- Mission [1]
- The Subsistence Resource Commission for Gates of the Arctic National Park has been established by the Congress to devise and
recommend to the Secretary of the Interior and the Governor of Alaska a program for subsistence hunting within Gates of the
Arctic National Park. The Commission s unique insight on local customary and traditional patterns of subsistence use within
the park has been important in developing workable recommendations. During two public meetings held in FY 2011, the Commission
deliberated on the following research projects and issues:Resource Division Overview/Update – Tom LiebscherCaribou Information:
Provided general overview of what is happening with the caribou. NPS will be working with Fish & Game at the Onion Portage
site. Also will be working with the school...another 11 GPS collars, 50 collars on the Western Arctic caribou herd and in
2 years those 50 collars have provided more than 55,000 data locations about where those animals are at. Got the greenlight
from Ryan Anderson, the DOT lead for the Kobuk boot road, DOT will support some staff from NPS and USGS to look at the data
from Fish and Game, NPS, Fish & Wildlife, and BLM on the western arctic herd in the area of the Kobuk boot specifically.
Maybe the data will be used to determine where they can build roads, etc., in the future. DOT is working with NPS on data
gathering and analysis to ensure roads are built with minimal impact. A lot of DOT studies are looking for areas where there
is no information yet. Archeologists are working to identify a corridor where there may be some cultural resources that need
to be protected if a road were constructed. Data is mostly telemetry (collars) at this point. Maybe the SRC or others can
provide TEK knowledge to support information. Pollock: Concerns about the impact of fires on the herd. Tom: Anaktuvuk fires
are informing the fire impacts on the herds in the future. There will be impacts.Kobuk River Archaeological Fieldwork: NPS
feels the need to have a larger presence in the Western area of the Gates. Dahl creek area will be utilized more. Last year
archeologists and NovaGold researchers were the only ones out there, but formed some good relationships. There are still many
areas that have not been explored for cultural value. At Matcharak Lake and Kipmik Lake there has been human use 4,000 years
ago, so there will be more work done out there. Marcy will take over some of the ethnography projects from Krupa. Louie: Has
some concerns about archeologists coming in to dig up cultural sites that may be sacred without permission. These areas are
ancestral sites and they belong to the people who are still connected to the sites. NPS must obtain permission. Some of the
sites are not supposed to be disrupted or touched as per traditional story and unwritten law. To keep learning is good, but
traditional cultural knowledge and laws must be respected. James Commack: It can be dangerous to disturb these sites for the
archeologists and communities. Tom: Have been seeking help from local community members and have collaborated with communities.
The comment has been heard and is respected. NPS does seek advice and opinions of communities before venturing forward, though
NPS may need to increase those efforts. Working to preserve place names and make suggestions of places where hunters, fishers,
and campers should avoid. We worked in Anaktuvuk Pass with local members for guidance. Pollock: Where are the objects? Tom:
Some are located in museums or in NPS collection. Human remains are dealt with through the Federal guidelines (NAGPRA) with
the goal of repatriation. Local ancestors are given the choice about what to do with remains. Artifacts can be given back
to communities via visitor center displays, picture inventories, etc. to ensure access to traditional objects. Efforts to
involve local community members and youth will be informed by local preference and hope to preserve local ancestry and knowledge.
James Nageak: There are places that have significant spiritual significance and should be respected and understood. They are
difficult to explain and may be lost in future generations. Greg Dudgeon discussed how NPS has done this in other areas with
the Hopi. The spirit of the project is to preserve local knowledge and stories before they are lost despite the worldview
that these things must be returned to the earth. The youth are important to this endeavor in the future and should be involved
in the preservation now and for the future.Dall Sheep Update -Tom Liebscher: We will continue in July to do another short
sheep survey in the Itkillik preserve. The sheep population estimates are up around 8 or 9000 Dall sheep in Gates. In the
Itkillik preserve the estimate is around 2,000 sheep, but without clear population definition. More will be learned. Health
looks good; numbers are up from the ‘90s but are not the best they have ever been. James Nageak: Pt. Hope and Kivalina have
no caribou. Anybody know why? The Fish and Game started some court actions against the young people in that area. They are
arguing about the caribou; the animals hear. That’s the spiritual part we were talking about. Subsistence and spirituality
go together.General discussion was had about the establishment of federal parklands and the hope of protecting lands from
development.Wilderness Designation – Marcy Okada: Wilderness designation topic will be moved to the November meeting so that
Jobe may address it. He is not available at this time. Digital Repatriation Project – Marcy Okada: The Shungnak & Kobuk
repatriation project happened in the last week of March and April. The Elders really enjoyed that. Kobuk TEK project was approved
and they will decide what we study there. Government to government consultation is happening, but it is a slow process.Outreach
Program – AKP School - Marcy Okada: Outreach program in Anaktuvuk Pass, week of April 25th had biologists presenting about
Dall sheep, yellow-billed loons, and wood frogs and outreach at the school. There are opportunities for other communities
to have presentations as well if requested and/or desired.SRC Travel and Per Diem - Marcy Okada: Regarding travel and per
diem for SRC members. The questions were about an honorarium and advanced per diem. Advanced per diem was approved and in
affect for current meeting. There is no opportunity for honorarium per public law. Greg Dudgeon: Per Diem is established by
a higher level, beyond NPS. Per diem is established for each community at the National level in the Office of Personnel Development.
COLA is figured into community per diem rates. We can provide the per diem schedule to SRC members if desired. Discussion
regarding the increased cost of living in Alaska, the impact on community members who participate in the SRC and other boards,
and how to quantify the missed subsistence opportunities. The board members offer more than just time, they also have expertise
in the area, experience and valuable local knowledge. In order to maintain a board that has this level of expertise it will
be important that the commission members are compensated for the expense of participation. Due to the Hatch Act it is unlawful
for advisory committees to contact Federal agencies directly. The SRC can write a letter to the Secretary of the Interior
under ANILCA to lobby for higher per diem or stipend as part of the hunting plan. Greg Dudgeon: This may be an item to discuss
with the Alaska Native Liaison because National per diem rates are a much bigger, broader topic. She will be invited to the
next SRC and that might be a good time to discuss thisMotion made to write a letter to Secretary of the Interior. Questions,
Vote, Motion carried. Hunting Plan Recommendation 10-01 - Marcy Okada: Hunting plan recommendations were sent out to DOI,
and RACs. As of yet there has been no response.Jack Reakoff: The WIRAC was supportive. This plan is necessary to move forward.
Air taxis are becoming more abundant and may impact the sheep and possibly caribou populations. The ANILCA guidelines should
be followed over and above the state s policies and procedures. NPS should set the population guidelines to protect the herds
because the State has not been effective. We need healthy populations to have the least amount of impact on subsistence users.
The upcoming road may further affect the herds. Motion made to move the plan forward. 10-01 should be adopted. Motion seconded,
Discussion:Greg: The State has not been positive or receptive to NPS directed closures for game management purposes. We have
never been able to legally define ""healthy."" We do not have data going back far enough to define healthy populations of
caribou or moose. This would be a very controversial action. Jack: There is scientific data available to define healthy and
sustainable bull-cow ratio. We could take this information and as the SRC make recommendations that err on the side of conservation
to protect the herds.Call for question, vote, motion carried.Guide permits for the Dalton Highway corridor - Jack Reakoff:
BLM impact report regarding guide permit use on Dall sheep in the Dalton Highway corridor is not accurate. BLM has not yet
issued any Dall sheep permits this year. BLM has no guide use area plan which is a concern. Requesting that BLM to create
a guide use plan restricting it to 2 users. The number of rams in the corridor area is really low. SRC’s concerns are that
the hunters are coming right up to the park lands, and perhaps on park lands. The SRC sent a letter to BLM and Jack sent a
letter to BLM as well. Still no word on what BLM will do. Letter from BLM in response does not fully answer concerns.Taqulik
Hepa: Perhaps we should invite BLM and North Slope Borough to our next meeting to get more information on what they are doing.
I can help with the Borough contacts.Greg Dudgeon: That is an exceptional idea, which may be very important and helpful.Sheefish
derby in Kotzebue - Jack: Received a response from Brendan Scanlon, Northwest area biologist. The basic response was that
the concern for the fishery was low; there are stable numbers of fish. They did not feel that the wanton waste laws apply
to non-salmon species. They were glad to hear our concerns about this. Taqulik and Jack suggest a proposal to include sheefish
in the wanton waste guidelines along with salmon and to contact derby sponsors, the state advisory council, and the Federal
RAC expressing SRC concerns.Motion made to send a letter to the derby sponsors, the state advisory council, and the federal
RAC councils expressing our concerns.Motion seconded, questions, vote, motion carries.Horns, antlers, bones, and plants -
Marcy Okada: The last handout is an update on horns, antler, bones, and plants. The subsistence coordinators in each of the
parks are writing up the EA for this topic currently. Taking all comments into consideration, they are writing the Environmental
Assessment on the collection of horns and antlers within the parks. Greg Dudgeon: This topic has been going on for a long
time and the rulemaking process is slow. We bring it up regularly, but we have no news about when a final decision or rule
will be made. The concern on this matter is not in local use; rather it is in place to protect the area from commercial extractors
on park lands only.Federal Subsistence Board Update - Jack Reakoff: January RAC meeting regarding king salmon decline on the
Yukon River. The State Board of Fish and at the federal level adopted a 7.5 inch maximum net size to optimize fishery sustainability.
There are concerns that the fish are smaller. Federal Subsistence Commission recommended that the Western Interior, Eastern
Interior, and YK Delta councils form a subcommittee to work on the customary trade. Some concerns have been raised regarding
the amount of subsistence fish (dried fish, canned, jarred salmon) brought to AFN and WEIO for sale. The working group will
talk about how much is an appropriate amount of customary trade. This will not include gifts or trade to buy other things;
it will be strictly sales to make money. All of the communities on the Yukon should be asked what an appropriate amount for
customary trade is. Canada did not meet escapement last year, and this cannot happen again under the treaty with Canada. This
is a very complicated and contentious issue. The Board adopted a 25,000 trigger point, and 50,000 hard cap on chum salmon
bycatch. A North Pacific Fisheries Management Council meeting on June 6th in Nome will be important for RACs to attend in
order to advocate for subsistence fishing regulations and rights.A motion was made at the Federal Subsistence Board meeting
to add specific language regarding the use of scientifically sound methods of determining ""healthy"" herds that are sustainable.
The motion was not carried although they understand the need. It was determined that the Federal government should work with
the State on fishing and hunting guidelines. The Federal Board is very amicable to the SRC’s hunting plan. The federal board
is moving toward enacting closures to supersede the state regulations if they are allowing overharvesting. Greg Dudgeon noted
that in the past Federal closures that have superseded State closures have not been seen as a good thing in the past. Jack
responded that he feels this situation will be different because there will be adequate communication with the State about
the trigger point and closure plan in advance that is aimed at protecting the rights of the subsistence users.Jack Reakoff:
There was a lot of discussion at the Federal Subsistence Board meeting about working as a workshop with a lot of discussion
about Tribal involvement with lots of testimony from Tribal entities. The primary concern was that the Tribal entities did
not want Alaska Native Corporations to be consulted because they are corporations, they have money interests, and they have
apathy toward subsistence rights. The Federal Board has a proposed mandate to have 2 additional subsistence board seats to
include qualified rural residence that have had or are currently subsistence users. There are currently 6 members, the Chair
is Tim Towarak from Unalakleet, Regional Director of BIA - Gene Virden or a designee, Sue Masica the NPS Regional Director,
Director of Fish and Wildlife - Geoff Haskett, Director of BLM - Bud Cribley, and the Director of the Forest Service - Beth
Pendleton. And now 2 more subsistence users that changes the Federal Subsistence Board dynamics that now has a substantial
subsistence knowledge base.FEDERAL WILDLIFE PROPOSALSProposal WP12-01: Submitted by Brown Bear Claw Handicraft Working Group,
in association with the Office of Subsistence Management. They had different RACs come together to go over what the problem
has been. We get those black bears out on the banks with parts missing. Bear claws are a delicacy in the Asian market; bear
claw soup for $800! The proposal is to allow the sale of bear claws from qualified subsistence users to sell handicrafts,
but CITES documentation is required.Motion to support proposal, discussion, questions, vote, motion carried.Comment- Pollock
Simon: In our village we don t collect any bear parts traditionally. Some of the younger generation does this for bear skin
rugs. Jack Reakoff: The proposal is only for Gates of the Arctic 24B and does not violate the Koyukon area beliefs about bear
parts.Proposal WP12-02: This is a proposal regarding guidelines for who can be a designated hunter. The proposal would change
the regulation so that the designated hunter can only hunt for Elders aged 60 or older, or a person who is disabled. His understanding
about what was happening was that people were getting permits and giving them away to someone else. The term designated hunter,
he feels, had morphed into something else. Jack commented that designated hunters should be for Elders 60+, the disabled,
and/or widows. Taqulik agreed that with the addition of widows to the proposal she would be in support of the proposal. James
expressed the importance of the designated hunter option to traditional subsistence practices and ensuring that animals are
harvested correctly.Motion to support proposal with the amendment to include widows, seconded, questions, vote, motion carried.Proposal
WP12-57: This affects unit 24B, ADF&G wants to change the regulations. In unit 24B, Kanuti, and BLM lands you can take
1 antlered bull between August 25-September 1 and from April 1-15. ADF&G wants to change this regulation to all drainages
of the Koyukuk River downstream from and including the Henshaw Creek drainage and to keep it at 1 antlered bull.Comments -
Jack: This proposal was adopted by the Board of Game last year, there was a Federal proposal that went through the Federal
Subsistence Board and when it came to that hunt area for unit 24B, the Kanuti wildlife refuge manager wanted to include the
other lands outside of this to Federally qualified users, so that people in Bettles and Evansville will have Federal lands
that are closer that they could actually utilize this hunt on. When WIRAC met via teleconference, they determined that there
would be a negligible harvest of moose near Bettles/Evansville so the WIRAC voted to support the inclusion. I don t think
it is detrimental to the resource. I oppose this proposal for this reason. Pollock: We’ve had winter moose hunts for cows
before, but the moose population has crashed. The recent moose count was 1 for every 5 sq. miles...nobody wants to shoot a
skinny bull moose in the winter. If you didn t get a moose in the season, this is an opportunity to get a moose. Motion to
support the proposal, seconded, discussion:Jack: This is not actually in the Gates, so we don't have to comment on this. The
SRC can take a neutral stance on this. There are actually 2 proposals. Tim: I would remain neutral. Taqulik: I know the state
has been trying to align the state and federal regulations. I would support this if it came from the local people in this
GMU, but it isn t, so I would be opposed to it. It has been proposed simply to align State and Federal regulations. Jack:
The concern of the Kanuti staff was that there was no benefit to the Bettles/Evansville areas. The WIRAC supported including
the Federal lands 24B, the department doesn't like it, they want maximum amount of moose remaining because 25% of the harvest
in unit 24 is non-resident harvest, so the state gets a lot of money for that. The local harvest in Bettles will be negligible.
Call for question, vote, 6 nay, 2 abstain, motion carried. Proposal WP12-58: Jack: This is basically the same issue, but it
is Kanuti NWR asking that the State permit apply to all the Federal lands in Kanuti as well. This would make the state permit
good for all areas in Kanuti. It is an administrative move, simplifies the permit process. I am supportive of proposal 58
for this reason. Motion to adopt the proposal, seconded, questions, vote, motion carried.Proposal WP12-82: The next 2 proposal
are strictly for North Slope. Taqulik: In talking with Harry Brower, the chairman of the RAC, that the RAC put in this proposal
because we have a lot of grizzly bears that are going across the North Slope and this puts Federal subsistence regulation
in line with the state. And through the Fish and Game Management committee we did liberalize the take of brown bear due to
an increase in nuisance bears. Jack: Proposal 82 also shifts from having to register nuisance bears as property of the state
and gives people the opportunity to harvest and utilize the bears, so it is advantageous for subsistence users to use the
resource. Motion to support proposal, seconded, questions, vote, motion carried.Proposal WP12-83: The Defenders of Wildlife
are proposing a season and bag limit reduction for wolves in unit 26. They feel the season is too long, too early, and too
excessive. Comments - Jack: There is some background information on the existing regulation. The reason the bag limit was
raised by the Federal Subsistence Board up to 15 wolves was because the GAAR SRC noticed under state regulations, if you have
a trapping license you can shoot free-ranging furbearers, and there is no limit in the trapping regulations for wolves. The
NPS interpreted their regulations that under trapping it does not include shooting free-ranging furbearers. They interpret
shooting free-ranging wolves as hunting; the bag limit for hunting was for 5 wolves. Nobody was using their hunting license
in the winter; they are using their trapping license with no limit. So we proposed a 15 wolf limit to accommodate shooting
free-ranging wolves, that s where that comes from. I am opposed to the proposal because it actually negates what the SRC has
done to work toward a bag limit that would accommodate customary and traditional use. The March 31 closure date does not reflect
customary and traditional uses of going out in April and going around looking for wolves when there s good light, good conditions,
in conjunction with other subsistence activities like fishing and hunting caribou. The early harvest date of August 10th,
subsistence hunters typically don t take un-prime wolf pelts. Motion to adopt the proposal, but I will oppose it. Motion to
adopt the proposal, seconded, questions, vote, motion unanimously opposed.Roundtable Discussion on SubsistenceUnderstanding
of Subsistence - James Nageak: Gave a presentation at the North Slope Science Initiative workshop on a paper put together
about subsistence. Thomas Berger was commissioned to review ANCSA 10 years later in a book called “Village Journey”. The book
peaked interest in what subsistence really means, so this paper is a compilation of information about subsistence. The translation
of an Elder’s speech called Whale Hunting in Harmony was given in Inupiaq at our 1985 Eskimo Whaling Commission meeting and
was of particular importance. Taqulik and Jack offered gratitude and appreciation for the readings provided. They agree that
Alaska Native people and subsistence users are a part of the ecosystem and it is important for NPS, community members, and
the youth to understand what that means and how it is different than being a sport hunter.Roundtable discussion regarding
Ambler Mining Road The upcoming meeting about the new road brought about a discussion regarding the SRC’s official position
on the new road project. Louie expressed concerns that there have been no environmental, social, or cultural impact studies
offered by DOT. Greg explained that when the Gates of the Arctic National Preserve was created the potential for a road to
the mining district of Ambler was considered. ANILCA specifically states that a full NEPA review will not be required for
a road going through the preserve. Tom followed up by assuring that although a full NEPA review is not required, there will
be an environmental review before a road is built, and that DOT has already expressed interest in comments and information
available regarding the areas of the preserve potentially impacted by the road. Jack expressed concerns about a road connecting
to the Dalton and the impacts that increased sport hunting access will have on subsistence resources in the area. He offered
his personal experiences with the Dalton Highway construction near Wiseman. He recommended that should the road project go
through, the communities should lobby for statutory closures to firearm, ATV, power boat, and airboat use. He also stated
his opinion that the most economically viable road construction route from the mining district is to the Kivalina Port rather
than the Dalton Highway. Taqulik echoed Jack’s statements and underscored the need to advocate for the road to Kivalina and
statutory closures before the road is built. Chris added that the cost of maintaining the road once it is built will be immense
and should be considered. MOTIONS• Motion carried to write a letter to the Secretary of the Interior regarding increase in
per diem.• Motion carried to distribute SRC meeting information to tribal councils throughout the GAAR communities, and then
do follow-up calls to the appropriate contacts to explain the information as necessary.• Motion made to move the hunting plan
forward, 10-01 should be adopted.• Motion carried to send a letter to the Sheefish Derby sponsors, the state advisory councils,
and the federal RAC councils expressing SRC concerns.• Motion carried to approve the November 2010 meeting minutes.• Motion
carried to support proposal WP12-01• Motion carried to support proposal WP12-02 with the addition of widows.• Motion carried
to oppose proposal WP12-57 • Motion carried to adopt proposal WR12-58• Motion carried to support proposal WR12-82• Motion
to support proposal WR12-83 voted downACTION ITEMS• Invite Jean Gamache (907-644-3511), NPS Alaska Native Liaison to next
SRC meeting to be introduced and to discuss government to government consultation and per diem rates.• Invite North Slope
Borough Planning Dept. representative and BLM representative to talk about their guiding policies along the Dalton Highway
and near the park.• Write a letter to the Secretary of the Interior regarding Per Diem increase. To be presented as a hunting
plan recommendation from the SRC that it is in the SRC s best interest to have knowledgeable and experienced members on the
board, but to get and keep them they must be compensated. Ask that the amount of Alaska per diem reflect the actual cost of
living. It can be numbered as recommendation 01-11.• Distribute SRC meeting minutes to communities.• Add YUCH incident as
a discussion topic for the next meeting.• Add Coldfoot resident zone proposal to the agenda for discussion.• Add Coldfoot
Classic dog team race to the agenda for discussion.
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