In 1982 they voted to ban the sale or importation of alcohol, and in 1986 voted to criminalize possession of alcohol. In spite of these efforts, substance abuse continued to take its toll on the community. Community leaders from the city, school, mental health, alcohol counselors, police department, students, and the community health representative joined together to plan this conference. They hoped to provide education, prevention information, and to determine how to better address substance abuse in Togiak. Many Togiak community members, Akeela Treatment Services from Anchorage, Jim LaBelle of the Alaska Federation of Natives, musher, Mike Williams, and Reverend Frank Chingliak all presented at the conference.
Organizers feel the conference impacted both the young and old and was a good first step.
It was a really good start for us.