Community Partnerships for Self-Reliance

Assessing moose harvest patterns to address hunter competition near Koyukuk. Moose are an important source of food for the community of Koyukuk. Led by Tessa Hasbrouck, this research explored the overlap temporally and spatially between local and non-local harvesters.

Climate impacts on berry abundance. Berries are an important cultural and nutritional food source in Interior Alaska. Lyndsey Parkinson’s research assess how local variation in forested areas may affect berry numbers.

Energy, wood harvest, subsistence and the biomass program in Tanana.
This research explored the relationships between wood collection activities, the biomass program, and subsistence activities in Tanana.

Interior Adaptation Workshop. In spring of 2018, CPS collaborators gathered at the International Arctic Research Center in Fairbanks, to share highlights from individual community research efforts and develop a holistic definition for traditional harvest practices that provided the framework for assessing both positive and negative changes to harvest practices.

Interior Alaska Health of Traditional Harvest Practices Survey Results. In March–June of 2017, 433 individuals from 33 communities from the Tanana Chiefs Conference region responded to this survey examining changes and impacts to traditional harvest practices.

Environmental impacts affecting travel and access in Interior Alaska. In 2016 and 2017, 26 observers from nine communities in Interior Alaska documented climate-related environmental conditions that were affecting their travel to areas used for hunting, fishing, trapping, and gathering. These conditions included ice, snow, erosion, sedimentation, water levels, vegetation composition, and weather. Visit website

Impacts of environmental conditions on moose harvest success in Nulato. The weather is changing and how these changes are influencing moose harvest success are important to hunters in Nulato. This research led by Tessa Hasbrouck examines the relative impact of temperature, water levels, and timing of leaf drop on moose harvest success based on Alaska Department of Fish & Game harvest data.

Ruby food security and sovereignty assessment. The Ruby Food Security and Sovereignty Assessment led by Krista Heeringa, Ed Sarten, and Brooke Woods examines aspects of Ruby’s food history starting in the late 1800’s. The assessment highlights current challenges such as the high cost of energy, restrictive regulations, and difficulty in accessing healthy commercial foods . It explores future strategies that can enhance local food security and sovereignty efforts for the present and future.

Traditional Deg Xinag place name mapping in Anvik. The Anvik Tribal Council led efforts to develop the Deg Xinag Place Name Atlas is an online mapping and media tool that combines maps, audio recordings, video, photos, and stories for current and future tribal members. The Community Coordinator was Nathan Elswick.

Up in Smoke: Exploring the relationship between subsistence harvest and fire. Wildland firefighting in Alaska is changing due to the impact of climate change on the boreal forest. Changes to the wildland firefighting regime could have a significant impact on food security if it affects the ability of certain community members to participate in fall hunting. Alyssa Shanks explores this question by looking at the relationship between climate change, firefighting, Type 2 fire crew dispatches, and hunting.