unangax | KUCB

In Race For Unalaska's Mayor, Tutiakoff Defeats Robinson By 22 Votes

By Laura Kraegel • Oct 7, 2019

Unalaska has elected a new mayor. Vince Tutiakoff Sr. won the office in last week's municipal election, defeating current Vice Mayor Dennis Robinson by 22 votes.

"To the people who voted for me, I really appreciate their votes and confidence," said Tutiakoff. "And I'll do the best I can."

After Fears Of Closure, Atka's School Is Back To 10 Students And Staying Open

By Laura Kraegel • Sep 16, 2019

The Yakov E. Netsvetov School in Atka has struggled with low enrollment in recent years. But this month, 10 students showed up for the first day of classes.

As KUCB's Laura Kraegel reports, the increase is helping the school to avoid a shutdown — and hinting at greater stability for the small Unangax̂ community in the western Aleutian Islands.

"First day of school!" announced teacher Sonja Mills as the school bell rang. "We did it!"

22nd Camp Qungaayux Includes More Classes, Kids Than Ever Before

By Hope McKenney • Aug 14, 2019

New classes at this summer's Camp Qungaayux taught kids traditional Unangax̂ skills they haven't learned in previous years.

Organized by the Qawalangin Tribe, the culture camp brought 68 kids to Unalaska's Humpy Cove for a weeklong celebration of Unangax̂ tradition. Now in its 22nd year, the July program had more kids and classes than ever before.

"There are two new classes," said Shayla Shaishnikoff, the camp coordinator. "One of them is drum-making. Another one is ayaakux̂. It's dart-making and a dart game."

Atka School In Danger Of Shutting Down

By Zoe Sobel • Oct 25, 2018

Friday marks the end of Alaska's student count period, which determines how much funding public schools receive.

To get full funding, schools need at least 10 students. But at the Yakov E. Netsvetov school in Atka, there are only six. Unless four more students enroll, this will be the last year there's a school in Atka.