The Blog: What Happens In the Community of Ouzinkie?

The Russian Orthodox Diocese of Alaska follows the Julian calendar, which places Christmas on January 7, approximately two weeks after the widely observed December 25 date. For many Alaska Native families with deep Orthodox roots going back to the mission established on Kodiak Island in the late 1700s, this timing is not a delay, it’s tradition.

Spruce Island sits just off Kodiak, separated by a slender strait that once gave Ouzinkie  its name, “uzen kii,” the narrows. Families there learn the tides like kin, reading currents the way others read the morning news. In spring, elders taught where the greens come first, in summer, smokehouses carried stories as salmon hung above slow fires. When the earth shook in 1964, and waves turned harbors into hazards, neighbors climbed together and returned together, rebuilding no

The Christmas season can be magical, but it can also become overwhelming with endless obligations and expectations. Here are five strategies to help you create a truly wonderful holiday experience this year. 1. Start a Meaningful Tradition Whether it’s baking cookies on a specific evening, watching a favorite movie together, or volunteering at a local charity, having a tradition gives you something special to look forward to each year. The best traditions aren’t elaborate, th

Once upon a frosty Christmas Eve in London, there lived a man named Ebenezer Scrooge, a fellow so miserly that even his shadow seemed stingy! Scrooge wasn’t just frugal, he was the poster child for “Bah, Humbug!” He pinched pennies so hard they squealed and thought joy was something you could tax. But Christmas has a way of working its magic. That night, Scrooge got a wake-up call, three of them, actually! First came the Ghost of Christmas Past , who whisked him through memor

Ouzinkie is more than a village, it’s a family. Every step individuals take toward better health, stronger education, and cultural pride brings them closer to a future where the community thrives. That’s why SIDCO, the Tribe, and KANA have launched initiatives designed for Ouzinkie. Fitness classes, educational programs, cultural events, and even fun opportunities like our Split-the-Pot raffles. When you participate, you’re not just joining an event, you’re investing in yours

After nearly two days of intense manual labor, which consisted of lugging two large sleds to the site on the mountain on foot and bringing down around 400 lbs of metal and batteries using various tree-based pulley systems, the task was complete.

This is what it looks like when a community takes the bull by the horns. When they stop talking about what’s wrong and start building what’s right. When they honor their ancestors by investing in their descendants.

Roosevelt's connection to Alaska went far beyond recreation. Just a few years earlier, in 1941, Roosevelt had signed the executive order establishing the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge. This move was a landmark in American conservation history.

Community Connectivity Center The village of Ouzinkie, nestled in the remote landscapes of Alaska, is buzzing with excitement as the...

Advisory Announcement (Released: June 18, 2025 - Expires: August 31, 2025 ) CONTACT : Tracy Hansen Area Management Biologist(907)...

Dipnetting season kicked off on Wednesday at the Kasilof River, and it's open 24/7 until the first week of August, unless the Alaska...

Please remember that the split-the-pot fundraiser for this quarter will conclude on June 30th! Your contributions are crucial as they...

Alaska Native communities are leading the way in creating sustainable futures through innovation and tradition.

Your participation can inspire others to join in—a beautiful ripple effect. Imagine one neighbor shares the “Split the Pot” opportunity in the local chat, and soon the conversation is buzzing with excitement about community events and opportunities.

Forget walking the plank – grab your split-the-pot raffle ticket and walk away with a share of the pirate booty! This isn't your typical raffle; it's above and beyond a community-wide celebration, a chance for everyone to participate in shaping the future of Ouzinkie.  And the best part? Everybody wins!

The community of Ouzinkie is embracing raffles as a creative and engaging way to support the development of their new Cultural Community Connectivity Center. By organizing regular raffles,

Ouzinkie Harbor. Photo by Larry Pestrikoff Nestled on the picturesque Spruce Island, Ouzinkie, Alaska, is a small village where the...

We're new at this and we've been working out the bugs, but the Spruce Island Development Corporation (SIDCO) is thrilled about our gaming...

Win an Apple iPad! As we look ahead to the new year, the team at Spruce Island Development Corporation Alaska (SIDCO) has some thrilling...

In August, 11 Soldiers from the 11th Airborne Division traveled to the remote Village of Ouzinkie, located on Spruce Island in the Kodiak Ar

Get the scoop on 2025 SIDCO raffles to support our mission. Every raffle entry will directly support the SIDCO mission of bringing health, w

The residents of Ouzinkie hold a deep reverence for nature. For generations, they have lived in harmony with the land and sea, respecting...

Alutiiq Week, is an annual celebration in Kodiak, Alaska that aims to honor and preserve the cultural heritage of the Alutiiq people. It...

March 14, 2024 - Federal judge to rule on reduction in trawler halibut bycatch The Groundfish Forum, based in Seattle, filed its...