1. Perspectives from the Arctic Orville H. Huntington Commissioner, Alaska Native Science Commission Vice-Chair Huslia, Alaska

2. Four directions within the circle Understanding how TNEK and Arctic scientific research can work together Managing Mother Earths few resources An example of using TNEK and managing the declining white-fronted goose population on the Koyukuk River Concerns of Native Alaskan Tribes

3. Understanding Traditional Native Ecological Knowledge What is it? Is it an answer or a question? Is it useful? Arctic Research Open book Best we have Can be better

4. Mother Earths Resources We have to use all the knowledge available to us, to make use of so few resources Respect for TNEK is a start Basic courtesy to the Tribal Governments Listen to the Native Elders as a guide for Arctic Research, and encourage their participation in studies and work

5. An example of using TNEK Native Elders from the Koyukuk River observed and studied the white-fronted goose decline in their area. These concerns were documented by the Koyukuk NWR staff Scientific studies reinforced these concerns Many factors will have to be addressed to reverse the decline

6. White-fronted & Canada Geese Interior & Northwest AK Michael A. Spindler Orville H. Huntington Koyukuk/Nowitna National Wildlife Refuge Complex Galena & Huslia, Alaska

7. Overview Population trend > white-fronts declining Patterns of subsistence & sport harvest Effect of harvest on goose population Results of village meetings Possible solutions Recent co-management successes

8. Oral History from Elders Informal interviews since mid-1980’s - banding Formal- Raven’s Story program 1995-2001 Traditional Environmental Knowledge on audio –Selected people aged 60-80’s –People who grew up depending on subsistence and who still hunt and fish actively Raven’s Story - KUAC, KIYU, KSKO, KZPA--Public Radio University of Alaska Oral History Collection FOR MORE INFO...

9. Steven Attla- April 1995 Huslia, Alaska Koyukuk River 1930’s-present

10. John and Lorraine Honea September 1995 Ruby, Alaska and Nowitna River 1920’s-1996

11. Sidney Huntington- April 1996 Galena, Alaska Koyukuk River Lower Yukon 1920’s-present

12. Eddie Hildebrand- April 1998 Nulato, Alaska Kaiyuh Flats Lower Yukon 1920’s-present

13. Common geese of Interior-N.W.Alaska Canada goose- “honker” White-fronted goose- –“Speckle belly, orange-foot”

14. W.F. nests in forest & tundra

15. Nesting, wintering areas, migration routes and chronology, mid-continent white-fronted geese areas migration routes, and wintering areas

16. Concerns of Alaskan Tribes ANSC has documented TNEK on possible contaminants in the Arctic Contaminants have an affect on their subsistence ANSC has also found that climate change will change subsistence use and quality of resources ANSC has shown that the TNEK is a valuable tool in understanding changes in the environment