Project Grant 20233847040825

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS (UAF), COLLEGE OF RURAL AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (CRCD) BRANCH CAMPUSES OF BRISTOL BAY (BBC) IN DILLINGHAM, CHUKCHI (CC) IN KOTZEBUE, INTERIOR ALASKA (IAC) IN FAIRBANKS, KUSKOKWIM (KUC) IN BETHEL, AND NORTHWEST (NWC) IN NOME ARE COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS FOR THE DRUMBEATS ALASKA: PLACE-BASED SOLUTIONS FOR ALASKA NATIVE FOOD & ENERGY SOVEREIGNTY 2023-26 (ANS) PROJECT. THE FIVE ALASKA NATIVE-SERVING INSTITUTIONS (ANSI) CAMPUSES ARE STRATEGICALLY LOCATED IN REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION HUBS AND PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE ALASKA NATIVE AND RURAL RESIDENTS ACROSS OVER 166 ALASKA NATIVE COMMUNITIES. ACADEMIC PROGRAMMING AND COMMUNITY-BASED EDUCATION OFFERED THROUGH PARTNER CAMPUSES MAKE UP THE DRUMBEATS ALASKA (DA) CONSORTIUM. ANS ADDRESSES GOALS OF USDA NIFA FOR DIVERSITY AND EQUITY TO INCLUDE BOTH WESTERN AND INDIGENOUS FOOD SYSTEMS; THE UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA STATEWIDE ALASKA NATIVE SUCCESS INITIATIVE; UAF STRATEGIC GOALS FOR ALASKA NATIVE STUDENT SUCCESS; AND RURAL CAMPUS PARTNERSHIPS' DESIRE TO INDIGENIZE LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES.ANS PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL EQUITY THROUGH PROGRAMS WHICH PROVIDE RELEVANT, EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING TO UNDERREPRESENTED ALASKA NATIVE STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS. ANS FURTHER INCREASES UAF CAPACITY TO DESIGN AND DELIVER CURRICULA THROUGH INNOVATIVE INSTRUCTIONAL DELIVERY SYSTEMS IN ETHNOBOTANY (EBOT), HIGH LATITUDE RANGE MANAGEMENT (HLRM), TRIBAL GOVERNANCE AND STEWARDSHIP (TGS), SUSTAINABLE ENERGY (SE), FOOD SECURITY AND SOVEREIGNTY (FSS), AND ALASKA GARDENS (AG).ALASKA NATIVE PEOPLES FACE MULTIPLE CHALLENGES IN TERMS OF FOOD AND ENERGY SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY, RANGING FROM GOVERNANCE TO CLIMATE CHANGE, ALL WITH SERIOUS NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES. ALASKA NATIVE COMMUNITIES ARE NOT EASILY SERVICED BY SUPPLY CHAINS AND HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN MARGINALIZED AND LIMITED IN THEIR CONTROL OVER LOCAL NATURAL RESOURCES AND FOOD SYSTEMS. RAPIDLY CHANGING ARCTIC ECOSYSTEMS THREATEN THE COLLECTION OF WILD FOODS AND CULTIVATION OF SPECIALTY CROPS. OVER 95% OF ALASKA'S FOOD SUPPLY IS AT RISK OF DISRUPTIVE EVENTS. IN THE EVENT OF A NATURAL DISASTER THAT RENDERS THE PORT OF ALASKA INOPERABLE, ALASKA GROCERY STORES WOULD HAVE ONLY A THREE- TO FIVE-DAY SUPPLY OF FOOD. MOREOVER, ALASKA FACES HIGH COSTS IN TRANSPORTATION AND ENERGY, EXACERBATED BY THE PANDEMIC, CURRENT MILITARY CONFLICTS AND A LACK OF LOCAL CONTROL OVER RESOURCES THROUGH TRADITIONAL PRACTICES.HOWEVER, A WILD FOOD HUNTING AND FISHING ECONOMY IS STILL A REALITY IN ALASKA. THE ABILITY TO CONTINUE CUSTOMARY TRADITIONS OF SELF-SUSTAINING FOOD PRODUCTION THROUGH STEWARDSHIP IN THE MANAGEMENT OF LAND, GAME AND FISHERIES IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE IN ALASKA NATIVE COMMUNITIES, WHILE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN HOW TO BE ENERGY EFFICIENT INCREASES ENERGY SECURITY.THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ANS ANNH PROJECT ADDRESSES VIABILITY OF ALASKA NATIVE COMMUNITIES 1) BY PREPARING STUDENTS FOR PLACE-BASED EMPLOYMENT; 2) BY,EDUCATING COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON HOW TO INCREASE FOOD SECURITY AND SOVEREIGNTY, INCLUDING PROMOTION OF TRADITIONAL FOOD GATHERING; AND 3) BY EDUCATING COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON HOW TO INCREASE ENERGY EFFICIENCY TO REDUCE THE HIGH COST-OF-LIVING. THE DRUMBEATS ALASKA CONSORTIUM MEMBERS AIM TO DEVELOP A CADRE OF LOCAL EXPERTISE AND LEADERS THROUGH TRAINING, EDUCATION AND RESEARCH PROGRAMS BUILT AROUND THE FANH SCIENCES.THE OUTCOMES OF THESE PROGRAMS FIND PREVIOUS PARTICIPANTS AS LOCAL, REGIONAL AND STATEWIDE LEADERS, CONTRIBUTING IDEAS AND SOLUTIONS FOR ALASKA NATIVE ISSUES RELATED TO FOOD AND ENERGY SECURITY, WHILE INCORPORATING INDIGENOUS WAYS OF KNOWING. THE GROWTH OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN PROGRAMS HAS EXTENDED INTO NEW REGIONS, WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS BECOMING ROLE MODELS OF SELF-SUFFICIENCY BY PRACTICING TRIBAL STEWARDSHIP, SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, AND REGIONAL FOOD SECURITY.