Tuesday, January 20, 2026 – Tribes see increasing urgency to confront flooding threat

The village of Kwigillingok, Alaska is at a crossroads after flooding, fueled by a serious Bearing Sea storm, washed away 50 houses, killing three residents. The storm is one of the increasingly frequent and increasingly severe storms to pummel the area. Combined with thawing permafrost and rising sea levels, village leaders are pushing to move — a plan that state and Native regional corporation officials reject.

Recent flooding in Washington State also has tribal officials assessing their options. There too, major flooding — what used to be a once-in-a-lifetime event — threatens residents’ lives and property and the natural viability of the rivers than once sustained life for local tribes.

We’ll get updates about the effects of increasing floods and the difficult choices tribal officials face.

GUESTS

Daniel Paul (Yup’ik), tribal president for the Village of Kipnuk

Gavin Phillip (Yup’ik), tribal administrator for the Village of Kwigillingok

Darrel John (Yup’ik), community school advocate

Joseph Pavel (Skokomish), director of natural resources for the Skokomish Indian Tribe

Guillaume Mauger, Washington state climatologist and research scientist at the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group

 

Break 1 Music: Uangilaa (song) Susan Aglukark (artist) The Crossing (album)

Break 2 Music: Elle Danse [Boogat Remix] (song) Mimi O’Bonsawin (artist)