REGIONAL PROJECTS
LOGGING and MORE....
RYAN AIR PROJECT
On March 20, 2011 the Ryan Air warehouse unexpectedly burned down in Emmonak, Alaska. Wilfred Ryan Jr., the owner of Ryan Air, planned to build a new warehouse and Kwikpak Fisheries offered to help. In the meantime, while their new warehouse is being built, Ryan Air stored their mail, by-pass and freight in the Kwikpak and Grant Air warehouses. Three local Kwikpak employees were hired to help construct the new Ryan Air warehouse. These local employees are learning both construction and metal fabrication traits. Kwikpak hauled gravel from St. Mary’s to Emmonak on a barge for the foundation of the new warehouse. After they constructed the foundation they put up the steel shell which started on Monday, July 25th 2011. The whole process for constructing the new Ryan Air warehouse is scheduled to be completed within 30 days. Ryan Air is planning to use this warehouse as storage for their mail, by-pass, and freight. The building is 40x40 ft and 16 ft high. James Kameroff, the Emmonak agent for Ryan Air, is very grateful for the help that Kwikpak has provided. He believes that without Kwikpak’s help they wouldn’t be as for as they are now. This new warehouse will benefit not only Emmonak but also Kotlik, Alakanuk, and Nunam Iqua. James Kameroff would like to thank Kwikpak Fisheries and Grant Aviation for all the help and cooperation they’ve provided during their time of reconstruction of their new warehouse. See more images of Ryan Air Building Project...
“Change Brings Opportunity” What if we were able to convert a bundle of drift logs into a luxury home on the beautiful Yukon delta, the same drift logs Emmonak residents see each spring, wasting away into the Bering Sea? These residents are in need of new housing, job opportunities and experiences in the construction industry. This unfortunate situation, that people find themselves in each year, is motivation for the Yukon Delta Fisheries Development Association (YDFDA) in making this demonstration log house. This log house not only employs hard working locals around the Yukon River delta, but is the start of a necessary change needed around the Lower Yukon region.
Boys and Girls Club Building Project- SEE IMAGES
4th Annual Edward Andrews Logging Expedition 2011 “This year we honored our logging expedition to the late elder and the first logging foreman and captain, Edward Andrews, of Nanvaruk, by starting the expedition downriver where he made the first logging raft above Paimuit.” –Herman Hootch, 2011 Logging Forman
On June 1, 2011, Captain Stuart Okitkun led his crew more than 200 miles up the Yukon River to start their annual logging expedition. Exactly two weeks later, they returned to Emmonak with over 150 drift logs tied together in a massive bundle. YDFDA is able to mill the logs to finished lumber, and utilize this natural resource for projects such as the newly built demonstration log house and the Kwikpak Fishermen’s store. This is an inexpensive alternative to shipping lumber to secluded areas such as the Lower Yukon region.
“Taqutua: We Have Finished” After the driftwood goes from the river to the saw mill, YDFDA is able to convert it into one of the major necessities on the Yukon River delta: a home. YDFDA also buys drift logs from local individuals who find time to gather logs on their own. Many of the local employees have worked with professional electricians, plumbers, and construction workers, and are now able to apply their skills in their own backyard. After roughly 90 days of construction, the demonstration log house is complete. With the floors polished and last electrical wires circuited, the hard-working employees can conclude: they did an amazing job. This newly built log house is overlooking the same river where her wood trimming had come from, and is built by the very people who live in her neighborhood.
Other Regional Projects
The parent company, YDFDA has significantly demonstrated their commitment to develop and strengthen the economy of the region. Devoted to providing employment opportunities for the communities of the Lower Yukon is one of the major considerations in establishing economically sustainable businesses. Wage earning opportunities are available in fisheries business, boat building, vessel- marine operations, construction, river logging, and trapping. The company is currently exploring the potential for wild berry harvesting as well.
The Yukon Marine Manufacturing
In the winter of 2010, the old wooden Yukon Marine Manufacturing (YMM) building in Emmonak, Alaska was destroyed by fire. Ragnar Alstrom, the YDFDA Executive Director, and Designer Jim Christianson got together and discussed building a “bigger and better” YMM building made of steel. This upgraded steel facility is cost effective and will have more safety advantages than the previous wooden building. The outcome was a 60’x80’x20’ steel building that was started on Monday June 20th, 2011 (SEE MORE IMAGES). The previous YMM building wasn’t intended to be a welding facility but was settled as one. A team of five is constructing this new YMM building, three of which are local employees from Emmonak. This new building is more modern and is more directed toward being used as a welding facility. The steel floor is elevated higher than any recorded flood in Emmonak, further protecting it from natural disasters. Marvin Kelly, one of the local employees constructing the new YMM building, stated that this new building has more “head room” than the previous building. Instead of hauling the boats out of the building to flip or turn them around, employees will be able to lift, turn, and move the aluminum skiffs inside the building using cranes mounted from the ceiling, saving everyone time and money. Fred Moore, another local employee, added that three to four boats can be welded at a time compared to one to two boats in the previous building. This construction job is allowing Fred to gain new experiences in the welding industry. “I am doing things I haven’t done before” he said, commenting on helping his crew with constructing the YMM building. Jim Christianson said that he is very pleased with the local help provided by Kwikpak Fisheries. In spite of the weather, Jim and his crew are able to stay on time and on budget. “Jack Schultheis has been extremely important and helpful to the success of this building” Jim added. The Yukon Marine Manufacturing building is scheduled to be complete within 15 days of today (July 29, 2011). Christianson concluded, “If we didn’t set a record from start to finish on this building, we’re close.”
Contact Yukon Marine Manufacturing at
907-949-1204 or 907-949-6430 Robert@ydfda.org
“Yukon River Towing was formed by YDFDA in January of 2010. The core focus of the Board in forming YRT was to enter into the towing and construction business here on the Lower Yukon. YRT provides additional employment opportunities for our in-region workforce. Although the company is barely a year old, it has established itself by barging gravel, road repair and construction, home building, and river logging. It employees a substantial number of workers and has participated in several projects. The company has seven landing craft style vessels and two freight barges.”