Vision?

 Earlier today as I was visiting a friend’s home for a few moments… the discussion turned to local/regional politics.  The same theme kept coming up in the conversation, that recovering from this ‘pandemic’ is the best time to look forward and make some shit happen for the future.  After a bit, I interjected that there is a perfect foundation already begun but is sitting in a file somewhere in all those BB et al offices.  The Bristol Bay Vision Project… finalized in 2011.

 

But in not wanting to eat my words… I looked into it yet again. Nothing at all has changed on the actual Bristol Bay Vision website (http://www.bristolbayvision.org) and the vision statement reads as follows:

“The Bristol Bay Regional Vision

The foundation of the Bristol Bay Region is committed families, connected to our land and waters.

We believe future generations can live healthy and productive lives here.  Across our region, we share common values of community, culture, and subsistence.

We see a future of educated, creative people who are well prepared for life. This requires:

• Excellent schools
• Safe and healthy families
• Local jobs
• Understanding our cultural values and traditions

We assert the importance of local voices in managing our natural resources to continue our way of life.

We welcome sustainable economic development that advances the values of Bristol Bay people. Our future includes diverse economic opportunities in businesses and industries based largely on renewable resources. Large development based on renewable and non-renewable resources must not threaten our land, our waters, or our way of life.

We foster cooperation among local and regional entities to coordinate infrastructure planning for stronger, more affordable communities. Investments in energy, housing and transportation promote sustainable communities and spur economic development.

We recognize the need to locate new sources of capital to implement this vision with a goal of generating self-sustaining regional economies.

We are unified to secure a prosperous future.

—February 2011”

 

 

On the BBNA website there is a post linking to a PDF that is supposedly the Bristol Bay Vision ‘Final Report’ that was posted on June 2, 2020.  The link is to the flyer/brochure that they first published in November of 2011. https://bbna.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/04b1c-bbrv-final-report-november-2011.pdf

 

The next most prevalent theme of the conversation was centered around how the leadership of some of the local/regional entities needs to be flushed with new people and younger people that are wanting to revive our region as a healthy and sustainable community.  It’s obvious that the same ole’ same ole’ ain’t gonna’ cut it anymore and some of those old time good ole’ boys are really ding their jobs to represent Us and our best interests.  When I say Us and Our… I fully mean the entire region. The disaster that we have now with rampant wasteful spending in trying to make Dillingham and other communities like Anchorage or Seattle will be left to a generation of people that are conditioned to knee-jerk emotional responses instead of critical thinking.  Heck… there’s a couple of those on the current council already and at least one person that seems not to have a clue.  But those are the ‘perfect people’ that often ran unopposed and remain there doing the same ole same ole that isn’t working. See folks… this cycle is spinning out of control and the one’s deciding the direction really don’t care about anything but their own immediate gratification.  

I have on numerous occasions been engaged in discussion about regional issues with the elected powers that be and those billion-dollar corporation CEOs and Board Members.  When practical ideas and true cooperation are thrown on the table… they balk and even scoff. Heck, just a couple of weeks ago a BBXX BoD member was complaining about something at the hospital.  I told him that he was the only person in the conversation that had the clout to make something happen… he half-chuckled and sort of glared at me.  But even better yet was the one time when as I was participating in a roundtable on regional energy issues… I brought up a perfectly viable option as prepared by AIDEA almost 20 years ago.  One of the attendees who happened to sit on several Boards that all had interest in this topic dropped the papers I had passed out and said, “It ain’t gonna’ fuckin’ happen.”  And just like that the idea was dismissed… that happens a lot out here.  

Maybe it was a #ShootTheMessenger sort of thing… they only want to hear from their perfect circle.

Pro Or Con‽

Pro Or Con‽

As the public participation portion of the perpetual permitting process ramps up again on the Pebble Project. Here We go again with all these consortiums of outside resource developers and exploiters vying for the opinions of the people that live out here and others with whatever interest in Bristol Bay that they may have. The real trick for Us is to see who is positive with positive results and weed out the negatives that are sure to arise.  

Now, don't get me wrong on this. I oppose the development of these mineral resources for a couple of reasons.  But I do know a few facts about this issue that make me understand that they are not going to stop trying to dig those pits.  The only true resistance is strength.... we are in the 21st century and with the population growth and tech dependence that comes with it.  Gone are the days that We are allowed to live simply and cheaply.  Government regulation and revenue collection forces Us to 'keep up with the Jones'.  This equates to the need for money... and their permission to let you earn money that they will tax. 

So in having to comply with government regulation and taxing authority with almost every facet of life nowadays... living just off of subsistence is pretty much illegal.  Heck We even have to ask for permission to do that now.  Fact is, even subsistence living costs money and to get money We need economy.  Quite frankly the fish aren't cutting it as the primary economic engine in Southwestern Alaska anymore.  The actual primary economy is government...

In the purist anti- stance We The People of Bristol Bay have two choices before Us.  Take back the fisheries and make it Our economy or accept things as they are now.  In a practical stance it's imperative that We are fully aware of and involved in the processes that require Our attention as the world evolves and it's impact is felt even more and more in rural Alaska.  If We don't strengthen Our regional economies, We'll just see another generation of state dependancy and all the ills that come with that. 

So If Your An Outside Entity Stepping Into The Fray Of What Is Happening To Our Alaska Saying That You Are "For" Bristol Bay, Please Be For Something, Not Just Against.  Understand the local issues and perspectives of regional businesses, not outside and foreign owned resource developers and exploiters.  Local businesses all across Bristol Bay are struggling as Our governments want to take more and more from the local economy.  So if You'd promote the idea of Bristol Bay truly taking back the fisheries, that'd be nice.  

Quyana!

https://www.facebook.com/businesses4bristolbay/posts/514378762282457

Helping Our Neighbors

I penned and sent this letter to several Bristol Bay regional leaders and posted it in several regionally relevant discussion groups concerning the collapse of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Chinook subsistence fishery... No responses as of yet:

Dear Bristol Bay Leaders,

So I was listening to KDLG this morning and the story of the Y-K Chinook subsistence harvest, or lack thereof peaked my interest, it's been too many years without a solution of relief.  As you know the preservation and beneficial utilization of the ‘fish’ resource rank really high on my list of public concerns.  So, since it’s fish season I thought to write a blog post on this.  In offering a perspective or my personal 2 cents about issues and such, I always attempt to offer an idea for solution instead of just complaining.  So, when it comes to the fish… some of this is almost second nature.

           Over coffee my wife and I were throwing out ideas... We concluded that Bristol Bay must somehow help our neighbors.  We have the resources to provide almost immediate relief and a sustainable solution.  

           

Get Processors/BB entities to donate 2017 fresh frozen fish & transportation to Y-K residents?  Send a couple of AK Airlines 737s up there or even a small barge.

           

Lobby to Amend the M-S Act to require Chinook By-Catch to be retained and then given directly to the Y-K residents. (By-Catch is already retained and goes to SeaShare to be distributed through their network… I believe that the Y-K residents should have priority on the North Pacific by-catch.)

These might not be original; I worry about the people being without and would like to talk about it.  When you have a minute, can we talk?  Please feel free to call me @ XXX-XXX.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,

Jon Corbett