Traditional Knowledge and Norton Sound/Bering Strait Salmon Populations
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“Always taught not to waste”: Traditional Knowledge and Norton Sound/Bering Strait Salmon Populations 2015 Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim Sustainable Salmon Initiative Project 1333 Final Product by: Kawerak, Inc. Brenden Raymond-Yakoubian and Julie Raymond-Yakoubian 2015 2015 Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim Sustainable Salmon Initiative Project 1333 Final Product¹ “Always taught not to waste”: Traditional Knowledge and Norton Sound/Bering Strait Salmon Populations by: Kawerak, Inc. Brenden Raymond-Yakoubian² and Julie Raymond-Yakoubian³ ² Brenden Raymond-Yakoubian PO Box 1628 Nome, AK 99762 (907) 434-1413 [email protected] ³ Julie Raymond-Yakoubian Social Science Program Kawerak, Inc. PO Box 948 Nome, AK 99762 (907) 443-5231 [email protected] July 2015 ¹ Final products of AYK Sustainable Salmon Initiative-sponsored research are made available to the Initiatives Partners and the public in the interest of rapid dissemination of information that may be useful in salmon management, research, or administration. Sponsorship of the project by the AYK SSI does not necessarily imply that the findings or conclusions are endorsed by the AYK SSI. 2 ABSTRACT Norton Sound and Bering Strait region residents have long depended on the resources of the land and water to sustain their traditional subsistence lifestyle. Because of their long-term, multi-generational observations and understandings of the region, local residents are familiar with changes in salmon harvest opportunities, escapement, colonization, climate and environmental changes, and other related topics. The research for this project was based on a recognition that a rich understanding of the ecology of the region, with a particular focus on salmon, could be obtained by recording, analyzing and presenting this knowledge in context. This report summarizes and analyzes data from research which engaged region residents on these topics and included interviews and workshops conducted with expert Traditional Knowledge (TK) holders and leaders in the Bering Strait/Norton Sound region communities of Brevig Mission, Diomede, Golovin, Koyuk, St. Michael, Unalakleet, Wales, and White Mountain. This report completes work on Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim Sustainable Salmon Initiative (AYK SSI) Project # 1333, which was underpinned by work done for AYK SSI Project #601. These projects strove to gain a broad understanding of the ecology of the region and changes through time in it, specifically relating to salmon and the environment, that region residents have experienced and observed. The central question of the research can be stated as such: What is the current status and sociocultural significance of, the observed changes to, and the concerns about the salmon resources and environment in the Norton Sound/Bering Strait region as described by TK? The goals of the projects were to describe these changes to both salmon and the environment in a geographic context so that relevant information can be applied to aid in current fisheries challenges, including fisheries management and freshwater and marine ecosystem research, to augment ongoing and future biological research with social science as well as to contribute to social science research, and to increase the capacity of the local regional Native non-profit organization and local Tribes to become more meaningfully involved in both biological and social science research projects. This report summarizes and analyzes the data collected from the above efforts. In it, data are presented from the eight communities noted above on salmon (king [Chinook], pink [humpy/humpback], silver [coho], red [sockeye], and chum [dog]) biology, behavior, population, distribution, harvest, and use. Additionally, data gathered on the broader regional ecosystem and changes within it are described and linked up with the data on salmon. Also presented are data on sociocultural processes associated with the above salmon and ecosystem-related processes. Discussions on current fisheries challenges, management processes, fisheries and ecosystem science and knowledge systems, community-input- driven recommendations (e.g. to managers, policymakers, researchers, and local entities), and the contributions of the data to existing bodies of ecosystem, management, and social science literature are presented. Key Words: Alaska Native, Bering Strait, Environment, Norton Sound, Salmon, Traditional Knowledge Citation for this report: Raymond-Yakoubian, B. and J. Raymond-Yakoubian. 2015. “Always taught not to waste”: Traditional Knowledge and Norton Sound/Bering Strait Salmon Populations. 2015 Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim Sustainable Salmon Initiative Project 1333 Final Product. Prepared by Kawerak, Incorporated. Nome, Alaska. 3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We would like to especially acknowledge salmon experts Robert Rock, Sr. of Brevig Mission, Arthur Ahkinga, Patrick Omiak, Sr., and David Soolook of Diomede, Lily Mayland of Koyuk, Elias Akaran, Rosina Lockwood, and Christine Washington of St. Michael, David Katongan of Unalakleet, and Clyde Ongtowasruk, Sr. and Faye Ongtowasruk of Wales. These individuals participated in this project and sadly passed away before the project's completion. Much knowledge, experience and wisdom was lost with their passing. We thank them for the time they generously spent talking to project staff and for their willingness to share their knowledge with others interested in salmon and subsistence. This project would not have been possible without the support and participation of the local experts in each community. We thank each of the following individuals, who were interviewed as local experts for this project, and who generously contributed their knowledge, experience and time. In Brevig Mission: Rita Olanna, Robert Rock, Sr., Elmer Seetot, Jr., Helena Seetot, and Ronald Delbert Seetot. In Diomede: Arthur Ahkinga, Orville Ahkinga, Sr., Patrick Omiak, Sr., and David Soolook. In Golovin: Robert Amarok, Debbie and Toby Anungazuk, Jr., Irene Aukongak, Florence Doyle, Maggie Olson and Thomas Punguk. In Koyuk: Georgianne Anasogak, Esther Kimoktoak, Lily Mayland, Grace Morris, Nina Nanouk, Ramona Nassuk, and Ruby Nassuk. In St. Michael: Elias and Natalia Akaran, Irene Lockwood, Monica Oyoumick, Christine Washington, and Luci Washington. In Unalakleet: Benjamin and Leila Eakon, Jerry Ivanoff, Arthur Shane Johnson, David and Mildred Katongan, Mae and Oscar Koutchak, Theresa Nanouk, and Laura Paniptchuk. In Wales: Kelly Anungazuk, Clyde Ongtowasruk, Sr., Faye Ongtowasruk, and Lenora and Pete Sereadlook. In White Mountain: Karl Ashenfelter, Willa Ashenfelter, Rita Buck, Howard Lincoln, and Robert Lincoln. Many of the local experts noted above, as well as tribal council members and community members, attended data review workshops and we thank them for their participation and contributions to this project. Individuals who participated in the workshops are: Leonard Adams, Matilda Nayokpuk, Floyd Olanna, Michael Olanna, Rita Olanna, Steven Olanna, Elmer Seetot, Jr., Helena Seetot, Ronald Delbert Seetot, Walter Seetot, Gilbert Tocktoo, and Stewart Tocktoo (Brevig Mission); Dora Ahkinga and Orville Ahkinga, Sr. (Diomede); Debbie Anungazuk, Toby Anungazuk, Jr., Irene Aukongak, Florence Doyle, Jack Fagerstrom, Norma Lewis, Carol Oliver, and Thomas Punguk (Golovin); David Anasogak, Georgianne Anasogak, Johnny Anasogak, Randall Dewey, Malcolm Henry, Merlin Henry, Dean Kimoktoak, Esther Kimoktoak, Laverne Kimoktoak, Beverly Leonard-Taxac, Grace Morris, Morris Nassuk, and Reginald Okitkon (Koyuk); Charlie Fitka, Jr., John Lockwood, James Niksik, Sr., Vera Niksik, and Molly Tom (St. Michael); Reneé Cooper, Frances Degnan, Jerry Ivanoff, Merlin Johnson Sr., Doug Katchatag, Waylon Koutchak, Reuben Moses Mixsooke, Jolene Nanouk, Theresa Nanouk, Henry Oyoumick, and Clarence Towarak (Unalakleet); Gene Angnaboogok, Kelly Anungazuk, Ralph Anungazuk, Joanne Keyes, Tony Keyes, Jr., Daniel Omedelena, Michele Ongtowasruk, Gilbert Oxereok, Larry Sereadlook, Lenora Sereadlook, and Pete Sereadlook (Wales); and Karl Ashenfelter, Willa Ashenfelter, Dorothy Barr, Carl Brown, Phillip Brown, Peter Buck, Rita Buck, Mary Darlene Charles, Yvonne Gregg, Colin Lincoln, Enid Lincoln, and June Lincoln (White Mountain). Thank you to the following Kawerak staff for their assistance: Rose Fosdick, Kawerak Natural Resources Division Vice President provided administrative and other support for this project; Kimberly Carter (former Reindeer Herders Association Administrative Assistant), Lena Danner (Reindeer Herders Association Administrative Assistant), Clarissa Eide (Natural Resources Administrative Assistant), and Pauline Noyakuk (former Natural Resources Administrative Assistant) all provided administrative support for this project; Arlo Hannigan, Eva Menadelook, Blair Okpealuk, Erika (Eaton) 4 Rhodes, Anahma (Saito) Shannon, and Meghan Topkok were Social Science Program interns and transcribers, and transcribed the majority of the interviews; and Katya Wassillie, Eskimo Walrus Commission Specialist, who assisted with the data review workshop in Wales. All photographs in this report are by the second author (Julie Raymond-Yakoubian) unless otherwise noted. Thank you also to the local assistants in each community. The local assistants assisted the principal investigator with interviews, facilitated communications with tribal councils and local experts, acted as local guides, helped conduct workshops, and provided other valuable assistance. In Brevig Mission, Matilda Nayokpuk was the local assistant. The Brevig Mission Traditional Council