Postmark: Dec 07,95 1:36 PM Delivered: Dec 07,95 1:36 PM
Subject: Subsistence News-12/8/95
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Message:
*The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) authorizes the use of “traditional knowledge” in the making of decisions by the Federal Subsistence Board (FSB).
*The Alaskan general public does not clearly understand that the loss of state fish and game management authority in 1990 was not total, but limited to only federal public lands. The State of Alaska retains authority to manage fish and game on state and private lands. Under the “Katie John” decision the area under federal control has been expanded to include certain navigable waters previously under state jurisdiction.
*Under Section 6(f) of the Federal Subsistence regulations…”a qualified subsistence user may designate another qualified subsistence user to take fish and wildlife on his or her behalf….” The FSB specifically authorized this type of federal permit harvest in southeast Alaska’s Tongass NF for the taking of Sitka black-tailed deer. As of December 1st, a total of 120 designated hunter permits have been issued. This total is 5% of the annual average number of subsistence hunters for the region–2,649.
*”Who uses the most fish and game in Alaska?”…Subsistence, 4%; Sport, 1%; and Commercial, 95%.
Postmark: Dec 01,95 8:15 AM Delivered: Dec 01,95 8:15 AM
Subject: Subsistence News-12/1/95
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Message:
*Fred Clark, Southeast Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Council Coordinator, reports that the 1996-97 subsistence proposal booklets have been delayed. The public review period for the booklets has now been extended from December 8-January 26.
*Under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), only residents of rural communities qualify for subsistence. On the Kenai Peninsula, this means the communities of Hope, Whittier, Coopers Landing, Ninilchik, Seldovia, Nanwalek, and Port Graham. This also means that about 1,400 people are rural, and 42,000 are non-rural.
*In June the Federal Subsistence Board (FSB) held a series of public meetings concerning a proposed subsistence moose hunt on the Kenai. On July 13th the FSB noted the strong opposition to the hunt, and granted only the following communities the opportunity hunt: Ninichik, Seldovia, Nanwalek, and Port Graham.
*Though rural and non-rural hunters were able to hunt this year for moose on the Kenai Peninsula, neither rural or non-rural hunters were satisfied.
*Round Island, within Bristol Bay, was opened this year to limited subsistence walrus hunting. Natives report it’s the first time in 30yr.
Postmark: Nov 22,95 8:10 AM Delivered: Nov 22,95 8:10 AM
Subject: Subsistence News-11/24/95
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Message:
*The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council sponsored a Community Conference on Subsistence and the Oil Spill in Anchorage, Sept.22-23. It was designed to improve communications between researchers and communities, and among the communities in the spill region.
*Conference participants developed ideas for using local knowledge to help resources recover and for “reinvigorating subsistence.” Ideas included arranging for Native elders to educate scientists about local resources, development of internship programs to train locals in western research methods, and the maintenance of local journals of observations about the changing ecosystem.
*Another major theme of the conference was the importance of self reliance and the need to pursue other aspects of subsistence restoration independent of the Trustee Council. Spiritual healing was mentioned as one aspect.
*Fran Ulmer, Alaska’s Lt. Governor, responded to a question, “Is the rural preference [for subsistence] a Native preference?” The subsistence law at the State and Federal level is not racially based. A majority of the state’s rural residents are non-Native (55%). With the exception of some harvesting of marine mammals and migratory birds,little or no racial distinction is made in state or federal law.
