The native village of kotzebue tribe continues to support research on the effects of climate change, contributes to the international understanding of this issue, and the impact on indigenous…

The Native Village of Kotzebue received a $134,000 Project Grant award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Indian Environmental General Assistance Program (CFDA 66.926). The grant supports the tribe's efforts to conduct research on the effects of climate change on the Arctic environment and indigenous communities, as well as contribute to international understanding of this issue. Key activities include collecting and analyzing tissue samples from marine life to study contaminants, pathology, and nutrient composition, in partnership with the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The tribe's contributions have helped ensure that mitigation measures are implemented to protect the natural resources vital to the tribe's cultural, nutritional, and spiritual needs. The award aims to create environmental awareness and engagement opportunities, especially for the tribe's younger members, as part of the long-term goals of the tribe's environmental program.

The native village of kotzebue tribe continues to support research on the effects of climate change, contributes to the international understanding of this issue, and the impact on indigenous communities of the arctic. Tribe members and staff have regularly contributed to reviewing nepa documents when project and management plans are drafted, and mitigation measures and/or project design changes have been implemented in the final documents, in part due to the tribe's input. Activities:the tribe has participated in successful collection of tissue samples from marine life to analyze for contaminants, pathology, and nutrient composition, partnering with the university of alaska fairbanks, institute of arctic biology, and the wildlife toxicology lab, utilizing the facilities and training graduate students for continued work across alaska. The tribe's contribution to this work has increased the likelihood that that substantial mitigation measures will be implemented, improving the protection of the vital natural resources in the northwest arctic and the chukchi sea.subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the tribe has provided reliable scientific information ensuring that the arctic environment, and those resources that are at the core of the cultural, nutritional, and spiritual needs of our tribal citizens and our traditional way of life are protected. Creating awareness of the environment and the opportunities to be involved in research and protection for our tribal citizens, especially our young people, is a long-term goal of the tribes environmental program. The intended beneficiaries are the tribe and the community.