Tribal Resilience Stewardship Initiative

This grant will support Kawerak, Inc. and Kawerak-region residents in ongoing and expanded salmon-related work and is responsive to PCSRF Priority 3. Kawerak-region salmon populations, particularly Chinook and chum salmon, have experienced multi-decadal declines resulting in reduced subsistence harvest opportunities and reduced commercial fishing opportunities. This region has had the only Tier II subsistence salmon fishery in Alaska (highly restricted subsistence salmon harvest opportunities). The majority of salmon management actions and research that impact our region have not incorporated Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge, leading to incomplete understandings of the current salmon crisis and less effective outcomes for salmon and salmon-reliant communities. This project includes capacity building for both the regional Tribally authorized non-profit, Kawerak, and federally-recognized Tribes. This will be accomplished through staff support and expansion, activities such as participation in North Pacific Fisheries Management Council meetings (NPFMC); participation in regional salmon-related meetings; participation in salmon planning meetings with other organizations; participation in salmon-related consultations and engagement meetings with federal agencies; outreach and training for region residents on salmon issues; and other work that supports the salmon-related goals of Kawerak and federally-recognized Tribes in the region. Some anticipated outcomes from this work include increased capacity related to salmon conservation, recovery and Indigenous Knowledge at Kawerak; increased capacity in region communities for participation in salmon recovery and conservation planning; increased capacity for the incorporation and application of Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge about salmonids in policy and management; multiple trainings for region residents; and planning for salmon-related project design.

This project is designed to support federal recognized Tribes’ and a Tribally authorized consortium’s meaningful participation in and contributions to salmon management, policy and decision making. This project will support and enhance the Tribally authorized consortium’s capacity and federally-recognized Tribes’ capacity related to salmon fisheries by providing funding for Kawerak staff time and travel, and Tribal citizen travel, time, outreach and education needed to participate in salmon-related meetings and activities. We anticipate that this work will result in increased incorporation of Tribal concerns, perspectives and goals into salmon management, policy and decision-making which will directly benefit Chinook and chum salmon, in particular, by contributing to informed decision making, policy development, and conservation and management decisions.