Kwik'Pak communities
Emmonak
With a population of 762, Emmonak is located at the mouth of the Yukon River, 10 miles from the Bering Sea, on the north bank of Kwiguk Pass. Temperatures range from -25 to 79 °F. Precipitation averages 19 inches per year, while snowfall averages 50 to 60 inches per year. Freeze-up occurs during October; break-up occurs in late May or early June. The city experiences a seasonal economy as a center for commercial fishing, purchasing, and processing on the Lower Yukon River. Yukon Delta Fisheries Development Association exports salmon from Emmonak.
Currently, 108 residents hold commercial fishing permits, and 34 residents hold fresh water fish permits provided by Kwikpak Fisheries. Subsistence activities, trapping, and public assistance support income. The majority of the community travels to fish camps during the summer months to dry salmon for winter use. Moose, beluga whale, seal, and waterfowl are also utilized. Emmonak relies on air and water transportation. A state-owned 4,601' long by 100' wide gravel airstrip is available. There are no connecting roads, but winter trails to all surrounding villages on the Lower Yukon are used by snow machines.
COMMUNITY HISTORY
Emmonak Corporation
The Emmonak Corporation was established on April 23,1973. The current board members are Billy Charles(Chairman), Marvin Kelly(Vice-Chairman), Herman Hootch(secretary-treasurer), and Robert Moore is the General manager. The Emmonak Corporation was established under the Articles of incorporation and bylaws. The company's vision statement is "Bringing you the cheapest possible gas and heating fuel."The entity is important to the community because they provide local employment. The services the Emmonak Corporation provide are bulk fuel sales, general merchandise in the store and rental offices. The Emmonak Corporation provides essential needs in heating fuel , gasoline and motor oils and ,natural gas(propane) to the community and the region.
To contact the Emmonak corporation call (907)949-1744,
The Emmonak company store at (907)949-1349 and
The Emmonak Tank farm at (907)949-1328.
Alaska Commercial Company-Emmonak AC Store
In 1776, Catherine the Great gave trading rights to the Russian-American Trading Company and started operating trading posts all over Alaska. In 1867, when Alaska was bought by the United States of America, the company’s name was changed to the Alaska Commercial Company and was a provider of groceries and general merchandise for trappers, explorers and gold seekers. These village posts became the center of all community activities such as the post office, community hall, court room, marriage parlor, funeral home, and a safe place for travelers. When the gold rush came to an end, the number of AC stores declined, but a few remained. The Alaska Commercial Company is the oldest retailer in America, and the largest rural retailer in North America. In 1963, the Emmonak AC Store was built, 1.4 miles north of the original settlement-moved due to flooding. The core principals of the Alaska Commercial Company are: Customer Driven, Passion, Enterprise, Accountability, Trust, and Personal Balance. The AC Company store in Emmonak supplies the basic needs and quality products to customers at competitive prices every day. “We strive to build trust with our customers and serve our communities through organizations that enrich our communities” writes Alan McCollor, the Stores training specialist. The services provided by AC Company in Emmonak are retail sales, food, clothing, transportation and financial services. The residents in Emmonak are getting a new AC store in 2012.
Pearl E. Johnson Sub-Regional Clinic
The Pearl E. Johnson Sub-Regional Clinic was established in April 2001 and the current manager is Craig Stritar. The Sub-Regional Clinic is owned by Yukon-Delta Health Corporation and the CEO is Gene Peltola. The clinic operation began in the late 1930’s by Pearl and Axel Johnson in Emmonak, Alaska. They worked for free and travelled from place to place by dog team. Together, they helped deliver 69 babies and cared for 124 patients with TB. Since then, the clinic expanded to what it is today. Construction of the sub-regional clinic began in 1998 and was completed approximately a year later. For Pearl and Axel’s dedication to the healthcare of our people, the clinic was named the “Pearl E. Johnson Sub-Regional Clinic”. The company’s vision statement is “through native self determination and culturally-relevant health systems, we strive to be the healthiest people”. The sub-regional clinic provides a higher level of healthcare that may not be available in smaller clinics in our region. The villages they serve include: Emmonak, Alakanuk, Kotlik and Nunam Iqua. Some of the services provided at the Pearl E. Johnson sub-regional clinic are: high quality medical staff with health aides, urgent care with a cardiac monitor, defibrillator, IV equipment, oxygen, casting equipment, and other advanced life support equipment, a laboratory, and many other services. Of the 5 sub-regional clinics in the YK region, we are one of the busiest; serving over 3000 patients between the four communities. “We take pride our clinic, making it our own”.
