Summary
Emmonak Village, located along the Yukon River in Alaska, faces urgent climate challenges including erosion, permafrost thaw, and flooding that threaten our homes, subsistence lifestyle, and cultural heritage. Our community's deep connection to the land, water, and traditional practices guides our resilience and adaptation efforts. This plan emphasizes Indigenous values, traditional knowledge, and collaborative action to secure our future while honoring our heritage.
Key Challenges
Climate
Rapid erosion along riverbanks, permafrost degradation, increased flooding, and unpredictable weather patterns threaten our infrastructure and subsistence activities.
Social
Displacement concerns, loss of cultural sites, and the need for community-led adaptation strategies pose social and emotional challenges.
Tailored Solutions
Infrastructure
- Construct culturally respectful flood barriers using traditional design principles combined with modern engineering to protect homes and communal spaces.
- Implement permafrost stabilization techniques that incorporate traditional knowledge of land and water interactions.
Community Engagement
- Establish local monitoring teams trained in traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and scientific methods to track environmental changes.
- Develop community-led planning processes that prioritize our cultural sites and subsistence areas.
Relocation Planning
- Identify and evaluate culturally appropriate relocation sites with community input, emphasizing safety and cultural continuity.
Cultural Continuity Prompts
Preservation Goals
- Safeguard sacred sites, burial grounds, and traditional gathering places from erosion and flooding.
- Ensure relocation and adaptation efforts incorporate our language, stories, and cultural practices to maintain our identity.
Traditional Knowledge
Utilize elders' wisdom on land management, water flow, and seasonal patterns to inform adaptation strategies, ensuring actions align with our values of respect and harmony with nature.
Recommended Partners
- Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
Supports health and environmental resilience with a focus on Indigenous-led solutions.
- Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council
Provides expertise in watershed management rooted in Indigenous knowledge.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Alaska Region
Offers technical support for habitat preservation and cultural site protection.
- Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
Funds and supports climate adaptation projects aligned with tribal priorities.
- The Nature Conservancy - Alaska
Partners in integrating ecological restoration with cultural values.
https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/alaska/
- Native American Fish and Wildlife Society
Supports subsistence and habitat conservation through Indigenous-led initiatives.
Funding Sources
- Bureau of Indian Affairs - Tribal Climate Resilience Program
Provides grants specifically for Indigenous-led climate resilience projects.
- Environmental Protection Agency - Environmental Justice Small Grants
Supports community-driven environmental projects that address climate impacts.
- National Fish and Wildlife Foundation - Tribal Wildlife Grants
Funds projects that integrate ecological and cultural conservation.
- Alaska State Legislature - Climate Change Initiative
State funding for climate adaptation and infrastructure projects.
- Rasmuson Foundation
Supports community resilience and infrastructure improvements.
- Private Foundations (e.g., Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation)
Supports innovative approaches integrating science and traditional knowledge.
Legal Avenues
- Secure Tribal Land Use and Preservation Agreements to protect cultural sites.
- Leverage federal and state climate adaptation policies to advocate for tribal priorities.
- Engage in legal processes to formalize relocation plans respecting tribal sovereignty.
Implementation Roadmap
Short Term
- Conduct community workshops to gather traditional knowledge and identify priority sites.
- Secure initial funding and partner commitments for immediate protective measures.
Mid Term
- Design and construct culturally appropriate flood barriers and stabilization projects.
- Develop detailed relocation plans with community input and environmental assessments.
Long Term
- Implement relocation if necessary, ensuring cultural continuity and community well-being.
- Establish ongoing monitoring and adaptive management integrating TEK and scientific data.
Education Strategy
Goals
- Increase awareness of climate impacts and traditional adaptation methods among youth and elders.
- Document and transmit cultural knowledge related to land, water, and environmental stewardship.
Tools
- Community storytelling sessions and oral histories.
- Interactive workshops combining traditional practices with modern science.
Food Security Strategy
Goals
- Maintain and enhance subsistence activities such as fishing, hunting, and gathering.
- Develop emergency food supplies and storage solutions.
Partners
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Supports subsistence management and fish habitat conservation.
Legal Strategy
Actions
- Advocate for legal protections of traditional lands and cultural sites.
- Work with tribal legal counsel to establish land rights and sovereignty in adaptation planning.
Precedents
- Successful tribal land protection agreements in other Alaska communities.
- Legal cases affirming Indigenous rights in climate adaptation contexts.
Preliminary Relocation Context
- Old Minto Site
Advantages: Proximity to current community, reducing cultural disruption. Existing infrastructure and access to subsistence areas.
Challenges: Potential flood risk and erosion still present. Limited space for expansion.
- Koyukuk River Elevated Site
Advantages: Higher ground reduces flood risk. Potential for sustainable subsistence activities.
Challenges: Distance from current cultural sites. Need for infrastructure development.
- Selawik Lake Area
Advantages: Stable permafrost and low erosion risk. Rich in subsistence resources.
Challenges: Environmental impact assessments needed. Potential displacement of existing wildlife habitats.