Abbie Joseph, husband John Evan and children Walter and Martha, Lake Minchumina, 1919.
Q: Ice patterns and reduced snowfall in Alaska have created challenges for those who rely on subsistence hunting and gathering. These changes threaten access to fresh water and impact animal migration, leading to hardships for communities that depend on a stable environment. Elders like my grandmother note that shorter seasons and unpredictable ice conditions affect traditional lifestyles. It is crucial to explore ways to preserve these cultural practices. How can we do this?
A: You pose an interesting question. One effective step is to encourage elders and hunters in your community to document their environmental observations for the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, through the Alaska Native Knowledge Network. The Alaska Native Science Commission (ANSC), through UAF, collects valuable data impacting the Alaska Native population. You can reach their staff at 907-474-5897 or via email at rehum@alaska.edu.
Established in 1994, the ANSC collaborates with the Native community to support research and preserve knowledge relevant to their culture. To contact them for research or policy info:
Alaska Native Science Commission
P.O. Box 244305
Anchorage, AK 99524
907-258-2672
info@aknsc.org
You can also help by sharing knowledge about subsistence practices, Native foods and storytelling. Educating others fosters understanding of indigenous lifestyles, emphasizing that subsistence is about more than food-it's about community and cultural identity.
Additionally, consider contributing artifacts, photographs or personal stories to museums or visitor centers. These items help highlight the changes in Alaska's environment and can support efforts by tribal organizations and researchers to address these challenges.
As we recognize Women's History Month in March, it's fitting to honor Abbie Joseph, an Athabaskan woman whose life in the Denali area exemplifies the enduring subsistence lifestyle. Her interviews from the 1980s provide insight into the traditional practices of Alaska Natives, showing the deep connection to the land that has persisted for generations.
The National Park Service acknowledges that Denali has been home to people for thousands of years, where Alaskan Natives have sustainably harvested resources. The stories of women like Abbie Joseph are vital to understanding this continuity of life.
Finally, you can also support initiatives that track environmental changes, combining traditional knowledge with formal scientific research. This collaboration could lead to new subsistence practices and more adaptable regulations.
I hope these suggestions help you preserve your way of life. Thank you for your thought-provoking question.
Karen Casanovas, PCC, CPCC, CLIPP is a health and wellness professional coach practicing in Anchorage. If you have questions write to her at info@karencasanovas.com.
