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Scenarios Network for Alaska and Arctic Planning

Observations of Environmental and Climate Change in Southeast Alaska Dr. Linda Kruger, Social Scientist, USFS Dr. Jim Powell, Research Fellow, UAF. Scenarios Network for Alaska and Arctic Planning. Federal Trust Responsibility.

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Scenarios Network for Alaska and Arctic Planning

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  1. Observations of Environmental and Climate Change in Southeast AlaskaDr. Linda Kruger, Social Scientist, USFSDr. Jim Powell, Research Fellow, UAF Scenarios Network for Alaska and Arctic Planning

  2. Federal Trust Responsibility • The U.S. Government has a unique relationship with Federally-recognized tribal entities. • Federal agencies consult with Tribes on policies and programs including research activities.

  3. Acknowledge • Todd Brinkman, PhD – UAF, SNAP • Scott Rupp, PhD - UAF, Dir. SNAP • Lauren Sill, ADF&G, Division of Subsistence • Yakutat Tlingit Tribe, City of Thorne Bay, • Angoon Community Association, Klawock Cooperative Association, Kassan City Council • Dan Monteith, PhD - UAS • Ivan Show, PhD - ADF&G, Com. Fish • Ellen Frankenstein, MS. Visual Anthropology, film maker, Artchangeinc.org • Eran Hood, PhD, UAS

  4. Ecological Knowledge • Tribes have locally relevant knowledge that can help us understand traditional approaches to land and resource management, environmental changes and human response to change. • A survey of tribes identified the integration of traditional knowledge with western science as a tribal priority (Beatty & Leighton 2012).

  5. Forest Service Direction • US Forest Service Tribal Relations Strategic Plan – provides a framework for the Forest Service Tribal Relations Program. • Goal 1 – American Indian and Alaska Native Rights • Goal 2 - Partnerships • Goal 3 – Program Development

  6. Research Tribal Engagement Roadmap • R & D Objectives • Build new and enhance existing partnerships. • Institutionalize Tribal trust responsibilities and engagement within R&D. • Increase and advance Tribal and indigenous values, knowledge and perspectives within USFS R&D, including in operational and research activities. • Network & cooperate across FS to increase response to needs • Conduct joint research with Tribes.

  7. Observing and Experiencing change • Across the Pacific Northwest and Alaska climate change is affecting hunting, fishing, gathering, economic infrastructure, water, forest and agricultural resources and human health. Alaska Natives, American Indians and First Nations are on the frontline of this change.

  8. Indigenous knowledge and connection to place • Native cultures and identity are directly tied to the places people have lived for generations through observations, stories, dances, art, music and traditions. It is this connection that makes climate change much more personal and impactful to Native people.

  9. Rural Southeast Alaska • What changes have local residents noticed and how are they responding? • How can we learn from observations and experiences and share and apply what we learn? • What information and tools are needed to help in adapting to change?

  10. Presentation • SE Region - 3 Areas • Assumptions - subsistence gatherers • Study methods • Community stories • Integration – local and scientific knowledge • Next Steps

  11. Collaborations • Tribal Groups • Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game • Household Surveys, 2 Questions added • Correlated responses • UAS – School of Management / MPA • UA - EPSCoR and UAS Southeast Test Case

  12. SE Alaska Thumbnail Demographics • 33 communities • How we make a living –fish, gov., mining, • timber, • Cultural diversity– lots • Rural and non rural • Isolation – closeness

  13. Southeast Alaska Study Areas Yakutat Angoon Thorne Bay Klawock Kassan Craig

  14. Interviews 2013

  15. Study Questions Top 5 issues for your community? What kinds of environmental changes have you noticed in your community? What environmental changes have you experienced or heard Elders or others in your community talk about? 4. How might these changes affect your community? Are there any environmental changes that would threaten or strengthen your community?

  16. Study Questions 6. What long standing activities (traditional or cultural) might be affected and how? 8. How are you responding?

  17. Point Gilbert • Yakutat • Weather • Fish, wildlife, plants • Environmental Cue • Culture and Adaptation

  18. Yakutat Alaska

  19. “Spring is cooler…seems to take longer to get started, plants and stuff” “…from the time I used to troll and commercial fish ocean currents are moving faster”

  20. Yakutat Airport Snow “We lived in a trailer and the dogs lived on the roof”

  21. “Once the tide goes out your dinner table is set” “coho run isn’t as strong as use to be” “we use to be the silver salmon capital of the world”. “we go out further and further for clams” “seal population – holding good”

  22. “The culture is as strong as ever”. “The last couple of times I’ve worked in the kitchen for potlatches we scrambled for berries” “everybody was wondering what happened to the berries. … freeze, thaw, and freeze again. Lucky if you could find a berry.” A member of the Mount St. Elias dancers participates in the Yakutat Tern Festival. http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r10/learning/history-culture/

  23. “So none of us are going to change. We are going to continue to strive to be more of who we are” Members of the Mt. St. Elias Dancers from Yakutat perform at the UAF Festival of Native Arts. Photo by Todd Paris “we have a history of taking only what we can use and to make sure that renewable resources like fish and seal would be there for generations”

  24. “Jar our fish rather then do the smoke strips” “We eat more meat now then we used to eat I put more dry fish up.” Hubbard Glacier

  25. Angoon • Wildlife • Frogs / Toads • Herring

  26. “before we had to concern yourself with walking on frogs, there are no more frogs around” “hunting seems to be fine”

  27. Herring“you use to use a flat stick,you’d put nails on it and cut it off and rake them inside the boat”“the water was boiling like a real heavy rain it was load you could hear the boat motors running”“There was so much herring in the boat harbor, bubbling up”

  28. Thorne Bay Weather Wildlife

  29. Thorne Bay Weather around here are hit or miss. “Deer had tunnels through the snow berms” “I remember when the Bay was froze across. So hard that it took a tug coming from the Pulp-Mill to break it open so planes could land”

  30. Kassan Weather Adaptation

  31. “winters are milder”“ice not as thick,more extreme tides”

  32. Kassan Whale House If the salmon don’t show up we will look for other species”

  33. Craig Tidelands “Storm are more intense and beaches are starting to erode”

  34. “Use to see rafts of ducks now you see rafts of otters”

  35. Natural Science and Local Climate Change Integration

  36. Natural Science and Local Climate Change Integration

  37. Next Steps: Video editing Institutional Change in SE

  38. Additional Information • Forest Service Research Tribal Engagement www.fs.fed.us/research/tribal-engagement • PNW Tribal Climate Change Network http://tribalclimate.uoregon.edu/ • Institute for Tribal Environment Professionals www4.nau.edu/tribalclimatechange/

  39. Thank you Linda Kruger – lkruger@fs.fed.us 907-586-7814 Jim Powell - jim23powell@gmail.com 907-209-5676

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