Summary
Chuloonawick Native Village is a Yup'ik community in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta facing the compounding risks of riverbank erosion, flooding, permafrost thaw, changing ice conditions, and food insecurity. From a tribal perspective, the priority is not just protecting buildings, but protecting our people, our language, our burial grounds, our subsistence access, and our right to remain a village on our own terms. The most realistic path is a phased adaptation plan that combines near-term protection, cultural continuity planning, and a community-led relocation readiness process with strong state, federal, and philanthropic support. Uncertainty note: site-specific engineering, geotechnical, and hydrologic studies are still needed before any final relocation decision.
Key Challenges
Climate
- Riverbank erosion and seasonal flooding threaten homes, roads, and community facilities.
- Permafrost thaw can destabilize foundations, water/sewer systems, and fuel storage.
- Changing freeze-up and break-up conditions make travel and hunting less predictable and more dangerous.
- Shifts in fish, moose, berries, and marine/river access affect food security and cultural practices.
- Storm intensity and unusual weather patterns increase emergency response needs.
Social
- Housing crowding and aging infrastructure make displacement more harmful.
- Relocation pressure can create stress, grief, and conflict if the process is not community-led.
- Loss of access to subsistence areas can weaken language transmission and intergenerational teaching.
- Limited local staffing and funding capacity can slow planning and grant compliance.
Tailored Solutions
Infrastructure
- Stabilize the most critical facilities first: clinic, school, fuel storage, water/sewer, and emergency shelter.
- Use erosion monitoring, geotextile protection, and targeted bank stabilization only where it buys meaningful time and does not damage downstream areas.
- Elevate or retrofit buildings where feasible to account for thaw and flood risk.
- Develop backup power, communications, and fuel resilience for extended storm events.
- Create a phased asset inventory so the village knows what can be protected, moved, or retired.
Community Planning
- Hold village-led planning circles with elders, youth, hunters, and families to define what must be protected and what can move.
- Map sacred sites, burial areas, trails, fish camps, berry grounds, and winter travel routes before any relocation decision.
- Create a relocation readiness plan that preserves governance, kinship networks, and cultural continuity.
- Build a community emergency operations plan that includes evacuation, sheltering, and medevac coordination.
Land And Water
- Conduct a hydrology and geomorphology study to identify safer ground and future flood behavior.
- Protect nearby subsistence access routes and seasonal use areas as part of adaptation, not as an afterthought.
- Use traditional ecological knowledge alongside technical studies to identify stable soils, drainage, and wildlife patterns.
Cultural Continuity Prompts
Preservation Goals
- Keep the village together as a living community, not as scattered households.
- Protect burial grounds, ceremonial places, and family gathering spaces.
- Maintain access to hunting, fishing, berry picking, and teaching places.
- Center Yup'ik language, elder knowledge, and seasonal round practices in all planning.
- Ensure children and youth remain connected to land-based learning during any transition.
Traditional Knowledge
- Elders should guide site selection, seasonal timing, and the meaning of safe land.
- Local observations of ice, wind, water, animal movement, and plant health must be treated as essential data.
- Planning should follow community consensus and respect kinship responsibilities.
Recommended Partners
- Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC)
Strong fit for environmental health, community resilience, water/sewer, and climate adaptation support in Alaska Native villages.
- Denali Commission
Useful for rural infrastructure, power, water, sanitation, and community facility support tied to relocation and resilience.
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Alaska District
Can provide technical assistance for erosion, flood risk, and feasibility studies, especially for protection and relocation planning.
- Alaska Institute for Justice / Alaska Native Justice Center
Helpful for rights-based advocacy, community capacity building, and navigating state/federal systems.
- University of Alaska Fairbanks - Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy
Good partner for climate data, mapping, and locally grounded research support.
- First Alaskans Institute
Supports Indigenous-led policy, leadership, and community resilience work across Alaska Native communities.
Funding Sources
- FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC)
Potential source for hazard mitigation, elevation, flood protection, and planning activities.
https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/building-resilient-infrastructure-communities
- FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)
Can support post-disaster mitigation, buyouts, relocation-related planning, and protective measures.
- HUD Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG)
Useful for housing, community facilities, and infrastructure that supports relocation or adaptation.
https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/public_indian_housing/ih/grants/icdbg
- Bureau of Indian Affairs - Tribal Climate Resilience Program
Directly aligned with tribal climate adaptation, planning, and relocation readiness.
https://www.bia.gov/service/tribal-climate-resilience-program
- EPA Indian Environmental General Assistance Program (GAP)
Can strengthen tribal environmental program capacity, monitoring, and planning.
https://www.epa.gov/tribal/indian-environmental-general-assistance-program-gap
- National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
May support habitat, resilience, and community-based conservation projects that protect subsistence resources.
Legal Avenues
- Use tribal resolutions to formally direct adaptation, protection, and relocation planning under tribal authority.
- Pursue intergovernmental agreements with state and federal agencies for technical assistance and funding coordination.
- Document impacts to support disaster declarations, mitigation eligibility, and future claims for assistance.
- Seek environmental review and consultation on any project affecting village lands, access routes, or cultural sites.
- Explore land acquisition, trust land, or land exchange options if relocation becomes necessary.
Implementation Roadmap
Short Term
- Create a village climate task force led by tribal council, elders, youth, and technical advisors.
- Map critical assets, hazards, cultural sites, and evacuation routes.
- Start emergency preparedness updates and supply staging.
- Apply for planning and assessment grants.
- Begin community listening sessions to define relocation principles and non-negotiables.
Mid Term
- Complete engineering, geotechnical, and hydrologic studies for protection and relocation options.
- Develop a phased capital plan for infrastructure protection or move-out.
- Secure land tenure or site control for preferred relocation areas.
- Design housing and community facilities for the next site with cultural layout in mind.
- Train local residents in monitoring, maintenance, and emergency response.
Long Term
- Construct or transition to a safer site only after community approval and adequate infrastructure readiness.
- Move essential services in phases to minimize disruption.
- Restore or memorialize the original village site according to community wishes.
- Maintain language, subsistence, and ceremonial continuity through the transition.
- Establish long-term operations and maintenance funding for the new or protected site.
Education Strategy
Goals
- Teach youth the climate history of the village and the meaning of stewardship.
- Build practical skills in mapping, monitoring, emergency response, and grant writing.
- Support Yup'ik language use in planning, signage, and land-based learning.
- Prepare families for evacuation, relocation, and adaptation decisions without losing identity.
Tools
- Elder-youth workshops on seasonal rounds, safe travel, and place names.
- School-based projects on erosion, river change, and climate observations.
- Community maps and story maps that combine technical data with oral history.
- Training for local climate monitors and emergency volunteers.
Food Security Strategy
Goals
- Protect and restore access to fish, waterfowl, moose, berries, and other subsistence foods.
- Reduce dependence on expensive store-bought food during disruptions.
- Keep harvesting knowledge alive across generations.
Partners
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Important for subsistence management, harvest information, and coordination on local resource changes.
- Alaska Sea Grant
Can support community-based food systems, fisheries resilience, and local research.
- Native Movement
Supports Indigenous food sovereignty, advocacy, and community-led resilience work.
Legal Strategy
Actions
- Document all erosion, flood, and thaw impacts with photos, maps, and elder testimony.
- Maintain a formal record of tribal decisions, resolutions, and consultation requests.
- Request government-to-government consultation early for any infrastructure or relocation project.
- Track eligibility for disaster, mitigation, housing, and infrastructure programs.
- Protect cultural sites through consultation, avoidance, and mitigation commitments.
Precedents
- Alaska village relocation efforts such as Newtok and other Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta communities show the importance of early planning, land control, and phased transition.
- Federal tribal consultation requirements and environmental review processes can be used to strengthen tribal voice in project decisions.
- Hazard mitigation and disaster recovery programs often require strong documentation and community planning to access funds.
Preliminary Relocation Context
- Preliminary Upland Site Near Existing Travel Corridors
Advantages: May allow the community to remain near current kinship networks and subsistence areas. Could reduce disruption to school, governance, and cultural continuity. May be easier to phase if some infrastructure can be reused or moved.
Challenges: Requires geotechnical testing for soil stability, drainage, and permafrost conditions. May still be vulnerable if too close to the same floodplain or erosion zone. Land ownership and access rights must be resolved.
- Safer Interior Bench Above Flood Influence
Advantages: Potentially better elevation and reduced flood exposure. May offer room for clustered housing, utilities, and emergency access. Could support a long-term village layout designed around cultural priorities.
Challenges: May be farther from some subsistence areas and travel routes. Needs road, water, sewer, and power feasibility analysis. May require land transfer or negotiated access.
- Community-Preferred Consolidation Area on Stable Ground
Advantages: Could be selected to keep families together and preserve village identity. May allow a culturally designed settlement pattern with shared gathering spaces. Can be planned around elder access, youth safety, and subsistence storage.
Challenges: Must be tested for long-term climate stability, drainage, and access. May need significant capital investment for utilities and housing. Requires careful consultation to avoid conflict over site choice.