“The culture is not lost; the culture has changed. Just as ours isn’t the same culture that our forefathers lived in, let’s say, the 17th century.”
Subsistence
State defends subsistence users in Haines land use case
The trial of Reuben and Rosalie Loewen versus the State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources began proceedings Monday in Haines court. The case stems from a dispute between the Loewens, private landowners, who live on the Chilkoot River and locals who use the river for subsistence hooligan fishing.
Savoonga harvests second whale of the season
A whaling crew from Savoonga landed its second bowhead of the season recently. The St. Lawrence Island community has been working nonstop to haul the whale out of the icy waters, harvest its meat, and distribute it around the village.
Alaska nursing home asks to serve seal oil to Native clients
State regulators in Alaska are working with a Native organization that wants to serve its nursing home residents seal oil, a traditional staple that’s banned in public settings because of its high risk for botulism. The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation says it would grant an exemption to the Kotzebue-based Maniilaq Association if it can…
Supreme Court sides with Sturgeon in case challenging NPS authority
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a partial victory Tuesday to Alaska moose hunter John Sturgeon in his case against the National Park Service. The high court voted 8-0 to reject a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision against Sturgeon.
Y-K region residents face tough decisions on jobs, environment with Donlin gold mine
The comments at the meeting remained consistent with concerns expressed in other villages throughout the Yukon-Kuskokwim region on the project; mainly residents want the economic benefits of jobs without assuming the environmental impacts mining could have on subsistence.