Kawerak, Inc. would like to echo sentiments made by the Inuit Circumpolar Council and other Arctic organizations in the desire for a peaceful Arctic. War does not solve issues. We keep our indigenous relatives in Russia in our hearts and minds during this time, as well as the families in crisis in Ukraine. We hope families separated by political borders can continue to unite and that peace prevails.
Since 1989, the Bering Strait Travel Agreement signed by the United States and Soviet Union, allows qualifying Alaska Natives of Nome and Northwest Arctic Borough to travel visa-free to visit relatives across the Strait in designated areas of Chukotka, Russia. One must receive an invitation first from his/her Russian relatives. The visa-free travel program is a tremendous benefit to Alaska Natives that have relatives in Chukotka. The program is administered in Nome. We hope this program remains an option for families in the region into the future.
