Raising Awareness About Climate Change in Fort Yukon ... - ANTHC

Raising Awareness About Climate Changein Fort Yukon, AlaskaA project of:Gwichyaa Zee Gwich’in Tribal Governmentand Alaska Native Tribal Health ConsortiumWith funding from an EPA CommunityEnvironmental Demonstration Project GrantAugust 2012

Fort Yukon is a community of about 600 residents, located on the bank of the Yukon River.

Rocky James works for the traditional council in Fort Yukon. He has been interviewingresidents about climate change.

Albert Thomas is one of the people who Rocky has interviewed. He has lived in Fort Yukon for 75 years.

There is an AC store that provides dry goods and produce in Fort Yukon, but prices are high and people rely onsubsistence harvest for much of the food they need.

Fuel is also expensive. In August 2012 the price of gas was $7,50 per gallon.

The most important food in Fort Yukon is salmon, which is taken by net and fish wheel from theYukon and other nearby rivers.

The salmon has been declining for years, in particular the size and number of King salmon. This year thesubsistence harvest was closed due to a poor return. There is very little salmon on the drying racks. Thesalmon closure is creating a food security crisis in Fort Yukon and other communities.

Hunting is also an important subsistence activity, for waterfowl and land mammals.

There is a history of gardening in Fort Yukon. This year more then ever, some people are depending on gardenvegetables to supplement the diet.

We know that the average monthly temperatures in Fort Yukon have been increasing sinceat least the early 1960s.

Rocky James has been noticing the rapid erosion on the Yukon River. He is wondering if it is related to climate change.

Some buildings and other infrastructure are built right on the river bank.

In some places the bank is ripping away from the land. Is warming contributing to this?

In other areas the bank is scoured away. Is warming make this kind of erosion happen more rapidly?

Some of the camps along the river have been lost to erosion.

Is the condition of the river changing?

Some residents say the river is becoming more braided, and difficult to travel.

The men talk about how much the river has changed in recent years.

Lakes are drying out and disappearing. This was a duck pond when Rocky was a boy.

Infestation of bark beetles in spruce trees is another concern that was discussed. Climateinfluenced conditions such drought can make trees vulnerable to beetles.

Rocky uses local radio to do interviews and broadcast information to Fort Yukon and other villages. Itis helping to get people to talk and think about the changes in their community.

Fort Yukon residents are observing rapid environmental changeincluding river bank erosion, drying and disappearing lakes.Residents are concerned that these changes may be impactingwater quality in the Yukon River and its tributaries, along withsalmon populations, lake habitat for birds, fish and other wildlife,and the health of spruce trees.Possible topics for further technical discussion include:• Permafrost thaw and river and lake change (Ben Jones, USGS)• Evaluating food security in Fort Yukon (Dr. Phil Loring, UAF)• Managing spruce bark beetles (Roger Burnside, DNR)This project provides a model for using interviews and radiobroadcasting to develop local dialogue about environment andclimate change, and to engage technical exports who can addresscommunity specific concerns.Prepared by Mike Brubaker, ANTHC