The International Arctic Research Center and the College of Rural and Community Development co-host a virtual seminar series called A Place for Knowledge Exchange. April’s conversation is with Rachel Donkersloot, Harmony Jade Wayner and Freddie Christiansen on the intersection of well-being and fisheries. 

Register here!

Speaker bios:

Dr. Rachel Donkersloot is a social scientist based in Aniak, Alaska. For the past seven years she has managed a research and consulting firm committed to advancing equity and well-being considerations in fishery science, management, and governance. Rachel’s policy and research expertise on issues impacting rural and Indigenous communities across the globe is bolstered by long-term partnerships with Tribes and other Alaska Native entities, fishing communities and local governments, university faculty and students, and non-profit organizations. She serves on a number of scientific panels and has been invited to present her research to national and international decision-making bodies. 

Rachel strives to center reciprocity and other Indigenous values in her research and improve fishery management and decision-making through systematic inclusion of diverse values, data, and knowledge systems. One of her goals as a social scientist is to reach broad audiences by communicating complex and overlooked issues creatively and in plain speech. She was raised in Naknek.  

Harmony Jade Sugaq Wayner is a tribal member of Naknek Native Village, a commercial fisher in the Bristol Bay salmon fleet, and a marine scientist with a focus on social-ecological systems to promote Indigenous values and well-being in fisheries. Harmony holds a Master of Resource Management from the University Centre of the Westfjords in Iceland and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Alaska Southeast.

In her current professional role, Harmony serves as the Indigenous Liaison for the Research Networking Activities for Sustained Coordinated Observations of Arctic Change Project (RNA CoObs) at the International Arctic Research Center. Under that role, she is assembling an expert panel to address issues related to salmon in her home region of Bristol Bay. Harmony is committed to integrating Western and Indigenous knowledge within resource management for sustainable and equitable futures while amplifying the voices of Indigenous communities.

Having served on the board of directors for the Arctic Youth Network from 2021 to 2023, Harmony has contributed to high-profile dialogues on climate and nature, including the World Economic Forum, Arctic Circle Assembly, Arctic Encounter, and the Polar Symposium of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. She has also been a youth ambassador for Arctic Base Camp, an Arctic Frontiers Emerging Leader, and an Alaska Sea Grant Fellow.

Currently residing in Anchorage, Alaska, Harmony returns to Naknek during the summer months to engage in the traditional activities of fishing and berry gathering with her family.

Freddie Christiansen has commercial fished all of his life – starting at age six and earning a paycheck by age nine. He grew up living a subsistence way of life in the Alutiiq village of Old Harbor. He also ran a sportfishing lodge out of his home village for 15 years. He currently fishes out of the Old Harbor and Chignik areas.  

Freddie has served as a board member for the Old Harbor Native Corporation, Gulf of Alaska Coalition (G0AC3), Kodiak Area Native Association, Alaska Federation of Natives, Kodiak Island Housing Authority, and the Koniag Board of Directors.

Freddie also runs his own business, a development consulting company called Nuniuq Consulting. He works to promote Alaska Natives in his community and throughout Alaska. He lives in Anchorage with his wife Glenna and they have two daughters Tarrissa (Chris) and Billie (Ty) and a son Ron (Deidra). During his leisure time he enjoys sport fishing, outdoor recreational activities and spending time with family and friends, especially his grandchildren Katie, Payton, Kamryn, Kendall and Chase.

About A Place for Knowledge Exchange

The A Place for Knowledge Exchange seminar series provides monthly conversations about collaborative approaches to research, education and real-life community-based practices in rural Alaska. As part of the series, CRCD and IARC hold quarterly collaboration brunches for faculty interested in building stronger ties between the two organizations.

The seminar and brunches are being facilitated by:

• Josie Sam, Assistant Professor, Department of Alaska Native Studies and Rural Development and International Arctic Research Center
• Jessica Black, Associate Vice Chancellor for Rural, Community and Native Education
• Sonta Roach, Assistant Professor, Department of Alaska Native Studies and Rural Development
• Margaret Rudolf, Postdoctoral Fellow, International Arctic Research Center