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Is Climate Change affecting our “Traditional Gathering Calendar?”

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The Organized Village of Kasaan

Natural Resources Department

Dennis Nickerson, Environmental Planner Machelle Edenshaw, Environmental Technician Carrie Sykes, TEK Researcher Frederick Olsen Jr, TEK Researcher

NPLCC Funding Opportunity

 In FY 2012, OVK applied & received funding from North Pacific Landscape Conservation Cooperative- supported by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

 Seven projects were selected; OVK was the only Tribe in Alaska to receive primary funding. CCTHITA- NLR also received funding to assist OVK and the POW Tribes.

 Our 10 month project will assist in determining if our “gathering calendar” has changed/altered over time.

What is NPLCC?

 North Pacific Landscape Conservation Cooperative is a shared management-science partnership between the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, states, and British Columbia, Canadian and federal resource management agencies, Tribes, Non-Government Organizations (NGO’s), universities and other entities within a geographic area.

 NPLCC’s geographic area ranges from northern California to south-central Alaska.

 Landscape Conservation Cooperatives (LCC’s) are divided all across the U.S.

NPLCC cont’d.

 NPLCC works to disseminate scientific conservation information to its partners and others in an effort to prepare for changes in climate.

 To further collaborate, NPLCC included Tribal representation on the executive leadership board from Alaska, Oregon, Washington, California, and B.C.

 Eric Morrison, Douglas Indian Association

Map of NPLCC Boundary

 Organized Village of Kasaan – Natural Resource Department

NPLCC Mission Statement

“The North Pacific Landscape Conservation Cooperative promotes development, coordination, and dissemination of science to inform landscape level conservation and sustainable resource management in the face of a changing climate and related stressors.”

This falls neatly within OVK’s Mission Statement and OVK’s IGAP Work Plan- protection and sustainability of natural resources.

Other projects funded within NPLCC

Organized Village of Kasaan 

Projects:

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Coastal Cultural Resources at Tolowa Dunes

State Park: “TEK” to Model the Effects of Climate

Change and Sea Level Rise on Coast Cultural Resources at Tolowa Dunes State Park

 Karuk Tribe: Preserving Tribal Self-Determination

and Knowledge Sovereignty While Expanding the Use of Tribal Knowledge and Management in Off Reservation Lands in the Face of Climate Change

More Projects

 Yurok Tribe: Utilizing Yurok “TEK” to Inform Climate Change

Priorities

 Tulalip Tribe: Tribal Recommendations on a Traditional

Knowledge Management Framework for the NPLCC

 Swinomish Tribe: Correlation and Climate Sensitivity of Human

Health and Environmental Indicators in the Salish Sea

 Heiltsuk Nation: Implement Ecosystem-based Management in

the Central Coast of B.C.- Heiltsuk Participation in the Strategic Landscape Reserve Design Process.

Determine of Climate Change is affecting our “Traditional Gathering Calendar”

“Organized Village of Kasaan is located in southern Southeast Alaska on Prince of Wales Island, within the Alexander Archipelago. This project aims to determine if Haida and Tlingit Tribe’s Traditional Gathering Calendar” has changed over time because of potential climate change impacts.

Partnerships

 Without partnerships, our island will fall behind.

 Prince of Wales Island is unique. We have the finest working relationship with: 1.

Other Federally Recognized Tribes 2.

Federal Agencies 3.

Local businesses 4.

Interested Residents

The Four Tribes

Our partnership is documented throughout this project: Craig Tribal Association Hydaburg Cooperative Association Klawock Cooperative Association, Tribe Organized Village of Kasaan

Project Goals

Assist in determining if Climate Change is affecting our “Traditional Gathering Calendar” by: Hosting & facilitating community meetings in Craig, Hydaburg, Kasaan & Klawock to introduce project to residents.

Conduct multi-generational interviews on traditional ecological knowledge (“TEK”). A total of 16 interviews will occur- 4 in each POW Tribal Community. Two elderly; and two middle aged.

Host & facilitate community meetings to inform residents of the findings of the project after research and transcriptions.

What is Climate Change?

 Definition: Climate change refers to any significant change in the measures of climate lasting for an extended period of time. In other words, climate change includes major changes in temperature, precipitation, or wind patterns, among other affects, that occur over several decades or longer.

 Source cited: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Climate Change Facts in Alaska

 Alaska’s average summer temperature increased 3.4 degrees Fahrenheit over the last 50 years. The rest of the U.S. was half that (1.7 degrees Fahrenheit).

 Permafrost is melting, releasing methane polluting twenty (20) times more than carbon dioxide.

 Sea level is rising.

 Spruce bark beetles thrive longer because of earlier snow melt, causing Sitka Spruce trees to die from the inside-out.

 Sea ice has decreased.

 Alpine ranges are moving higher into the mountains, causing shrubs to take over.

Climate Change in Alaska

Shishmaref coastline eroded 100-300 feet in past 30 years.

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Climate Change in Alaska

Reddish-brown needles indicate spruce beetle killed forest. SC Alaska 

Mean Annual Temperature for Alaska from 1949-2011

 Climate Change in Alaska

Sinkhole caused by thawing Permafrost

When permafrost melts, methane is released. Methane is 20 times more powerful than CO2 

Glacial Retreat in Alaska

The bottom photograph is the same location as above in 1909 (95 years).

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The Northwest Passage

 For centuries, the “Northwest Passage” was once an impenetrable passage that was blocked by sea ice.

 Over the last five years, it has now been open to summer maritime travel.

 The Northwest Passage links the Bering Sea (west of Alaska) to Hudson Bay (located in Canada).

What is “Traditional Gathering Calendar?”

Since time immemorial, we’ve “gathered” resources that follow the lunar cycle.

For instance, in Tlingit, the new moon in July is considered Tlingit “New Year”, all because this is when our salmon are at their peak. Salmon is the primary food source of Tlingit and Haida Culture.

Each lunar phase correlates with resource(s) or wildlife that can be hunted or gathered; wildlife activity; or weather that occurred in that lunar phase.

No permits had to be issued.

Haida Calendar with names and translation (September-December)

 September- K’íit’aas Kungáay- “Berry Basket Moon”  October- Kálk Kungáay- “Ice Moon”  November- Cha’áw Kungáay- “Hibernation Moon”  December- T’a’áaw Kungáay- “Snow Moon”

Calendar Name, Tlingit Name & Translation (first six months)

 July- Át Gadaaxeit Dísee, “When animals give birth”  August- Át Gata Dísee [and] Shaa xeeyi Dísee- “Month when everything fattens and Comes down from the mountain”  September- Dis Yadi, “Young (animals) moon”  October- Dis Tlein, “Big Moon”  November- Kaxahaa Dís, “Digging [snow] Moon”  December- Shaanax Dísee, “Valley Moon”

What is Traditional Ecological Knowledge?

 Traditional Ecological Knowledge, or “TEK” is a framework that describes indigenous people’s connection with the environment.

 It is a connection that links us to the land, air and sea.

 This knowledge is “handed down” from generation-to-generation.

 Our treasured Elderly have master degrees’ in “TEK”.

Project Summary

 Utilize Traditional Ecological Knowledge to establish traditional gathering practices.  Determine potential climate change impacts to natural resources and ecosystems.

 Conduct interviews with traditional gatherers’ over the last two (2) generations to get baseline data.

 Assure all Culturally Sensitive Information is not included.

Project Objective

 Assure interviews accurately document any changes in traditional gathering over time.

 Interview will also include if the amount of “gathered” natural resources have reduced over time.

 Project findings can provide change in regulations and protection of resources.

Project Methods

 Outreach & Education- community meetings; establish trust within Tribal communities. Effective consultation, collaboration, and communication.

 Historical research of POW Tlingit and Haida on traditional gathering.

 Conduct interviews, transcribe interviews, and enhance research developments on Tlingit and Haida.

 Provide transcriptions to interviewees to assure culturally sensitive information is not included.

We still need your help!

We are looking for the following:

 Photographs of gathering in your community- past and present. They can/will be used with this project.

These can show abundance of resources in the past; and the challenges we have today.

 Identify knowledgeable gatherers in your community Interviewees will be given honorarium and gifts for their valuable time & information. We want to assure that trust is the main element of this project.

Questions?

Gunalchéesh, Háw’aa, Thank You for your time.

Organized Village of Kasaan