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Elder Mentors Strength Communities Across The YK Delta

Jan Abbott
/
RurAL CAP

When elders are in the classrooms, kids are more focused and more respectful. Elders are active. And the oldest and youngest members of the community form relationships.

That’s what schools across the state have learned from RurAL CAP’s Elder Mentor program. Almost half of the elder mentors in Alaska are in the YK Delta.

The elders help students with reading and assignments. They model appropriate behavior. And in the YK Delta they teach Yup’ik language and traditional skills like ice fishing and sewing.

In exchange, the elders receive a small stipend.

This week elder mentors from across the YK Delta traveled to Bethel for training. KYUK talked with some of them about their experiences in the classroom and how the program benefits the community.

Ida Williams is one of two elder mentors in Lower Kalskag. She’s a former teacher and is starting her third year with the program.

Marie Napoka is an elder mentor in Tuluksak. The community has the most elder mentors of any YK Delta school with 14 regularly volunteering.

160629_maria_elder_mentor.mp3
Marie Napoka, Tuluksak elder mentor.

Noah Alexie is also from Tuluksak. This will be his first year in the program.

160629_noah_alexie_elder_mentor.mp3
Noah Alexie, Tuluksak elder mentor.

Henrietta Long is an elder mentor in Hooper Bay. This will be Henrietta’s first year with the program.     

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Henrietta Long, Hooper Bay elder mentor.

There are 40 elder mentors serving in five YK Delta communities: Pilot Station, Russian Mission, Hooper Bay, Lower Kalskag, and Tuluksak.

Credit Jan Abbott / RurAL CAP
/
RurAL CAP
Training exercise illustrating the importance of having support systems, including caring adults, in adolescents' lives.

RurAL CAP wants to get more elder mentors in more schools. Lower income seniors, age 55 or older, are eligible to apply. Mentors receive a small stipend. It’s tax exempt and doesn’t affect other financial assistance.

For information on applying, click here. You can also call the Program Director, Jan Abbott, at 907-865-7276 or toll free at 800-478-6343.

Anna Rose MacArthur served as KYUK's News Director from 2015-2022.