Official minutes of the Heceta Island Settlement Council. Meetings held weekly at Shelter One unless weather, bears, or interpersonal conflict dictate otherwise. Minutes recorded by whoever drew the short stick.
Council Meeting — Day 831
Present: Linda Okamoto (Chair), Dale [REDACTED], Greg Huang, Dr. Yuki Tanaka, Bev [REDACTED], Marcus Cole, Sarah Peterson, Jim Haines
Absent: Tom Kowalski (deer watch), Anne-Marie Dubois (claimed illness; was seen gathering berries during meeting time)
Recorder: Marcus Cole (under protest)
Agenda Item 1: Winter Fish Stores
Dr. Tanaka reports the smokehouse inventory is at approximately 340 kilograms of processed salmon, which she estimates will sustain current population through February if rationing is maintained. Greg asked why the estimate was not more precise. Dr. Tanaka responded that she is a marine biologist, not an accountant, and that Greg was welcome to count the fish himself. Greg declined. Motion to maintain current rationing passed 7-1 (Dale opposed; Dale always opposes).
Agenda Item 2: The Kayak Situation
Jim Haines presented his third proposal for a settlement-built kayak using steam-bent yellow cedar and seal-skin covering. Council reviewed the previous two attempts (Kayak One, which sank on launch; Kayak Two, which did not sink but “handled like a shopping cart,” per Linda). Jim asserts he has studied Tlingit canoe-building techniques documented in the Smithsonian archives and is confident in the revised design.
Discussion followed. Bev asked whether Jim had actually read the documents or “just looked at the pictures again.” Jim confirmed he had read them. Dale asked who authorized Jim’s use of settlement cedar stores. Jim stated he had used windfall timber. Dale disputed this. The dispute was tabled after voices were raised.
Motion to authorize Kayak Three with a materials budget of two cedar logs (windfall only) and a requirement that Jim conduct a witnessed water test before any crewed voyage. Passed 6-2 (Dale and Bev opposed).
Agenda Item 3: Craig Contact Protocol
Greg reported that the shortwave relay picked up a transmission from Craig indicating they have a functioning medical clinic and are willing to trade antibiotics for smoked fish. Discussion centered on whether to formalize contact.
Sarah raised security concerns — previous contact with mainland groups has been unpredictable. Dr. Tanaka argued that medical supplies are a non-negotiable need and that Craig, as a community with deep Tlingit and Haida roots, is likely more stable than most mainland settlements. Linda agreed. Dale said nothing, which everyone interpreted as grudging assent.
Motion to send a two-person delegation to Craig via Jim’s kayak (contingent on Kayak Three passing water test) or, failing that, by Greg’s skiff. Passed unanimously, which startled everyone.
Agenda Item 4: The Latrine Relocation (Again)
Marcus raised the ongoing issue of Latrine Site C’s proximity to the secondary water catchment. This is the fourth time this issue has been raised. Linda reminded the Council that the relocation was approved on Day 790 and has not been executed because “nobody wants to dig a new latrine in November.”
Marcus volunteered to lead the digging team if three additional people would commit. Silence followed. Greg eventually volunteered. Bev said she would “supervise.” Marcus accepted this as participation. Dale muttered something inaudible. Motion to finalize relocation by Day 845 passed 5-3.
Agenda Item 5: New Arrivals
Two individuals arrived by fishing vessel on Day 828: a former high school teacher from Sitka (Elena Vasquez) and a man who identifies himself only as “Monk” and claims to be a former software engineer. Both have been assigned to Shelter Four and are completing the standard 14-day orientation. Elena has already proven useful in the smokehouse. Monk has been observed staring at trees “in a way that concerns people” (per Bev) but has otherwise caused no issues.
Dr. Tanaka recommended extending orientation for Monk to 21 days. Passed without objection.
Agenda Item 6: Miscellaneous
— Tom Kowalski’s oldest son (age 14) requests permission to join the hunting rotation. Council requires minimum age of 15. Request denied. Tom’s son may join tracking and field-dressing training immediately.
— The community library (Shelter Two, north wall) has acquired three new volumes: a field guide to Pacific Northwest mushrooms, a water-damaged copy of Moby-Dick, and a Chilkat Tlingit language primer donated by Dr. Tanaka. All residents encouraged to read the mushroom guide. The language primer is mandatory for Council members.
— Greg’s birthday is Day 840. Sarah is organizing something. This is not a secret because Greg is reading these minutes right now. Hi, Greg.
Meeting adjourned. Next meeting Day 838 unless something catches fire, which at this point would not surprise anyone.
Council Meeting — Day 614
Present: Full Council
Recorder: Bev [REDACTED]
[Editor’s note: Bev’s minutes from this meeting consist of three sentences and a drawing of what appears to be a bear wearing a tie. We have reconstructed the meeting from multiple accounts.]
Summary
The Council debated for two hours whether to name the settlement. Proposed names included: New Heceta, Second Chance, Rainhaven, Point Zero, and (from Dale) “None of Your Business.” Linda suggested that since the island already had a name — Heceta Island — the settlement could simply be “the Heceta Island Settlement.” This was considered too obvious, which is why it was eventually adopted. Motion passed 6-2.
The remaining agenda items were deferred because a brown bear was observed near Shelter Three and everyone left the meeting to go look at it.
“Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others. We tried the others. They were worse.”
— Linda Okamoto, paraphrasing Churchill at the founding of the Council, Day 87