“We’re not policy experts,” Kuskokwim River Intertribal Fish Commission Executive Director Mary Peltola said, “We’re not scientists. We’re not career people. This isn’t part of our career ladder. We’re very desperate to pass on the knowledge that we’ve received over 12,000 years on how to live in harmony with salmon and utilize salmon as our foundational diet.”

“I think that's what you look for in a legislator is someone who you could trust completely. Someone that you knew was a man of high principle, and then when he gave his word, you could take it to the bank. And that was Tony,” said former Alaska Speaker of the House Jim Duncan.

Last month, the City of Bethel told their employees that they could either get vaccinated against COVID-19, get an exemption, or lose their jobs. The remaining few unvaccinated employees are on administrative leave. Some are looking for new jobs.

During the Oct. 12 Bethel City Council meeting, four newly elected council members were sworn in. Then the council voted to renew a series of pandemic mitigation measures, including a mask mandate. The measures passed easily, but the mask mandate came up against some rare opposition from an audience member and a new council member.

“It's an emergency need. I can only put it that way,” said Toksook Bay Tribal Administrator Robert Pitka. “Sooner or later, someone's going to break down a Toyostove. We can’t just leave out a family in the cold.”

The board will hold the Bethel meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 19 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center.