Toksook Bay

Toksook Bay

Photos:

Other websites about Toksook Bay.

Visit the Nelson Island School Website
Visit the Lincoln Family Website
Who flies there, and how much does it cost?

ERA, Hageland, and Grant Aviation $45 one way. Other companies charter for around $500 to $1250 depending on the size of the plane.

When you reach your site, how do you get from the airport to your home?

It is about a five minute drive.

How big is the village?

563 people

(Geographic makeup-along a river, slough, coast? Tundra, muddy, hills, cliffs? Etc.)

Toksook is located on the coast of the Bering Sea, 80 miles due west of Bethel, and 500 miles due west of Anchorage. As of 1999, there are approximately 563 people living here. There are low hills, and the area is predominantly tundra.

There are no paved roads, but we have somewhat of a dirt road system in a tic-tac-toe board shape. There are three longer roads good for biking, running, or just walking. One goes about a mile out to the dump with an ocean view, and another long haul road inland, goes from the village to a secondary water pump station, also about a mile out, and the third goes to the new airport. Boardwalks run throughout the village, although within the village, the ground is a clay base, producing “hard” ground, except when it rains, and gets a very muddy and slick. You can pretty much walk anywhere in the village without needing boots, unlike other villages which have much more of a water base. Toksook overlooks a large bay, thus the name. 17 miles away on one side is Nightmute, a 25 minute drive by snowmobile in winter along the frozen water. Tununak is on the opposite side, 7 miles away over the hills surrounding Toksook. Although there are no trees here, just scrub willows, the area is starkly picturesque. It is a great area for cross-country skiing with the low rolling hills.
What’s the weather like, and what is it like in August?

In August, it is usually rainy , with a regular 10 knot wind. September, it is quite brisk, requiring layering, sweatshirts, and some form of hat. By the end of September, the ground is sometimes frozen hard, by the first week of November we have usually had our first snow storm. In the winter, Toksook averages 10-15 below zero F.

There is a constant wind, of about 10-30 knots, driving the chill factor downward at times to as low as -70 degrees F. By December, there is usually 3-6 feet of snow on the ground, as well as larger drifts around the village. The worst weather is in February through March. Breakup is usually in mid to late April, and by May, the days are warm enough for a light jacket or even t-shirts.
How many students in school?

200, K-12 (80 K-3, 120 in transition – 12th grade)

How many teachers?

Describe the housing (i.e., running water? honey buckets?)

Housing in Toksook for teachers is short. Some teachers live in village housing. There are 11 district owned/rented units total: 2 prefab, 2 corporation units, 2 YKHC owned units, one church owned, one converted warehouse, and 3 BIA units. The units are all about 10-15 years old, or older. District owned and operated teacher housing, which is a requirement of contract to live in, if available, has hot and cold running water. Overall, the housing units have been well maintained over the years, and are in decent shape. There is a 2 room motel the corporation owns and operates, and there is a duplex with is owned privately and rented currently to teachers.

Stores? Are they well stocked or do you order?

Both. There are four well stocked main stores in Toksook, Larry John’s Store, and the Nunaukauiak Yupik Corporation Store. “Larry John’s” is a small sized store carrying mostly frozen meats and canned goods. There are some dry goods. “NYC” is the local corporation-run “department store”, selling clothing, canned foods, fresh produce on a rotating basis, and commercial frozen foods. “Bayview” is a privately owned store carrying dry goods and frozen foods as well as snowmobile and watercraft items. The fourth store, Island Retail Store, is another privately owned store very much like “Bayview.” However, this store is much smaller. Prices are double to triple what you will pay for the same items in the lower 48, but you must add in the cost of shipping to get anything out here.

If you order, who do you recommend?

Any of the major credit warehouse stores and shopping companies in Anchorage including Alaska Bush Service and Span Alaska. Both of these companies will take orders for merchandise and will do the shopping for you, however, there is an added cost to purchasing through these companies. There’s a lot of goods you can buy locally that are just plain easier to get locally than to mail in, especially certain produce and frozen goods.

What should a new teacher bring?

An open mind, a massive dose of flexibility, and a voluminous sense of adventure. Further assume nothing. Call ahead to find out who the teachers are, and ask questions to anyone who you find to talk to. People are willing to help a new person, and you shouldn’t be shy about asking questions.

Clothing is critically important, depending on the season you are coming. Major chains such as L.L. Bean, Eddie Bauer, and REI are staple clothing dealers for bush Alaska. Raingear is handy for the fall, and winter gear for the winter. Anything with Goretex and Thinsulate, will be a lifesaver. “Bunny Boots”, the big clunky white parachute jumping boots that army-navy stores sell, can be purchased in Anchorage, and are warm and toasty, even when your feet are wet, down to -70 for a white pair. Black pairs are warm to about -40, and are somewhat smaller and lighter. Toys: If you are a computer user, bring your equipment. If you like photos on the wall, bring them. If you like to paint, bring your easel and palette. If you are into Ham radio, bring your gear. Don’t try to change your lifestyle, because you will be unhappy once the culture shock hits. In our village, I fly big stunt kites, since there’s LOTS of wind all the time. If you are the kind of person who lives in a cave and doesn’t socialize much, you’re better of staying where you are, because the darkness and extreme isolation in winter here will be more than you can handle. On the other hand, if you are somewhat gregarious, you’ll find many people wanting to know just about as much about you, as you will about them and the new wondrous environment you’ll find in bush Alaska.