Information Board
Alutiiq Tribe of Old Harbor
Old Harbor is an Alutiiq village on the southeast side of Kodiak Island, Alaska. Old Harbor holds a rich culture with spiritual ties to the land, bonds of kinship and belief, respect for Elders and community and the shared practices of a subsistence lifestyle.
The Alutiiq Tribe of Old Harbor was established in 1968 with a base roll of 333. The Tribe was then officially federal recognized in 1972. The base roll has grown 650 members. The Alutiiq Tribe of Old Harbor is known for practicing our traditional Alutiiq culture and subsistence lifestyle. We are a community that relies on natural resources of our surrounding sea and land environment for our livelihood.
Today, the community of Old Harbor has a modern airstrip, a harbor for its fishing fleet and the modern amenities of water, sewer, electricity, internet and satellite Services, and is continuing to grow each year.
ATOH COVID-19 Mitigation Strategies
April 15, 2020
Background
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. It is said to be spread through tiny saliva droplets released from sneezing, coughing, loud laughter, singing and heavy exhausted breathing (after running or heavy exercise). These droplets travel through the air. Breathing or ingesting these droplets is the primary infectious path. The virus is said to live on packages for a certain amount of time, but needs a living host to survive. Human or Animal
Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness or death. This virus is highly contagious and can infect anyone or any age.
Ways you can get infected:
o Person to Person
o Pet to Person
o Surfaces with the COVID-19 microorganisms
Goals
o To slow the transmission of this highly contagious virus and protect high risk health categories
o Identify precautionary measures to slow the transmission of the virus
o Identify Essential Services
Person to Person Transmission
The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is to be well informed about the COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads.
Sneezing and coughing sends microorganisms into the air 6 feet and farther.
How to protect yourself and others:
o Social Distancing: STAY 6 feet or more apart from others
o Wash hands frequently using soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds
o Do NOT touch your face, eyes, mouth, nose
o IF YOU CANT wash your hands, use an alcohol based hand sanitizer rubbing consistently for 30 seconds or longer
o Sneeze or cough into your elbow
o Wear a face covering or mask. This is to keep your germs from spreading, this does not guarantee full protection against microorganisms in the air
o Wear gloves if you are working outside the house or picking up packages or freight
o STAY HOME if you are sick
Pets can carry the microorganism
How to protect yourself and others:
o Clean your pets feet and face after they have been outside
o Encourage others to NOT pet or love on your dog
o Keep your pet close to home and not allow them to roam
The virus can live on surfaces: table, counter, door knobs, phones, computers, light switches, boxes, packages, pens. Anything you touch can hold the virus.
How to protect yourself and others:
o Clean all surfaces in your home, office and vehicle frequently with warm soapy water, and sanitize with an antibacterial solution: bleach, Lysol or an alcohol based cleaner.
o Leave boxes outside to allow time to kill microorganisms, or wipe down boxes with a sanitizing solution or cleaning wipe.
o REMEMBER: If you can touch it, clean it.
Signs and Symptoms
o Fever
o Coughing
o Difficulty breathing
o Flu like symptoms
o CALL THE LOCAL CLINIC immediately
o ATOH employees are mandated to report any of the above to the Tribal Administrator Immediately.
o ATOH employees who have spouses that are confirmed COVID-19 in the same household must self-isolate for 14 days.
o for COVID-19. However, there are many ongoing clinical trials evaluating potential treatments.
Please follow all Local, State and Federal Mandates.
Work from home if possible
STAY 6 feet or more apart from others
If sick STAY HOME
Teach children the importance of social distancing
Face mask or covering required in ALL public places
NO Unnecessary travel
Self-quarantine when returning to Old Harbor either by plane or boat
Minimize your visits to the stores, post office, Tribal Offices, City Offices etc.
LIMIT CHILDREN in public places
Please observe privately owned business mandates
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, SO PLEASE HELP PROTECT YOURSELF, OUR CHILDREN/ELDERS,
AND ME!
2020 ESSENTIAL SERVICES: Safety Procedures
Garbage Pick Up:
o Service will be provided: Tuesday & Friday
o PPE REQUIRED: Gloves and Masks.
o Staff will be coordinating with KANA Clinic on safety procedures and proper disposal methods when collecting from COVID-19 patients home.
Office Etiquette For Employees:
o Staffs are required to clean up work space after each shift for next staff.
Nuniaq Market:
o Store Summer Hours of Operation: 10:00am-5:00pm Monday-Sunday
FDPIR & KANA MDP:
o Staffs are required to wear gloves and masks prior to receiving, handling and distribution of goods.
The ATOH Mitigation Plan is adopted and overrides any and all previous office and service procedures while we are under this critical health mandate. Employees observed not following policy and procedures will face possible dismissal. The above will be reviewed as the level of crisis increases or Local, Federal and State Mandates change.
Our tribe provides job opportunities to community members of native preference and experience.
Our tribe works with partnering agency to provide events for our community members.