Sustainable Southeast Partnership providing tools & leadership training to youth

Apart from the occasional din of airplanes and the year-round thrumming of diesel generators, the peace of Keex’ (Kake) is one of the most compelling qualities of this quiet Tlingit cultural stronghold in the middle of Alaska’s panhandle.

Driven by the two-year-long Southeast drought, several regional fires turned the sky hues of orange and magenta during a week in August when a handful of Sustainable Southeast Partnership (SSP) colleagues descended upon the village of Keex’.

As the SSP Regional Energy Catalyst and STEM educator on behalf of the Renewable Energy Alaska Project, I was there with my SSP colleagues to work with a talented group of Keex’ teens enrolled in the USFS Youth Conservation Corps (YCC).

Our external mission; partner with YCC to provide high tech Geographic Information System (GIS) resource management tools and leadership training for outstanding local young adults working in the YCC, as well as to test-design a place-based resource board game incorporating traditional indigenous values such as sharing, respect and stewardship of the land. 

Our inner mission; explore, renew and reinforce economic and cultural connections to Keex’ Kwaan Aani for the youth in a community slowly losing its economic base and population.

New energy in Keex’

Part of the resilience, reclamation and decolonization of indigenous places and culture includes the empowerment of a new generation with next generation technical tools and leadership skills they’ll need to make decisions about their lands and resources.  

Toward that end, YCC students used GIS mapping programs in the lab to predict where they could find various traditional resources such as salmon, berries and cedar on the extensive logging-road system.  

After defining an area of study and creating a map on a portable GPS enabled electronic tablet, students travelled to their selected locations to “ground truth” the actual resources on site.

Besides refining the students’ knowledge of technology and the ecology of various forest systems, these surveys also allowed them to gather data they could use to better calibrate forestry management models used by professionals. Such data is useful for monitoring and planning for wise use of forest resources in differing stages of regrowth after decades of logging.

New climate in Keex’

Such forest field work is frequently accomplished in the customary regional rain. We all welcomed working in the warmth of the extended stretch of sunny summer weather.

Though Southeasterners aren’t known for complaining about too much sun in the land of nearly perpetual rain, the topic was near the surface of most conversations – the drought was extreme and big changes are happening all across the region.

New fires in places usually too wet to burn; historic low water levels in reservoirs needed for hydro electricity and domestic use; changes in salmon populations and the timing of returns along with the death and decline of valuable cedars are among the most immediate concerns shared by those closest to the land and sea in SE.

Old Energy in Keex’

Along with endless sunny days and forest fires, the intensity of the SE drought impacted hydroelectricity projects across the region as their reservoirs shrank to historic lows, causing most SE communities to burn extra diesel to make up for lost hydro capacity.

That’s bad news for any small community already paying more than $.60 kW/hr for residential power – commercial rates are even higher!

New Energy in Keex’

The good news is the State of Alaska directed funding to a small hydroelectric facility at Gunnuk Creek a couple years ago. Flowing right through the middle of Keex’, Gunnuk Creek Hydro will supply about half of Keex’s power when it goes online in 2020 – provided the drought eases and there’s enough water in the creek.

Keex’ – The Opening of Daylight

Keex’ derives its very name – the opening of daylight – from the fact that it enjoys spectacular solar aspect – the sun daily arcing across Keex’s wide horizon – a rarity in mountainous SE.

That fact, accompanied by the high cost of electricity, may account for the recent bloom of solar panels (photovoltaics) cropping up across the community – providing power for churches, tribal buildings and residents all looking to reduce their power costs while creating energy independence.

Keex’ Warms Up to Biomass Heat

Surrounded by thousands of acres of biomass wood resources located along hundreds of miles of logging roads, Keex’ is uniquely situated to improve the health and utility of their recovering local forests, while creating local jobs and a sustainable source of renewable heating energy.

Keex’ leaders are warming up to developing their biomass potential in order to heat a number of their larger public buildings, annually displacing many thousands of gallons of imported heating oil.

The biomass district heating facility is fully designed and awaits next steps, including establishing a wood supply plan and securing construction funds. When completed, the facility will supply renewable heat for the Keex’ School, Senior Center, Health Clinic, Community Center, Teen Center and Public Safety buildings from locally-sourced waste wood and sawmill residuals instead of heating oil.

Wooch. een – Working Together

Organized Village of Kake – Kake Tribal Corp – City of Kake – Southeast Conference – Alaska Energy Authority – SEALASKA – Sustainable Southeast Partnership – Renewable Energy Alaska Project ….

Energy resilience and independence are critical to economic, ecological and cultural sustainability for the region. Challenges to achieving energy independence in a remote village can be daunting for small communities. But even the most daunting tasks are made easier when others share the work.

Wooch. een is a Tlingit phrase for working together. It’s an important and much-used saying when there’s difficult work to be done. It’s what’s said when raising a totem pole or hauling a canoe.

With a spirit of wooch. een, Keex’ is rising to meet its energy challenges by investing in the next generation of leaders and renewable energy technologies.

And when they turn off their last diesel generator, we’ll get an even sweeter taste of the peace of Keex’.

By Clay GoodNovember 20th, 2019

BiomassHydroRural AlaskaSustainable Southeast Partnership