1. Alaska Tribal Consultation & Engagement: Subarea Committee Meeting
Sudie Hargis
Seventeenth District Tribal Liaison
U.S. Coast Guard

2. 20K oil spill on beach: “Inconvenience” vs. Life-Changing Event
6/23/2018
More Than Subsistence… It’s a Cultural Existence … And Sovereign Governments!
Lives connected to land and sea
Native place names relate to biology or geography (not historical or biographical – Smith Mtn)
Subsistence binds the culture
Challenges maintaining cultural identity
Fears:
Increased vessel activity = spills and incidents
Spills may lead to lost food resources
Gov’t response capabilities appear inadequate
Traditional knowledge impacts/issues
“Western World” cultural impacts
20K oil spill on beach: “Inconvenience” vs. Life-Changing Event
Subsistence represents the very essence of the Alaska Native culture. We hear the term “subsistence,” but it is actually a metaphor for so much more – it’s the very heartbeat of the Alaska Native culture, particularly in rural Alaska where Alaska Natives have a very high focus on subsistence resources.
Subsistence activities “bind” the culture and provide opportunities for elders to pass traditions to the next generation. Alaska Native communities fear that if they lose subsistence resources, people won’t have food to eat, and there will be major negative impacts to the culture.
Try to understand from a native perspective. Think about if you depended upon animals as for food, and watched more ships drive by, heard about drilling, and never saw response equipment in your community, and heard it was all “somewhere else.” Add watching events such as Deepwater Horizon. Fear of an event happening during spring or fall migration – whales, polar bears, walrus, and endangered birds are at significant risk from even one event.
We often watch events with detachment – there is a 20K spill “somewhere.” Consider if this were your front yard, leaching oil all over your neighborhood, and had spoiled all the food supplies.
Subsistence includes both the actual food source and hunting/gathering activities, efforts, and celebrations. It includes preparations, the hunt, celebrations, stories and dances, and is a full circle.

3. A Brief Alaska Perspective (How It’s “Different” Here)
6/23/2018
Relevant Alaska Historical Events:
1800’s: Treaties
1906: Native Allotment Act
1934: Indian Reorganization Act (IRA)
229 Tribes in Alaska/566 Tribes in U.S.
1935: Jurisdictional Act (Tlingit claim Southeast AK)
Supreme Court Upholds Tlingit Land Claim
1959: Statehood Land Selection (Inherent State/Tribe Resource Conflicts)
1969: Oil Discovery
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA – 1971)
44 Million Acres/$963 Million Settlement
13 Alaska Native Regional For-Profit Corporations
12 Non-Profit Corps, Approx 200 Village Corps
Very Unique Situation!

4. 6/23/2018
Native Governance & Consultation: Federal Tribal Consultation is a Mandate – Executive Order (2000)
Federal Recognition of Tribal Sovereignty & Govt-to-Govt Relationship
Mandated Consultation on Matters that may Impact Tribal Rights, Resources, or Interests
2003: ANCSA Corps included for consultation (controversial issue)
Alaska: Consultation is “Operational Imperative”
Potential Consequences (operational & political)
Emergency Operational Constraints

5. Complexity of Consultation & Engagement Example: Point Hope, Alaska
6/23/2018
Federally Recognized Tribes:
Native Village of Point Hope (IRA Tribe)
Governs; does not hold land
Inupiat Community of Arctic Slope (ICAS -- IRA Tribe)
Alaska Native Corporations (ANCSA):
Tikigaq Corporation (ANCSA Village Corp)
Holds surface land rights
Arctic Slope Reg. Corp. (ANCSA Regional Corp)
Holds subsurface land rights (gravel, oil, gold, coal)
Alaska Native Organizations:
Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission: (10 Villages)
Alaska Walrus Commission: (19 Villages: Nome)
Other ANOs (Ice Seal, Polar Bear, etc)
Other/Local Government:
North Slope Borough (State/Municipal: Barrow)
City of Point Hope (2nd class city/state chartered)
There can be as many as 8 or more separate entities represented in one village or area where we are operating. We need to consider, meet with, and consult and/or engage with all of these regarding our potential impacts on them.
Each Tribe has the right to request consultation (and federal agency has responsibility to offer it), which does not have to be done in combination with any other tribe or organization.
The Head of each federal agency holds the responsibility for consultation. Although tribes are understanding of the difficulty of this issue and are often willing to work with consultation and discussions with less senior officials (such as a District Commander), official consultation is at the agency head level. Each agency is also now mandated to report to Congress on consultation activities.
Consultation does not mean that the agency has to follow the Tribe’s desires, but the intent is to encourage a collaborative and respectful relationship, which includes agencies taking tribal interests and concerns into consideration in planning and conducting operations.

6. Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission Mtg
Consultation and Engagement With Alaska Native Tribes and Organizations
Formal Consultation Process & Tribal/ANO Engagement
Formal Consultation:
Only with Federally Recognized Tribes
Letter of Invitation to Consult (or respond to request)
Co-Establish Meeting Time/Location/Attendees
Share Agenda Items & Discussion/Decisions when Possible
Meaningful Input Opportunities
Follow-up & Documentation
Engagement with Tribal-Related Stakeholders:
Federally Recognized Tribes (Engagement vs. Consultation)
ANCSA Corporations
Alaska Native Organizations
Advocacy Groups
Alaska Native Villages (Local Village Governments)
Rear Admiral Ostebo
(CGD17 Commander) &
Vice Admiral Zukunft
(Pacific Area Commander)
Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission Mtg
Point Hope, Alaska

7. USCG Operations/Response: Before, During, & After – “WhenWe Engage”
6/23/2018
CG Operations Planning & Preparedness “BEFORE”
CG Field Operations: CG Vessels & Aircraft
Alaska Regional Response Team (ARRT) Meetings
Subarea Committee Meetings & Contingency Plans
Spill Response & Mass Rescue Drills & Exercises
Tribal Relations Training for CG Personnel
Incident Response & Recovery “DURING & AFTER”
Tribal & Local Government Input
Sensitive Area Information is a Key Issue

8. Incident Response Stakeholder Engagement “During/After”
St. Lawrence Oiled Wildlife
3 Seals/2 Seabirds
Overflights, Briefings, Local Ops, Testing
Tug Polar Wind & Barge
Grounding in Aleutians: 20K Gal Diesel
93 Containers Onboard
Daily Briefings, Local Staging Input
Kulluk Rig Grounding
700+ Total Responders
Aground on Native Corp Lands
Daily Briefings, UC Involvement, Sensitive Areas, Shore Ops
Separation of Tribal & Other Stakeholders

9. 2013 Arctic SONS Tribal/Stakeholder Engagement “Before”
SONS Exercise Workgroups
North Slope Borough
Risk Mgmt, Wildlife Mgmt, Emergency Svcs, etc.
Inupiat Community of Arctic Slope
Native Village of Barrow
SONS Senior Leader Workshop
Inupiat Community of Arctic Slope (ICAS)
Arctic Marine Mammal Coalition (5 groups)
Opportunity for full involvement at Workgroup and Senior Leader level

10. Oil Dispersant Pre-Authorization Plan Formal G-2-G Consultation “Before”
Proposed Pre-Authorization Zone
5 Sub-Areas in zone
Letters to all 76 Tribes in 5 related Sub-Areas
Multi-Agency Tribal Consultation Informational “Hub” Meetings
King Salmon
Anchorage (Anch & BIA Providers Conf)
Kodiak
Valdez
Dutch Harbor
Tribal Response
Representatives from 38 Tribes
63 Total attendees from tribes
18 Tribes in zone/20 tribes outside zone
24% of Tribes in Pre-Auth Zone
Individual Tribe G-2-G Opportunities
Individual Meetings
Written Tribal Comments/Input

11. Tribal Consultation Process
6/23/2018
Tribal Consultation Process
Tribal Consultation Process:
Identify Projects/Situations That May Require Consultation/Engagement
Determine List of Appropriate Tribes
Prepare Project Documents
Make Contact w/ Tribe
Arrange for Meeting(s)
Hold the Meeting(s)
Meeting Follow-Up

12. Tribal/ANO Engagement Process
6/23/2018
Tribal/ANO Engagement Process
Tribal/ANO Engagement Process:
ID Relevant Events, Projects, Situations
Includes CG, Other Agency, ANO, or Other Related Meetings
Subsistence Co-Management
Identify Attending/Relevant Tribes/ANO
Review Background Information when Available
Engage w/ Tribes/ANO
Exchange Contact Information
Complete Tribal Engagement/Community Visit Summary Form
Follow-Up on Relevant Topics/Issues

13. Tribal Engagement Lessons Learned & Best Practices
Build Relationships Early
Ask Questions to ID “Right” Stakeholders
BEFORE is Better Than AFTER
Relationships BEFORE Help DURING/AFTER
Change Paradigms/Think Outside the Box
Ensure Command Understands Stakeholder Relations Impact Operational Success
Engage Local Experts
Helps with connections
May also be positive/negative bias – be aware!
Ask Questions About Sacred/Historical Sites
Be Ready!

14. Questions & Discussion
Sudie Hargis
USCG D17 Tribal Liaison
Office:
Cell: