TOWN-VILLAGE CONTRASTS IN ALASKAN YOUTH ASPIRATIONS

Recent surveys of high school students in Alaska's Northwest Arctic an d Bristol Bay regions reflect the social changes taking place in rural Native communities. Significant differences exist between the aspirat ions of young people in small villages and those in the larger towns t hat constitute regional hubs (Kotzebue and Dillingham). Town students, who attend more complete and varied high schools, express greater con fidence in their educations and more interest in attending college. Jo bs at Red Dog Mine, recently opened in the Northwest Arctic, appeal pa rticularly to young males with strong ties to village life. This labor pool presents special challenges for the mine's goal of 100% Native e mployment, however. A majority of town students and about half of the village students expect to migrate permanently away from their home re gion. The likelihood of expecting migration increases curvilinearly wi th community size. Young women and college-aspiring students dispropor tionately expect outmigration. Differential migration affects the accu lturation and life prospects of individuals and shapes the demographic profile of Alaskan villages, towns, and cities.