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Population:
205
Native: 174
Koliganek is located on
the Nushagak River about 70 miles north
of Dillingham. The majority of the
residents are Yup'ik Eskimo.
The village of
Koliganek as a distinct entity has
existed since the first contact with
Russian fur traders early in the 19th
century. The village s first recorded
location was on the Tikchik Lake near the
headwaters of the Nuyakuk River.
Excavations of the site show that it was
occupied at least as early as 1820 and
until the turn of the century. Artifacts
suggest that the inhabitants possessed a
cultural inventory that accurately
reflected a segment of nineteenth-century
coastal Bering Sea Eskimo material
culture. The residents possessed a
material culture not only well adapted to
sea mammal hunting and trapping on land,
but also to the taking of fish. It is
evident that close ties were maintained
between the coastal Bering Sea peoples
and those living along the Nushagak River.
After a
devastating flu epidemic at the Tikchik
site, the residents moved to site located
at the confluence of the Nuyakuk and
Nushagak Rivers, known as "Old
Koliganek". The move also put the
tribe closer to their caribou hunting
area. In 1870, a Russian Orthodox Church
was established in the village according
to the church archives at Saint Herman's
Seminary in Kodiak, Alaska. The church
was named St. Yako.
In 1938, the
residents of Old Koliganek moved to a new
site, about seven miles downstream, due
to the dwindling supply of firewood near
the village. This site, now referred to
as "Middle Koliganek",
experienced reoccurring flooding. In 1964,
the present site, on higher ground three
to four miles downriver, was selected for
relocation. New homes and a new school
were constructed that summer.
Economy
Koliganek's
economy is primarily dependent upon the
Bristol Bay commercial salmon fishery.
Many of the residents supplement their
income through fur trapping. The
Southwest Region School district, the
traditional council and the M&H Store
provide employment for local residents.
Transportation
The State of
Alaska maintains a 3,000 foot runway. The
new 3,000 foot runway, apron and
connecting taxiway were constructed in
1995. Mail, regular passenger flights,
charter and cargo services are provided
by Mulchatna Air, Grant Aviation, Bristol
Bay Air Service, Bay Air, Peninsula
Airways, Arctic Circle Air and Larry's
Air Service. There are approximately two
miles of gravel roads within the village.
All-terrain vehicles, snowmachines, and
small boats are the primary modes of
transportation.
Yukon Fuel is
available to freight goods (usually from
Dillingham) to Koliganek.
Government
The Koliganek
Traditional Council is federally
recognized as the governing body for the
Native residents of Koliganek. The
council consists of five members.
Education
Koliganek's
school is administered by the Southwest
Region Schools District. Instruction is
provided for grades K-8 and high school.
Housing
Many of the
houses in Koliganek are small, older
structures of log or wood-frame
construction. The newer houses, built on
the outskirts of the main village, are
larger, more energy efficient structures.
There are seven houses funded by the
Bureau of Indian Affairs. Eighteen new
HUD homes, built by the Bristol Bay
Housing Authority, were completed in the
winter of 2000.
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