Tetlin, but not Tetlin Junction

Some of you that know me personally, know that I started working again as a new teacher mentor.  I'm not new at this, but I mentor new teachers.   The job means travel to rural Alaskan villages or distance conversations to support teachers in the toughest jobs around.  

It's your fault I'm blogging again, because some of you found my village blog posts interesting, so you fed my habit.  I'm working half time, so I will be going to 6 different villages.  I'll be working when I'm there, but I'll try to capture some of the fun and photos of these places.

Tetlin was my first visit.  From Fairbanks, head 4 hours down the Alaska Highway past Delta Junction, then Tok.  Instead of going an additional 90 miles to Canada, turn right on an unmarked gravel road through the beautiful foothills adjacent to the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge.  If you come to Tetlin Junction, you've gone too far.  A left turn will take you to Chicken, Eagle or Dawson Creek.

And that's no joke.

  

The scenery was amazing.  The road was in great shape probably due to the gold mining operation Manh Cho that will be started soon, shipping ore to the Fort Knox Mine, outside of Fairbanks every 15 minutes around the clock.  As you can see, Fall is here.  The lake just before the village has a pair of swans that didn't get the memo.  29 degrees in the morning. 

About 35 kids (K-12) are enrolled in Tetlin School in Alaska Gateway School District.  All certified staff are new this year, but the support staff is from the community and brings continuity to the school.

As I was leaving, I thought it would be okay to take a parting photo of homes nearest the exit.  They are not unlike village houses in off-road villages.  The people of Tetlin are Upper Tanana Athabascan people.  The Native Corporation was granted land in the 70s and it is owned by the members of that corporation.

I'll be back to Tetlin School in another season.