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Sleetmute
(SLEET-myoot)
For Photos of Sleetmute click here
For a Map of Sleetmute click here
| Current Population: |
70
(2008 Estimated Population (not Certified))
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| Incorporation Type: |
Unincorporated |
| Borough Located In: |
Unorganized |
| Taxes: |
No taxing authority
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| Location
and Climate |
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Sleetmute is located on the east bank of the Kuskokwim River, 1.5 miles north of its junction with the Holitna River. It lies 79 miles east of Aniak, 166 miles northeast of Bethel, and 243 miles west of Anchorage. The community
lies at approximately 61.702500° North Latitude
and -157.169720° West Longitude.
(Sec. 25, T019N, R044W, Seward Meridian.)
Sleetmute is located in the
Kuskokwim Recording District.
The climate in Sleetmute is continental with temperatures ranging from -58 to 90. Snowfall averages 85 inches, with total precipitation of 22 inches per year. High winds often cause flight delays in the fall and winter. The Kuskokwim is ice-free from mid-June through October. |
Topographic
map of
Sleetmute
area
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| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| Sleetmute was founded by Ingalik Indians. The name means "whetstone people," referring to the slate deposits found nearby. The village has also been known as Sikmiut, Steelmut and Steitmute. In the early 1830s the Russians built a trading post at the Holitna River junction 1.5 miles away - but it was relocated far downriver in 1841. Frederick Bishop started a trading post at Sleetmute in 1906. A school opened in 1921, followed by a post office in 1923. A Russian Orthodox Church was constructed in 1931, The Saints Peter & Paul Mission.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Village of Sleemute.
The population of the community consists of 89%
Alaska Native or part Native.
Sleetmute is an Ingalik Indian village, and subsistence activities contribute substantially to local diets.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 51, and vacant housing units numbered 18.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 2.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 21 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
27.59 percent,
although
59.62 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $15,000, per capita income was $8,150, and
57.69 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
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| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| A central well with treated water and several individual wells are used in the community. Water is pumped by hand to fill gravity storage tanks at each house. Privies, honeybuckets and seepage pits are used by 27 homes. Eleven homes and the school use individual systems and are completely plumbed. There is a landfill site southeast of the airstrip.
Electricity is provided by Middle Kuskokwim Electric Cooperative.
There is one school located in the community,
attended by 12
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Sleetmute Clinic (907-449-4222); Clara Morgan Sub-Regional Clinic (907-675-4556) in Aniak.
Sleetmute is classified as an isolated village, it is found in EMS Region 7A in the Yukon/Kuskokwim Region. Emergency Services have river and air access. Emergency service is provided by a health aide
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| Economy
and Transportation |
Most cash income in Sleetmute is derived seasonally from BLM firefighting, trapping, or from cannery work in other communities. The school is the primary employer. One resident holds a commercial fishing permit. Most foods are derived from subsistence fishing, hunting and gathering. Many residents travel to fish camps during the summer. Salmon, moose, bear, porcupine, rabbit, waterfowl and berries are harvested in season.
The Kuskokwim River provides barges and boats transportation in the summer, and snowmachines are used on the frozen river in the winter. The 3,100' long by 60' wide gravel airstrip is owned and maintained by the State. Scheduled weekday service is provided. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
Village Corporation -
Nagamut, Ltd.
Anchorage, AK
Village Council -
Village of Sleetmute
P.O. Box 109
Sleetmute, AK 99668
Phone 907-449-4205
Fax 907-449-4203
E-mail stcadmin@starband.net
Regional
Organizations
Regional Native Corporation - Calista Corporation
301 Calista Court, Suite A
Anchorage, AK 99518-3028
Phone 907-279-5516
Fax 907-272-5060
E-mail calista@calistacorp.com
Web http://www.calistacorp.com
Regional Native Health Corporation - Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corp.
P.O. Box 528
Bethel, AK 99559
Phone 907-543-6020
Fax 907-543-6006
E-mail gene_peltola@ykhc.org
Web http://www.ykhc.org/
Regional Native Non-Profit - Kuskokwim Native Association
P.O. Box 127
Aniak, AK 99557
Phone 907-675-4384
Fax 907-675-4387
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