Alaska Communities Take Action on Self Determination, Safety, and City Life
By Gina Hill | Alaska Headline Living | January 2026
From Arctic Sovereignty to Digital Safety: Voices, Decisions, and Community Life Across Alaska
As Inuit leaders speak out on self determination, Southeast communities gather to learn, plan, recycle, and reflect during Alaska’s darkest season
Alaskan Inuit Stand With Greenland, Reaffirming Peace and Self Determination in the Arctic
Alaskan Inuit leaders are publicly reaffirming solidarity with Greenlandic Inuit, underscoring a shared commitment to self determination, peace in the Arctic, and respect for Indigenous governance as international attention increasingly focuses on the region.
In a January 20 press release, Inuit Circumpolar Council Alaska emphasized that decisions about Greenland’s political future, governance, and international relationships must be made by the people of Greenland themselves. The statement aligns with the organization’s long held principles and echoes the ICC’s 2025 declaration calling for a peaceful Arctic grounded in cooperation and mutual respect.
Marie Greene, president of ICC Alaska, said unity across borders remains central to the organization’s founding purpose. She emphasized that standing together as Inuit is not symbolic, but essential to protecting shared rights, culture, and political authority across the Arctic.
ICC Alaska board member Robert Bobby Evans reinforced that message, noting that while many Inuit are citizens of modern nation states, their identity as Inuit comes first. He said caring for one another across borders is a cultural responsibility deeply rooted in Inuit values.
The statement also calls on the United States to respect international law and uphold a rules based order that honors diplomacy and Inuit rights. ICC Alaska leaders pointed to Resolution 77 11, passed at the first ICC General Assembly in 1977, which declared the Arctic a peaceful and safe circumpolar zone.
Vivian Korthuis, ICC Alaska board secretary and treasurer, said peace in the Arctic is not an abstract concept. She described it as inseparable from protecting homelands, families, and future generations, adding that lasting peace comes from listening to Inuit and engaging with them as true partners.
ICC Alaska further highlighted Greenland as a model for Indigenous self determination, citing the establishment of Home Rule in 1979 and the Self Government Act of 2009. Board member Elizabeth Cravalho reiterated the Inuit principle of “Nothing about us, without us,” emphasizing that Inuit leadership must be central in all Arctic decision making.
Doreen Leavitt, representing the Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope, said Inuit have lived, governed, and upheld responsibility in the Arctic since time immemorial. She said Alaskan Inuit stand united with Inuit everywhere in support of the sovereign right to determine their own future.
Juneau Police Launch Internet Safety Training to Help Families Protect Kids Online
Juneau Police Department is hosting a community training event focused on internet safety for children, responding to growing concerns about online risks facing youth.
The training will be held February 5 at JPD and is designed for parents, guardians, educators, and youth serving professionals. Participants will receive a clear and practical overview of the dangers children may encounter online, along with proven strategies to help keep kids safe in an increasingly digital world.
Juneau Police say the session will also equip adults with the language and confidence needed to guide children safely through online spaces that continue to evolve rapidly.
Questions about the training can be directed to Commander Matt Dubois at mjdubois@juneaupolice.com. JPD plans to host similar community training events on a quarterly basis throughout the year, with details on future sessions to be announced later.
Public Invited to Shape Covered Skate Park and New Amenities at Jackie Renninger Park
Juneau residents are being invited to help shape the future of Jackie Renninger Park through a public meeting focused on skate park design and broader neighborhood improvements.
City and Borough of Juneau Parks and Recreation, in partnership with PND Engineers and Corvus Design, will host a public workshop on Wednesday, January 28, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The meeting will take place at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library in the large conference room, with a Zoom option available for remote participation.
The session builds on a master plan finalized in 2025 that envisions transforming the five acre site in the lower Mendenhall Valley into a comprehensive neighborhood park. Proposed features include eight new pickleball courts, a covered skate park, a playground, day use shelters, a dog park, and additional amenities.
Parks and Recreation officials say community feedback will play a critical role in shaping the layout and features of the covered skate park to ensure it meets the needs of local users.
Free Christmas Tree Composting and Cheer Team Pickups Offer Easy Post Holiday Cleanup
As January nears its end, Juneau residents are being reminded that their drying Christmas trees can be recycled or reused through local composting and fundraising efforts.
CBJ Recycleworks is offering free Christmas tree composting through January 24 at Juneau Composts, located at 2300 Anka Street in the Lemon Creek area past Costco. Trees must have all ornaments and decorations removed before drop off. Wreaths, brush, and other debris are not eligible for free recycling.
For residents who do not want to haul their trees, the Juneau Douglas High School Cheer team is offering tree pickup for a minimum ten dollar donation. Pickups are scheduled for Saturday, January 17, and are not available past Auke Bay. Residents can text 907‑723‑6580 to schedule a pickup.
Sitka Residents Invited to State of the City Address With Municipal Administrator John Leach
Sitka residents will have the opportunity to hear directly from city leadership when Municipal Administrator John Leach presents the Annual State of the City Report.
The presentation is scheduled for Wednesday, January 28, from noon to 1:00 p.m. at the Southeast Resort Banquet Room in Sitka. A Zoom option is available for those attending remotely. Virtual attendees can join via the free Zoom link provided on the event’s listing page on the Greater Sitka Chamber of Commerce website under “Virtual | Zoom Admission” for the Annual State of the City Report by John Leach.
The event is free and open to the public. Leach is expected to share highlights from the past year, updates on ongoing projects, and priorities for the year ahead, offering residents insight into how the City and Borough of Sitka is performing and where it is headed.
Two Months Without Sunrise: Life in Utqiagvik During the Arctic’s Longest Nights
As winter tightens its grip across the Arctic, communities near the North Pole are living through the phenomenon known as polar night.
According to The New Yorker, Utqiagvik, Alaska experiences approximately two months each year of uninterrupted darkness when the Northern Hemisphere tilts away from the sun. During this period, the sun does not rise above the horizon, shaping daily routines, community life, and cultural rhythms in the nation’s northernmost city.
For residents, the extended darkness is not a novelty but a defining part of life in the high Arctic, one that reflects generations of adaptation to some of the most extreme seasonal conditions on Earth.
