1. 4 th Bi-Annual Summit 2003 – Fort Yukon, Alaska Hosted by the Gwichyaa Gwich’in Tribal Council Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council By: Kip R. Cronk

2. YRITWC Mission Statement: We, the Indigenous Peoples from the headwaters to the mouth of the Yukon River, including its tributaries, having been placed here by our Creator, do hereby agree to initiate and continue the clean-up and preservation of the Watershed for the protection of our own and future generations of our Indigenous Peoples and for the continuation of our traditional Native Way of life.

3. Yukon River flowing through the Yukon Flats area.

4. Communities from all over the watershed, from Alaska and the Yukon, met together in Fort Yukon for the common goal of protecting the Yukon River.

5. The Community Hall was used as a meeting area and for meals.

6. Residents of Fort Yukon were excellent hosts for the Summit.

7. Reusing old tires as flower pots

8. Gwandak Public Broadcasting held their 2 nd Annual Music Festival during the Summit.

9. View of Fort Yukon from the Yukon River.

10. Opening Ceremonies and leadership meetings took place around the fire on these sacred grounds in Fort Yukon.

11. YRITWC Executive Committee Members listen to the Opening Ceremonies.

12. Opening ceremonies gave people the opportunity to introduce themselves.

13. Opening ceremonies also gave people the opportunity to express their ideas about the Yukon River and its Watershed.

14. Singing and dancing during the opening ceremonies.

15. The Youth Dancing Group performed during the Summit.

16. Cooking salmon and coffee over an open fire.

17. Volunteers provided many wonderful meals during the Summit.

18. “Tent City” became a place for meals, meetings and sleeping.

19. Some communities boated down the Yukon River to attend the Summit, such as Old Crow and Birch Creek.

20. A large crowd participated in the Water Ceremony.

21. Trimble Gilbert prayed for the water.

22. Leaders gathered along the shore of the Yukon River during the water ceremony.

23. Water Quality workshop discussed sampling within the Watershed.

24. Teaching water sampling techniques.

25. Searching for macro-invertebrates from the Yukon River.

26. Working together to evaluate a landfill.

27. Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Workshop.

28. Lands Workers and Environmental Technicians participated in three trainings during the Summit.

29. Demonstration showing the effects of pollution in a Watershed.

30. Saying farewell, until we meet again.

31. The YRITWC Staff would like to thank all the participants, Fort Yukon residents and the Gwichyaa Gwich’in Tribal Council for making the Summit a success!

32. 50 YEAR VISION ‘To be able to drink water directly from the Yukon River’