Summary
Allakaket Village, situated along the Koyukuk River, faces urgent climate impacts including erosion, permafrost thaw, and flooding. These threaten our homes, sacred sites, and traditional way of life. Our community’s resilience is rooted in our deep connection to the land, water, and wildlife, guiding us to seek culturally grounded, sustainable solutions that honor our ancestors and future generations.
Key Challenges
Climate
Rising temperatures causing permafrost degradation, increased flooding during spring melt, and riverbank erosion threatening homes and burial sites.
Social
Displacement concerns, loss of traditional knowledge sites, and limited access to resources for adaptation.
Environmental
Loss of fish habitats, changes in wildlife migration patterns, and declining berry and plant resources.
Tailored Solutions
Infrastructure
- Construct culturally respectful flood barriers using natural materials and traditional engineering principles.
- Elevate and reinforce critical infrastructure, including homes and community buildings, respecting sacred sites.
Relocation
- Identify and prepare a culturally appropriate relocation site that maintains access to traditional hunting and fishing areas.
- Develop community-led planning incorporating elders' guidance and traditional land use knowledge.
Ecosystem-Based Strategies
- Restore and protect riparian zones to stabilize riverbanks and support fish and wildlife habitats.
- Implement traditional burning and land management practices to maintain healthy ecosystems.
Community Engagement
- Hold intergenerational storytelling and planning sessions to document traditional knowledge and adaptative strategies.
- Train community members in climate resilience and sustainable land management.
Cultural Continuity Prompts
Preservation Goals
- Safeguard sacred sites, burial grounds, and traditional gathering places from erosion and flooding.
- Maintain cultural practices linked to the land, water, and wildlife, ensuring community-led decision-making.
Values
- Respect for elders and ancestors' guidance in planning and action.
- Holistic stewardship of land, water, and animals as central to our identity and well-being.
Recommended Partners
- Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC)
Provides health and environmental planning support rooted in Indigenous values.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Supports ecosystem restoration and protection aligned with traditional practices.
- Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP)
Builds local capacity for climate resilience and traditional knowledge integration.
- Kawerak, Inc. (Bering Strait Region)
Supports community-led climate adaptation and cultural preservation projects.
- The Nature Conservancy - Alaska Program
Provides funding and expertise for ecosystem-based adaptation strategies.
https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/alaska/
- National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)
Offers grants for habitat restoration and climate resilience projects.
Funding Sources
- Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) - Tribal Climate Resilience Program
Supports tribal-led climate adaptation planning and infrastructure projects.
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Climate Adaptation Grants
Funds community-based projects that incorporate traditional knowledge.
https://www.epa.gov/environmental-finance/epa-climate-adaptation-grants
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - Climate Program Office
Supports climate monitoring and community resilience initiatives.
- Denali Commission
Provides funding for infrastructure and energy projects supporting remote communities.
- Rasmuson Foundation
Offers grants for community resilience and cultural preservation.
- The Kresge Foundation
Supports innovative, community-led climate solutions.
Legal Avenues
- Tribal sovereignty and land claim protections to safeguard traditional lands.
- Engagement with the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) to secure land rights for relocation or preservation.
Implementation Roadmap
Short Term
- Conduct community-led climate vulnerability assessments with elders and youth.
- Secure initial funding and establish partnerships for immediate infrastructure reinforcement.
Mid Term
- Identify and prepare a culturally appropriate relocation site, incorporating traditional land use planning.
- Implement ecosystem restoration projects along riverbanks and wetlands.
Long Term
- Establish a community-led climate resilience governance body.
- Monitor climate impacts and adapt strategies with continuous traditional knowledge input.
Education Strategy
Goals
- Revitalize and transmit traditional ecological knowledge related to climate resilience.
- Build capacity among youth and elders for adaptive land management.
Tools
- Cultural storytelling and land-based education programs.
- Workshops integrating traditional practices with modern climate science.
Food Security Strategy
Goals
- Maintain access to traditional hunting, fishing, and gathering areas.
- Enhance local food sovereignty through community gardens and preservation of wild resources.
Partners
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Supports sustainable management of fish and wildlife resources.
Legal Strategy
Actions
- Advocate for legal protections of sacred sites and burial grounds threatened by erosion.
- Work with tribal and state authorities to formalize land use and relocation agreements.
Precedents
- Successful tribal land claims and protected areas established through Alaska Native claims processes.
- Legal cases defending sacred sites from development and environmental threats.
Preliminary Relocation Context
- Nikolai Village Site
Advantages: Proximity to traditional hunting and fishing grounds. Stable permafrost and less flood risk.
Challenges: Limited existing infrastructure. Need for community development and cultural integration.
- Kaltag Riverbank Area
Advantages: Accessible via existing transportation routes. Lower erosion risk compared to current site.
Challenges: Flooding during spring melt. Need for land stabilization measures.
- Selawik River Delta
Advantages: Rich in traditional resources and cultural sites. Potential for ecosystem-based resilience.
Challenges: Environmental sensitivity and habitat protection needs. Remote access and infrastructure development requirements.