Quinhagak

Commercial salmon fishing is a distant memory on the Kuskokwim River. But down the Bering Sea coast, local fishermen with the Independent Fishermen of Quinhagak Cooperative have been fighting to keep a small commercial fishery alive and bring much-needed cash into communities.

For the village of Quinhagak, the storm flooded a critical piece of their past: an archaeological dig. This summer, an emergency dig will help them excavate that past before it's gone.

Drones are used across industries like construction, real estate, and even news production. But in Western Alaska, their applications also dovetail with subsistence activities and search and rescue missions.

Backyard Buoys, a project that has put real-time ocean data in the hands of Arctic whalers, will soon be making its way to the mouth of the Kuskokwim River.

Historical sites across Western Alaska face existential threats, and the lead archaeologist for the Nunalleq excavation says its success is a stark reminder that it may not be long before many more precontact Yup’ik sites are lost forever.

When Quinhagak’s Native corporation expressed interest this summer in getting residents trained up, the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection also saw an opportunity.

The city and statewide organizations are assessing damages to find out what support the community needs.

The tribe’s letter to the state emphasizes that the village doesn't have the funds or response capability to cover the emergency.

Quinhagak’s Nunalleq Museum celebrates its fifth anniversary and another summer of discoveries.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced an emergency opening in a portion of Unit 18 south of the Eek River drainage, and north of and including the Carter Bay drainage. The hunt will open Dec. 1 and end Dec. 15.