2014 (Representative year)
Title: Harvests and uses of wild resources in 4 Interior Alaska communities and 3 Arctic Alaska communities, 2014
Authors: Brown, C.L., N.M. Braem, M.L. Kostick, A. Trainor, L.J. Slayton, D.M. Runfola, E.H. Mikow, H. Ikuta, C.R. McDevitt, J. Park, and J.J. Simon
Summary: This report summarizes the results of research conducted on the 2014 harvests and uses of wild food by 7 communities in Alaska’s Interior and North Slope regions. Between December 2014 and April 2015, eligible households in Tanana, Rampart, Stevens Village, Healy and nearby census designated places, Utqiagvik, Nuiqsut, and Anaktuvuk Pass answered questions about their harvest and use of fish, wildlife, and wild plants in 2014. Using a combination of ethnographic key respondent interviews and household surveys, researchers 1) estimated annual harvests and uses of wild fish, wildlife, and plant resources in a 12-month study period by residents of study communities; 2) mapped areas used for hunting, fishing, and gathering; 3) collected demographic and income information; 4) evaluated trends in wild resource harvests; and 5) documented traditional knowledge observations regarding wild resources. This project was conducted cooperatively by Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Subsistence, City of Utqiagvik, Native Village of Utqiagvik, Native Village of Nuiqsut, Village of Anaktuvuk Pass, Native Village of Tanana, Rampart Traditional Council, and the Stevens Village IRA Council. It was funded through a reimbursable services agreement with State Pipeline Coordinator’s Section (SPCS) and the Alaska LNG partners. The results of the project may be used as part of the National Environmental Policy Act review of the proposed Alaska Liquid Natural Gas Project (LNG) alternatives. Total estimated harvests of wild foods for the seven study areas were 197,715 edible pounds (969 lb per capita) in Tanana, 14,754 edible pounds (378 lb per capita) at Rampart, 3,748 edible pounds (375 lb per capita) at Stevens Village, 51,996 edible pounds (52 lb per capita) at Healy,1,923,351 edible pounds (362 lb per capita) in Utqiagvik, 371,992 edible pounds (896 lb per capita) in Nuiqsut, and 124,269 edible pounds (391 lb per capita) in Anaktuvuk Pass. Results indicate that high levels of subsistence harvest and use of wild foods remain a hallmark of Interior and Arctic communities despite very different subsistence bases. Total subsistence harvests appear to have declined for the study communities in Interior Alaska. In the 3 communities for which earlier comprehensive data exist, 2014 harvest levels were all 45% or less of mid-1980s levels. Harvest levels for the participating Arctic communities appear to have remained stable or increased.