Life in Eek

Rural Alaska has one foot in the modern cash economy, and the other in an older subsistence economy.  In the subsistence economy, rural residents hunt, fish, and gather foods and materials.  The economies overlap.  The subsistence economy needs cash for fuel, snowmobiles, ammunition, and other stuff, and some items coming out of the subsistence economy are sold.

Mark Constantine describes life in the remote, Yupik village of Eek in Alaska, for readers in Michigan: Remote Alaskan village hangs onto heritage.  He covers the subsistence economy well, but although the residents of Eek are obviously spending a fair amount of cash, there's not much information about where it comes from.

The 2000 census says the 280 or so residents of Eek had an aggregate income of about $2.5 million.  The article mentions one man who serves in the National Guard and another who works as a village public safety officer.  I can guess that some comes from government jobs in the school or village government, some comes from work in regional commercial fisheries, some from the Alaska Permanent Fund or Alaska Native corporation disbursements, and some from transfer payments.

Hat tip to Grassroots Science.

Comments

[David "hopes to cruise in Alaska this summer" Rogers]

I'm planning a trip to Alaska this summer and am researching all I can about the state. While it's unlikely I'll have the ability to visit the more remote areas, it's fascinating to read about them.

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Wow!! Being from the southern half of the lower 48, I can only admire your will and determination to live in such a harsh but beautiful place. We hope to visit Alaska this summer. Thanks for sharing.