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Say no to Pebble

July 13th 5:50 pm | Brian Abraham Print this article   Email this article   Create a Shortlink for this article

I'm a resident of Bristol Bay in Togiak, Alaska. I love this place especially when spring arrives. There are so many summer activities going on whether it's commercial or subsistence fishing. Last year's summer was cold and gray and I'm hopeful sunny days will preside this year. Hatchlings are evident and the smell of smoked fish is in the air.

Our summers here are late, in my point of view, but there are signs of life throughout the hillside with shades of green.

It was cold today. The chilly bay waters and the wind from the west gave us chills when picking wild parsley along the beach.

"Learning is forever" when my niece, Clara had her first pick to be part of a side dish of half dried smoked king salmon "jack" with seal oil.

Three raven chicks, behind the GCI satellite dish, are safely guarded by their ever watchful parents while my sister is rekindling the fire for lines of red and chum salmon for days of white smoke to rise until ready to be eaten, stored, shared and to be given away. Our kings are being dried and I can't wait to taste the big fish we had caught a few days ago.

Tomorrow, weather permitting, we'll be heading towards for wild celery and other adventures not yet seen around the islands. For every season, my ancestors have passed down the essence of survival where pristine waters flow. We're given a beautiful place where no pavement is necessary, accessible only by plane. I hope the next generation and the next and the next will be able to experience the vitality of our subsistence lifestyle here, where you'd be reminded of the ancient past.

Survival is important. We can talk of our blessed spot as of awesome Alegnagik, peaceful Twin Hills, warm Manokotak, busy Dillingham and other unmet Bristol Bay Region villages including those near the proposed Pebble mine, whose greed ignore the very heart of those of us who have been here thousands of years surviving hardships of life. I'd be angry if these Europeans had tasted our salmon!!!

I'm disappointed by bribes of the "foreign" company. I'm sorry for Martina Arce, spokesperson hired by "The Pebble Project" I'm wondering what she had for lunch or dinner lately.

Say NO to Pebble!

Before resting for tomorrow's trip (when possible) I wanted to share my short letter to my sister, Sherry. She stated that if the proposed mine is built and ruins our waters, killing the fish, is like losing our grandma, Anna Alexie, to death once again. Grandma was part of her great knowledge of preparing the salmon and we lost part of her wisdom, never to be learned of again. Sherry and others are now threatened to lose everything especially the preparation of salmon and when salmon is gone, who's to smell the invitation of smoked fish.

What about Roslyn, Sherry's daughter, at age 8? She's learning the art of using the "happy uluaq" (women's knife, it's curve has to have a good smile) to cut intricate intervals practiced and mastered by careful hands. I'm questioning about the loss of culture very possible to be "killed once again" by excessive desire for wealth by the proposed Pebble project.

The Bristol Bay Region is wealthy by its beauty, its people, culture and preservation of our natural resources. I'm a "quiet" voice and I believe many of us "Natives" already oppose the mine project. One of Pebble's bribes was the purchase of the Moravian church van. Why the church? Why involve our village? I'm not riding the thing. The blind are leading the blind. Some of us can see but are blinded by the light (Pebble's dirty money).

Salmon was here before millions of dollars were spent and hopefully salmon will remain for not just the Bristol Bay Region but for those who consume one of the best wild fish in the world. Yes, I oppose Pebble and I'm just an echo, heard over and over again falling on deaf ears. We are appointed to be who we are in this universes and again I stress I'm blessed to live in a delicate pristine area called Togiak.

Sherry said Pebble is like the annoying mosquitoes, thirsty for blood of the offensive flies ready to lay eggs on our fish, ruining them. Pebble will not set my net! Pebble won't pick my net! Pebble has no knowledge of the uluaq (women's knife)! Pebble won't hang our fish! Pebble won't smoke our fish! Pebble has no right to be in Togiak! Pebble isn't for Bristol Bay! Say "No" to Pebble!!!

Brian Abraham is a resident of Togiak

 

Brian Abraham can be reached at bristolbaytimes@alaskanewspapers.com, or by phone at 907-348-2449

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