they are going to come back. We are seeing PSP levels in out blue mussels year-round, which is not normal and they are at relatively high numbers. *data shown* Hoonah blue mussels have high levels of PSP and the data is very telling. Butter clams hold onto it the longest and their numbers are concentrated. Blue mussels are supposed to be the fast ones and most likely don’t test constantly with PSP. This winter I am going to try very hard to educate and notify the community
Jennifer- does your testing go year round?
Jeromy- yes.
Below 80 you can still eat it safely, but it is risky. Elders and youth are susceptible to PSP and it is scary when elders are still harvesting although the levels are high.
Jennifer Nu- A couple updates, the locals food challenge we are wrapping up what challenge with a 7 day social media campaign (Eat local) https://www.saltandsoilmarketplace.com/eatlocalchallenge
Hashtag- #locafoodschallengeseak
Virtual skill shares, last week we did a processing of a moose to the bones. We have the past two videos posted for anyone to view. https://www.saltandsoilmarketplace.com/calendar-of-events
Sushi pizza event by Mary Goddard next Monday on salt and soil market place
Any interest in composting? Aiming for a compost meetup throughout southeast
Traditional Food Fair success Traditional Food Fair 2021 – HIA Environmental (hia-env.org)
10/5-7/2021 Advisory committee meetings. These boards operate to serve communities and it’s important to have community members there.
In Hoonah there is a proposal to prevent nonfederally recognized citizens to be limited to two bucks. A step toward local subsistence.
Edible Alaska article-Xunaa Stewardship of the Lands and Water | Edible Alaska (ediblecommunities.com)
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