Strategies for Strengthening Alaska Native Village Roles in Natural Resource Management

January 5, 2015; 10:00 – 11:15 am AKT – Strategies for Strengthening Alaska Native Village Roles in Natural Resource Management
Presentation by Barrett Ristroph, Ph.D. Student, University of Hawaii Pacific Policy Director, Pacific Environment.Unlike tribes in other U.S. jurisdictions, Alaska’s tribes do not have sovereignty (or direct ownership in many cases) over their traditional lands and natural resources on which they depend for their nutritional and cultural survival. In place of treaties ensuring hunting and fishing rights, and they are subject to complex hunting laws that limit their ability to adapt hunting practices to changes in species distribution. Many Alaska Native Villages are grappling with the combined impacts of climate and social change. This Webinar will identify and evaluates a range of tools that could help Alaska Native Villages increase their influence over wildlife and land management decisions, including following international bodies..

Topics include:

1)  The Arctic Council;

2)  Forming a non-profit organization that could participate in international bodies and apply for grants available only to 501(c)(3) corporations;

3)  Entering into consultation agreements with federal and state agencies as well as other entities;
4)  Participating in development decisions by becoming a cooperating agency or establishing an oversight committee;
5)  Forming or participating in state and federal advisory councils; pursue co-management agreements under federal laws in corporation with state entities;
6)  Designating Traditional Cultural Properties to provide for more consultation;
7) Incorporating as a municipality; pursuing conflict avoidance agreements with industry; drafting tribal guidelines and encouraging regulatory agencies to adopt them;
8) Enacting a code or ordinances to address land within the tribe’s jurisdiction;
9) Asking the Interior Secretary to take land into trust status; and pursuing an aboriginal title claim.

For More Information about the Webinar Series go to www.waterpolicyconsulting.com.