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US Fish and Wildlife
US Fish and Wildlife
Dual Management
Dual Management
Since the 1990s, there have been two regulations that govern fish and wildlife harvest on federal lands. The first is for federally qualified subsistence users who are rural residents. The second is for all non-rural Alaskan residents and non-residents.
This Yupik style mask represents the dual nature of the 1980 ANILCA by duplicating the US Fish and Wildlife service logo with two distinct fisheries and wildlife management strategies and regulations. The many hands around the USFWS logo represent the diverse resource users in Alaska.
NOAA Fisheries Management
NOAA Fisheries Management
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is best known for its atmospheric and oceanic research. However, NOAA is also an important steward of fish and wildlife research; managing Alaska's ground fish, halibut, crab, salmon, scallop, ice seals, and whales.
The NOAA mask is inspired by Sugpiaq plank masks of Kodiak Island (giinaruaq). The purpose of giinaruaq is to demonstrate respect to both animal spirits and ancestors, and help to ensure future hunting success. This mask pays homage to the research teams of NOAA who work tirelessly to manage diverse fish and wildlife species in Alaska's oceans and rivers.
The mask is made from yellow cedar drift wood that has been bored by the Northwest Shipworm Bankia setacea. The wooden NOAA face mask is yellow cedar and the smaller appendages are basewood. The ship depicted upon the top face panel is a Alaska long liner.
Non-Timber Forest Products
Non-Timber Forest Products
The Alaska Department of Natural Resources manages all state-owned land, water and natural resources; while ADF&G manages fish and game. This distinction is important in terms of commercial Alaska Native Art and the harvest of non-timber forest products (NTFP). From rye grass baskets to spruce root hats, many native art materials are defined as NTFPs; including: bark, roots, switches, diamond willow, berries, burls, mushrooms, sap, conks and seeds.
This mask is inspired by Sugpiaq plank masks (giinaruaq) and pays homage to the diverse NTFPs that I typically utilize for my artwork. This includes: cedar bark, spruce roots, beach rye grass, birch bark, and diamond willow.
State Caribou and Federal Caribou
State Caribou and Federal Caribou
My father used to tell me that a caribou lives by traversing the land, but only humans care exactly where a caribou is at any given moment. This is true in effect as when a caribou travels across mountain ranges and valleys it traverses the diverse jurisdictional landscape.
Article VIII of Alaska's constitution grants equal access to fish and wildlife resources to all residents. However, this is in conflict with the federal Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) which provided a rural preference for subsistence resources on federal lands in the state of Alaska. This conflict resulted in the unique dual management of fish and wildlife management. Hunting regulations in Alaska are developed by two different boards, the Federal Subsistence Board for federal lands and the State of Alaska Board of Game for state and public lands.
The piece represents the dual management system in Alaska with a mirrored image of a species that frequently crosses management boundaries. The two caribou masks with velvet antlers flanking each other represent the same animal as managed by both state and federal managers. Below are two caribou hide drums illustrating a caribou herd as they transverse across the boundaries of both federal and state jurisdictions.
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