From the Executive Director:
Thanksgiving in 2021 has come and gone, and now we are getting ready for Christmas and the New Year. It has been a year of continued challenges, gratitude and for some, grief. I think that we all felt a year ago at Thanksgiving we were coming out of the storm and were ready for calmer waters and more secure moorings, but that didn’t really occur. We spent a second year experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic and weathering new shifts in the virus that required continued vigilance and action. It sometimes felt difficult to be thankful, but Southwest Alaska had much to be thankful for in 2021.
The role of local governments taking action to protect their communities came with acceptance and frustration as people became weary of multiple shifts in the medical research world as to what was the best way to mitigate risk of infection, and what kinds of therapeutics could and should be prescribed by our incredibly hard working health care providers in case of an early detected infection. Local government and Tribal leaders across our region wore the mantle of great responsibility with care and thoughtfulness, and were ultimately successful at keeping the virus at bay for over two long years. I am grateful for their determination to protect their vulnerable communities.
I am grateful that our seafood industry partners - large and small - provided due diligence as they worked with the State of Alaska, local governments, fisheries organizations, healthcare providers, and their employees to craft flexible, comprehensive COVID risk mitigation and quarantine plans that were ultimately successful in protecting both the industry and the communities they partner with. This came at a very high cost to the most important business partners in our region, and they received very little financial relief to help cover these significant expenses. I am grateful for their willingness to stand in the breach and help stabilize our local economies.
I am grateful for our schools and the amazing staff who designed, created and produced a safe, healthy environment in our schools to keep our students from losing another year of in person learning. I am thankful for our local health care providers who continued to learn, grow and engage their communities and fishing/visitor sectors in risk mitigation, best practices, vaccines and treatment, often for days and weeks (months) without relief. I am thankful to our Tribes and ANC’s who quickly shared vaccines with anyone in the community who needed them, significantly reducing the risk of COVID to many who would not have had such quick access to them otherwise.
I am grateful for the thousands of people who live in SW Alaska who never gave up. The determination, hard work and spirit of the people in our region is deeply ingrained, and it allowed our communities to weather a global pandemic and even thrive. I am thankful that we can look forward to 2022 with clear eyes, confidence and steady hearts. We are Southwest Strong.
Shirley Marquardt
SWAMC Executive Director
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