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It has been 42 years since the basic ANILCA Title 8 Rural Subsistence Priority was put into federal law. Many changes have occurred in implementation and there is a whole body of federal and state law from litigation - some changes greatly protected our rights. Some just held the line from repeal. As the next generation of Native leaders looks at the current challenges we face, understanding the federal and state laws is the foundation to build on. If we do not understand the laws and the process of changing laws, our Native voice is easily marginalized. Our goal is to strengthen the Native voice around the critical needs in our community, which differs region by region. What is important in one region may not be a priority in another. The shortage of fish in our communities is a widespread concern. The warming of the waters due to changing climate and the movement of fish stocks is another widespread concern. Competition and possible conflict over fish is real.  And the situation is changing rapidly.

The opportunity in the Biden Administration is their willingness to listen to our concerns. What the Administration is willing to do, is not known. We see signs that they are willing to create structures to involve our tribes in greater advisory roles using Presidential Executive Orders. An example is the reinstatement of the Bering Sea Climate Resilience Area from the Kuskokwim Bay to the southern border of the Chukchi Sea. It incorporates indigenous knowledge and includes an intergovernmental tribal advisory council. This was done on the first day in office of President Biden and builds on the revoked Obama Executive Order done in the last days he was in office.

Knowing the laws and designing new types of opportunities to advance Native subsistence rights is critical right now. Presidential Executive Orders, Secretarial Executive Orders, regulation changes, or law changes are all possibilities.

Please join us by registering to attend a workshop below or contributing to the Subsistence Action Fund.

PRE-CONVENTION WORKSHOP
October 16, 2024

AFN hosted the "Understanding the Subsistence Framework in Alaska" workshop on October 16, 2024. This educational session provided an overview of the legal structure of subsistence management in Alaska and explore pathways to advance Alaska Native customary and traditional hunting and fishing rights. This workshop was free and open to the public and was live-streamed for those unable to attend in person.

Download a PDF of the AFN Subsistence Workshop slides here.

WORKSHOP 1 >> Overview of Alaska’s Subsistence Framework
May 5, 2022

This workshop was a complete review of Alaska’s subsistence framework, including laws impacting Native subsistence rights such as ANCSA, ANILCA, and MMPA.

Access text and audio transcripts of the session here.

Download a PDF of the slides Tyson Kade, Partner at Van Ness Feldman LLP presented here.

WORKSHOP 2 >> Native Participation in Subsistence Decision-Making
May 12, 2022

Our second workshop explored avenues of Native participation among the Federal Subsistence Board, Alaska State Legislature, State of Alaska Boards of Game & Fisheries, and significant court challenges.

Access text and audio transcripts of the session here.

Download a PDF of the slides Anna C. Crary of Landye Bennett Blumstein LLP presented here.