Z John Williams Memorial School

About the community

Napaskiak is a traditional Central Yup’ik Eskimo village of about 450+ people located on the east banks of the Kuskokwim River, sharing its zip code with the regional hub Bethel and several other surrounding communities. It is a remote, rural community, seven miles downriver from Bethel, AK, and is a part of the Calista Corporation. It is accessible only by airplane and boat in the warmer months and by small (3 to 8 seat) airplanes, snow-machine, four-wheelers (ATV), and automotive vehicles in the winter months, depending on the weather and state of the ice road (frozen river). Nonetheless this proximity to Bethel offers easier access to shopping and healthcare.

The school, commercial fishing, and local entities offer employment opportunities to supplement subsistence activities.

The community is very active in subsistence activities such as hunting, fishing, berry picking, and trapping. Social activities like church-going, feasting, and bingo are also an integral part of life in Napaskiak. Major yearly events include Slaaviq (Russian Orthodox Christmas) in January, Pascha (Russian Orthodox Easter) in the Spring, and the 4th of July Festival, which is not necessarily held on July 4. The school also hosts community gatherings such as the Halloween Carnival, Thanksgiving Feast, Talent Show, basketball and wrestling tournaments, and the End of Year Cookout.

While there is no running water in the community, with the exception of the school and teacher housing, many houses use flush-and-haul toilets. Within the village, water for drinking and other uses is collected through homemade rain catchment systems, hauled from the river, or may be purchased from one of two Tribal run wells with tokens. In the winter, ice-picking (collecting ice) from clear tundra lakes and ponds and the river, provide another option for water-gathering.

Being on the tundra with permafrost below, village roads are not currently a viable option, so a system of boardwalks connects all buildings in the village. These heavy-duty boardwalks have been constructed around all areas of the village and have made the town more accessible for all of it citizens making getting out and about easier.

St. James Russian Orthodox Church

The Mission of The Orthodox Church in America, the local autocephalous Orthodox Christian Church, is to be faithful in fulfilling the commandment of Christ to “Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…”

St. James Russian Orthodox Church of Orthodox Church in America, founded in 1935, is a part of the Diocese of Alaska and the Bethel/Kuskokwim Deanery.

Parish Contacts are:

Napaskiak Moravian Fellowship (Church)

In 1885, the Moravian Church established a mission in the area under the leadership of Rev. John Henry Kilbuck, Jr., a Lenape, and his wife Edith, a daughter and granddaughter of Moravian missionaries in Kansas. They both learned Yup’ik, which greatly enhanced their effectiveness as missionaries. He made Yup’ik the language of the Moravian Church in the community and region, and helped translate scripture into the people’s language. The missionaries moved Bethel from Mamterillermiut to its present location on the west side of the Kuskokwim River.

Contacts are:

Napaskiak Airport

Napaskiak has a state-owned gravel airstrip and seaplane landing area west of the village that provides charter and general aviation access year-round. Currently Yute Commercial Service and Ravn Airlines provide scheduled passenger service, while Ryan Air provides cargo service. Charter service may also be scheduled through Yute, Renfro, Ravn, or Grant Aviation.

Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation - Elena Alexie Memorial Clinic

Phone: (907) 737-7329 or (907) 737-7435
On-Call Phone: (907) 737-2114

Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation (YKHC), with a hospital in Bethel, AK, is the principal healthcare organization serving the residents of Alaska’s Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region. Beyond the boundaries of Bethel, YKHC provides healthcare access through a village operations sub-regional clinic and clinic system.

Napaskiak has YKHCs Elena Alexie Memorial Clinic located in the village. Its health aides provide non-emergency care, vaccination clinics, wellness checks, etc. for village residents.

Napaskiak Incorporated Village Store

(907) 737-7413
(907) 737-7515

Napaskiak Inc. Village Store is a privately held company in Napaskiak, AK. Categorized under Grocery Stores, current estimates show this company has an annual revenue of $2.5 to 5 million and employs a staff of approximately 10 to 19 people. It is located in a newly constructed building towards the center of the village. The new store is bigger, brighter, and full of many amazing things that shoppers couldn’t get in the village before. Prices are higher than in Bethel or bigger cities, but it’s nice to know that in a pinch you can get much of what you need locally.

Other options for shopping are to travel to or order from grocery companies located in Bethel like the Alaska Commercial (AC), Swansons, or Corina's or even farther out to mail-order from stores like Walmart, Target, and Fred Meyers in Anchorage. Online shopping is paramount here, with the most popular site being Amazon.com, but you may have to wait anywhere from a few days to a few weeks for Amazon to deliver.

Coastal Villages Regional Fund (CVRF)

Coastal Villages Regional Fund’s mission is to provide the means for development of our communities by creating sensible, tangible, long-term opportunities that generate hope for all residents who want to fish and work. On behalf of the 20 member communities, CVRF has grown to be the largest seafood owner/operator headquartered in Alaska.

Coastal Village Regional Fund understands the importance of community involvement in the development and delivery of programs and services for the benefit of the region. To this end there is a continuous focus on balancing growth in commercial fishing and sustainable development of CVRF communities.

CVRF investments in the Bering Sea, particularly the Pollock, crab, and cod fisheries, enables CVRF to provide the many of the following benefits:

Scholarships - The Louis Bunyan Memorial Scholarship (LBMS) is sponsored by Coastal Villages Region Fund (CVRF). The scholarship began in 1993 to provide assistance to CVRF Residents who wish to pursue careers but might not otherwise be able to further their academic education due to financial need.

Training - CVRF is committed to providing our member residents with training opportunities for the development of an individual's skills. This program is intended for residents seeking vocational, or trade training that lasts from a few days to up to 12 weeks, depending on the course. Training areas include, but are not limited to: Carpentry, Electrical, Heavy Equipment Operation, Maintenance, Welding, Plumbing, Certified Nurse Assistant, Marine licensing, and more.

Community Service Center - CVRF’s Community Service Centers (CSC) are multi-use buildings that provide a one-stop spot for a multitude of activities in our communities. The CSCs are open to the public for services such as obtaining information on CVRF’s many services and programs, accessing the internet, renting meeting room space, renting shop space to work on projects, mechanic/welder services, etc.

Employment – In addition to the numerous programs and projects, CVRF provides many opportunities for residents to work in positions at any of its multiple in-region offices, our corporate offices, and on Bering Sea fishing vessels. For example, each community’s land facility is outfitted with 1-2 Representatives and a Mechanic/ Welder to repair for snow-machines, Four-wheelers and boats.

Internships - The internship program prepares individuals for management careers, as well as work experience at various levels of interest.

Youth to Work - The Coastal Villages Youth Leadership Program promotes leadership, personal development and citizenship among youth ages 14-19 in our member communities. Through various activities and achievements, young people learn to accept responsibility, gain leadership skills, and serve as role models. Youth will be closely mentored by a CVRF staff supervisor, and will be working as a team member in their community.

People Propel - The program was created to help residents of our member communities purchase equipment critical to daily life in a coastal community by providing a subsidy for part of the purchase price. Since its inception, the program has helped people purchase boats, motors, ATVs, snow-machines, Toyo stoves, etc.

Office

(907) 737-7016

Mechanic/Welder

(907) 737-7014

Post Office

Napaskiak is served by the United States Postal Service. The post office has recently moved into a larger facility, located closer to the airport. Mail is flown in once per day, Tuesday through Saturday, by our local airline carrier, weather permitting. While there is no plane on Monday, the post office is open.

You may have a post office box or use General Delivery.

Many of the services available at your local post office are available here. The post master/mistress can also act as a Notary Public. It is best to have your own stamps, as the post office has limited supplies. A roll of stamps may be purchased at the Customer Service counter in Bethel's Alaska Commercial (AC) store, as your grocery shop.

Postal hours are Monday through Saturday 9am-12, and 1pm-4pm. All national holidays and celebrations are observed.

Napaskiak Laundry

Napaskiak has a laundry that is open sporadically, depending on maintenance, repairs and the availability of water to be pumped in. This can be an expensive and timely venture. Many households will wash there and dry at home (dry or hanging). Still others have Danby washers that allow clothes washing to be done at home.

The school has laundry facilities for certified staff that are not living in teacher housing. Teachers living in teacher housing share facilities in each 4-plex building.

Napaskiak Tribal Council

The Chief Steven A. Maxie Memorial Building is the home of the Napaskiak Tribal Council, which is the governing body of the Federally recognized Native Village of Napaskiak. It is committed to serving the Tribal Membership of the Napaskiak community.

RurAL CAP Headstart

(907) 737- 7511

Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc. (RACAP) manages over 20 Head Start/Early Head Start Centers serving low-income children, including one in Napaskiak, AK. As this is income-based, most teacher children do not meet the criterion for attendance, but may attend as observes with a parent, upon making prior arrangements.

Early learning: Children's readiness for school and beyond is fostered through individualized learning experiences. Through relationships with adults, play, and planned and spontaneous instruction, children grow in many aspects of development. Children progress in social skills and emotional well-being, along with language and literacy learning, and concept development.

Health: Each child's perceptual, motor, and physical development is supported to permit them to fully explore and function in their environment. All children receive health and development screenings, nutritious meals, oral health and mental health support. Programs connect families with medical, dental, and mental health services to ensure that children are receiving the services they need.

Family well-being: Parents and families are supported in achieving their own goals, such as housing stability, continued education, and financial security. Programs support and strengthen parent-child relationships and engage families around children's learning and development.