Subsistence News-11/24/95

To   Subsistence 2

From:      Larry Roberts

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.