Indigenizing Salmon Management
Inequities in the salmon system are paramount. These inequities stem from a historical context of colonialism, and are perpetuated in current management systems. These inequities are evident in many dimensions of the salmon system, including: the criminalization of subsistence, the dramatic loss of Alaska Native fishing rights, and the exclusion and marginalization of Tribes, Alaska Native fishing families and communities and Indigenous values and ways of knowing from science and management processes, despite Alaska Natives continued practice of their traditional ways of life through the centuries. These inequities have had significant effects on community health and wellbeing on multiple levels and affect the ability of future generations to learn, grow, and continue traditional lifeways. These issues will not be reconciled until Indigenous voices are meaningfully heard and given power to enact and participate in the decision-making processes. This has been especially the case in the past decade, where fishing openings have been sparse and highly regulated, perpetuating the continued loss of deep knowledge associated with traditional hunting and fishing lifeways.
The goal of the Indigenizing Salmon Management is to use a deeply participatory approach to document the breadth and depth of Indigenous values, knowledge, management and governance systems connected to salmon across Alaska and to use this wisdom to improve the current salmon management systems in Alaska.
Helpful resources: Survival Denied and Bridging Yesterday with Tomorrow
Resetting the Table: Indigenizing Salmon Management (Salmonfest Radio)
Guiding Questions
● What are the Indigenous values, knowledge, management, and governance mechanisms that will improve the long-term sustainability and equity of the Alaska salmon system for the benefit of all?
● What do we learn about the strengths and weaknesses of our current salmon management system when we view it from Indigenous experiences and perspectives?
● How can Indigenous values, knowledge, management and governance mechanisms be better included in current or alternative management systems?
Objectives
● Explore and document Indigenous values, knowledge, management, and governance mechanisms pertaining to salmon in regions across Alaska.
● Document historical and contemporary examples of displacement and endurance of Indigenous salmon management and governance systems in Alaska.
● Assess the strengths and weaknesses of our current salmon management system from Indigenous experiences and perspectives in regions across Alaska.
● Document historical and contemporary examples of inequities stemming from salmon management system from Indigenous perspectives and experiences.
● Determine how Indigenous values, knowledge, management, and governance mechanisms can be better included into current management systems.
Methods and Next Steps
During the first stage of the project, we facilitated think tank sessions with community members in across the state using Indigenous methodologies such as dialogues and listening to stories in an effort to ensure that the research is culturally appropriate and relevant. These sessions are helped us gather input from various regions and generations to help refine our study design. This initial period of project scoping provided a landscape of the initiatives already underway and the suggestions people have for how to best shape this work.
Science, Sovereignty, and Well-Being Video Series
Alaska Native Hunting and Fishing Right in Review
Equity and Well-Being in Fisheries
This series is a partnership between Igiugig Village Council and the Well-Being and Indigenous Livelihoods and Indigenizing Salmon Science and Management project teams. Funding is generously provided by the North Pacific Research Board and National Science Foundation.
Project Team
Dr. Jessica Black, University of Alaska Fairbanks jcblack@alaska.edu
Dr. Courtney Carothers, University of Alaska Fairbanks clcarothers@alaska.edu
Dr. Rachel Donkersloot, Coastal Cultures Research rachel@coastalculturesresearch.com
Janessa Esquible, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Carrie Stevens, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Brooke Woods, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Jonathan Samuelson, Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
Dehrich Chya, Alutiiq Museum
Taneisha Moses, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Craig Chythlook, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Justin Leon, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Kendrick Hautala, University of Alaska Fairbanks
The project is funded by the National Science Foundation Award # 1936378
Tamamta Iqallupet Anirtungnaqlluki: Conceptualizing Indigenous Approaches to Salmon Science and Management in Alaska