Tuttut tumai (Inupiaq) Caribou trails bedzeyh tene (Koyukon Athabaskan) tuntut tumait (Yup’ik) M Nedwick issue 10 Spring 2010 News from The Western Arctic Caribou Herd working group 2009-2010 Inside Working Group Current Caribou Count! Representatives: this Anchorage Issue Mike McCreary (nominee), Anchorage Page 4 401,000 Buckland, Deering & Selawik Ron Moto, Deering Western Arctic Herd Caribou Anaktuvuk & Nuiqsut vacant The Western Arctic Herd (WAH) is the largest caribou herd in Alaska and one of the largest Elim, Golovin & White Mountain in the world. A herd of caribou is defined by the repeated use of discrete calving grounds. Charles Saccheus, Elim 2 The WAH ranges over approximately 140,000 square miles (363,000 km ) of northwestern Fairbanks Hunters Larry Bartlett, Fairbanks Alaska. In spring, caribou travel north toward calving grounds and summer range, including Hunting Guides the Brooks Range and its northern foothills. During summer, movement is initially westward Phil Driver (V Chair), Anchorage toward the Lisburne Hills and then switches eastward through the Brooks Range. WAH caribou Kivalina & Noatak Mike Adams, Kivalina disperse during the fall as they move south and west toward wintering grounds. The WAH Kotzebue winters in the Nulato Hills as far south as the Unalakleet River drainage and on the eastern half Willie Goodwin, Kotzebue Koyukuk River of the Seward Peninsula. The WAH has been hunted for thousands of years and remains an Pollock Simon Sr, Allakaket important resource to the subsistence users of Northwest Alaska. Many factors could impact Lower Kobuk River Vern Cleveland Sr, Noorvik the range, population, and health of the herd, including alterations in climate, industrial Middle Yukon River developments, and changes in the number of people hunting caribou. For the continued Benedict Jones, Koyukuk prosperity of the WAH, a collaborative effort between concerned parties is essential in making Point Hope & Point Lay Ted Frankson, Point Hope important decisions regarding the success of the herd. Nome Roy Ashenfelter (Chair), Nome Working Together Conservationists John Schoen, Anchorage The Western Arctic Caribou Herd Working Group (WG) includes subsistence users, other Northern Seward Alaskan hunters, reindeer herders, hunting guides, transporters, conservationists, biologists, Peninsula Elmer Seetot Jr, Brevig Mission and natural resources managers. The group meets once or twice a year, with additional sub- Southern Seward Peninsula committee meetings throughout the year, as specific needs arise. During meetings, biologists Frank Kavairlook, Koyuk report on the current health and population status, range condition, and other biological factors Reindeer Herders Association affecting the herd. Invited specialists present information on topics that may impact the herd, Tom Gray, Nome such as climate, statewide transportation, and public land use planning. Elders address the Transporters vacant group, sharing knowledge passed down for generations. The group identifies concerns, requests Upper Kobuk River information, and advocates for actions that will conserve and benefit the herd, including habitat Sally Custer, Shungnak studies or protections from the impacts of development. The group provides public information Atqasuk, Barrow & Wainwright through this newsletter, Caribou Trails, and welcomes comments from the public. Enoch Oktollik, Wainwright The WG encourages you to involve yourself in issues surrounding the future of WAH caribou. It is important to be involved and have an active voice in how caribou are managed to ensure long term conservation of this precious resource. Contact your local representative to see how PAID ECRWSS Anchorage PRSRT-STD Printing, Inc. U.S. Postage you can voice your opinion, share your perspectives, or volunteer your time as a representative _________________ POSTAL CUSTOMER POSTAL or alternate to your region. The mission of the Working Group “To work together to ensure the long term conservation of the Western Arctic Caribou Herd and the ecosystem on which it depends, and to maintain traditional and other uses for the benefit of all people now and in the future.” postal patron postal Caribou Working Group Caribou Working P. O. Box 175 Nome, AK 99762 Caribou Trails Issue 10 Spring 2010 Abraham Anasogak Sr. A Koyuk elder shares experience, knowledge, and appreciation of reindeer and caribou Recalling the Past equipment were made from the skin, It was easy in the past to tell reindeer Abraham Anasogak Sr. remembers life bones, antlers, and hoofs. Antlers were and caribou apart. on the Northern Seward Peninsula and used to make spears, knife handles, ulu along the banks of the Koyuk River, handles, paddles, and fishing poles, spear “Reindeer have round hooves and caribou long before airplanes supplied villages. heads, and arrow heads. Bleached skins have long and slender hooves. Reindeer He recalls a time when basic necessities were used for parka trim, string, and have shorter legs and caribou have long were hard to come by and remembers to make designs with dark and white legs. Reindeer antlers are up and caribou caribou being scarce, and his family bleached skin together. In addition to antler are down.” Now according to traveling long and far to find them. clothing, reindeer and caribou provided Abraham, “reindeer are all mixed up with People relied on caribou for food and important food resources: panuktuk, caribou, and clothing, and when caribou were scarce, akutuq, and quaq just to name a few. it is not easy to people suffered. determine which “It was best to get caribou in the fall time, is which.” Receiving Reindeer they get fat before mating. It was also good Abraham is forever appreciative to get calves in the summer so the skin One Day to Sheldon Jackson and the great could be used for calf skin parkas.” at a Time contribution he made to the Inupiaq Today Abraham loves to talk about the people by introducing reindeer. He After the introduction of reindeer, the old days and time spent outside. He is recalls, Inupiaq people had a large reliable willing to share his stories with anyone source of food and clothing. Then the and doesn’t want his grandchildren “Inupiaq people were getting low on reindeer population began to decline, to forget what their people have caribou, low on food and things to eat but fortunately the caribou population experienced. He says he loves the so in 1892 Sheldon Jackson requested began to increase. outdoors but can’t see too well anymore. reindeer be brought to Alaska. This helped He was excited because one Saturday last the Inupiaq way of life by providing a “In 1942 there were no more reindeer January, his wife brought fresh caribou necessary source of food. The whalers here, because of wolves and caribou. They meat home. She said, “look over there, brought seven whale boats from Siberia, (reindeer) all went with the caribou, the there are caribou.” He couldn’t see them and unloaded the reindeer in Teller. They wolves, the foxes, crows, and people. Too so she went after them and got one. brought 1,200 reindeers to Alaska and so many predators here in Alaska, everyone many reindeer went to each village. The wants the caribou and reindeer.” “Ha Ha, that was great” said Abraham, Laplanders came and showed the Inupiaq “we had fresh meat and that was so good.” how to take care of the herd. They got many more reindeer and then there were companies for the herds.” Traditionally, caribou and eventually reindeer, were used for winter clothing. The women sewed leggings and boots, made mattresses, and parkas. They even used caribou and reindeer sinew to sew the skins together. Basic household items were also crafted from the caribou and reindeer; toys, tools, clothing, and 2 Caribou Trails Issue 10 Spring 2010 Beulah Ballot A Buckland elder speaks about traditional use of caribou and edible meat Entertaining the Working Group taught how to butcher, they had to be careful when removing In light of recent debates over the definition of edible meat, difficult parts such as the neck and tail bone. Damaged bones an interesting perspective was offered by Beulah Ballot, a could not be used to make necessary tools and household highly respected elder from Buckland. items. Young boys and girls were taught how to butcher, and often all the bones were kept in place so the kids could Beulah captured the audience at the WG meeting this past learn the names of caribou body parts, a traditional lesson in December. Beulah will turn ninety this April and has seen caribou anatomy. Beulah stated, many changes in her life. Speaking in her native tongue, Beulah talked about how caribou were traditionally handled “Nothing was wasted from the caribou; antler, hide, and head all in her native villages of Selawik and Buckland. She spoke to had their uses; food, clothing, tools, everything.” the working group about how caribou were traditionally used and the changes she has seen in caribou health. She described Noticing Change in Caribou an elder’s view point on use and edibility of caribou. Beulah sees changes in caribou health that traditionally have not been as prevalent. In the past, the only signs of poor Traditional Use of Caribou health had to do with bone marrow, Traditionally all the parts of the caribou were used, and meat was not wasted. The hunters had to travel great distances to “There are three types of bone marrow… good, not so good, and harvest caribou and would be gone for extended periods of the kind with blood in it.” Beulah stated. time. Because caribou and other goods were scarce, all parts of the caribou were used and very little was wasted. Now Beulah sees different types of parasites in caribou that she doesn’t traditionally remember seeing including white After skinning the caribou and butchering it, nothing was wasted spots on the meat and liver. not even the hide.