Not listed
THE UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS (UAF), COLLEGE OF INDIGENOUS STUDIES (CIS) AND 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 (DRUMBEATS) PROJECT. THE SIX ALASKA NATIVE-SERVING INSTITUTIONS (ANSI) PROVIDE ACADEMIC PROGRAMMING AND COMMUNITY-BASED EDUCATION TO SERVE OVER 160 ALASKA NATIVE COMMUNITIES. DRUMBEATS ADDRESSES USDA PRIORITIES 1: ACCELERATING INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND PRACTICES 2. DRIVING CLIMATE-SMART SOLUTIONS 3. BOLSTERING NUTRITION SECURITY AND HEALTH AND 4.CULTIVATING RESILIENT ECOSYSTEMS, THROUGH THE USDA NIFA ANNH ACTIVITY OF ADVANCING EDUCATIONAL EQUITY. DRUMBEATS ADDRESSES THE UNIQUE FOOD AND ENERGY SECURITY AND SOVEREIGNTY (FES) CHALLENGES ALASKA NATIVE COMMUNITIES FACE IN REMOTE, RAPIDLY CHANGING ARCTIC LANDSCAPES. DRUMBEATS EFFECTIVELY PROVIDES INNOVATIVE, CULTURALLY REFLECTIVE EDUCATION WITHIN ALASKA NATIVE COMMUNITIES TO RESPOND TO PREPARE ALASKA NATIVE STUDENTS FOR LEADERSHIP AND FOR THE DIVERSE CAREERS AVAILABLE IN FANH FIELDS. TRADITIONAL APPROACHES TO FOOD, AGRICULTURAL, NATURAL RESOURCES, AND HUMAN (FANH) SCIENCES EXCLUDE RATHER THAN AFFIRM ALASKA NATIVE EXPERIENCES, VALUES, AND KNOWLEDGE WHICH HOLD THE FES SOLUTIONS COMMUNITIES NEED TO SUSTAIN THEMSELVES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.ISSUE: ALASKA NATIVES FACE UNIQUE, COMPLEX, AND URGENT FES CHALLENGES, AMPLIFIED BY THE EXPONENTIAL IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN RAPIDLY CHANGING ARCTIC LANDSCAPES OF ALASKA. 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 WILD FOOD SYSTEMS. RAPIDLY CHANGING ARCTIC ECOSYSTEMS THREATEN THE COLLECTION OF WILD FOODS AND CULTIVATION OF SPECIALTY CROPS. 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. 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.METHODS: THE DRUMBEATS MODEL FOCUSES ON METHODS INCREASING ALASKA NATIVE ACCESS TO (DIRECT TUITION AND STUDENT SUPPORT) AND REPRESENTATION IN ACADEMIC COURSES (VISITING ELDER SCHOLARS IN THE CLASSROOM, CURRICULUM ROOTED IN INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE AND SCHOLARSHIP); EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING (DIRECT HANDS-ON EDUCATION THROUGH TRADITIONAL CRAFT AND TOOLS, DIRECT AT,TENDANCE AT FOOD AND ENERGY DECISION-MAKING FORUMS); AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT (CURRICULUM AND COHORT FOCUSED IN LEADERSHIP). DRUMBEATS HOSTS SIX UNIQUE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ROOTED IN PLACE-BASED AND CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE CURRICULUM THAT CENTER INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE AND PEDAGOGIES IN FES: SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, ETHNOBOTANY, HIGH LATITUDE RANGE MANAGEMENT, TRIBAL GOVERNANCE AND STEWARDSHIP, FOOD SECURITY AND SOVEREIGNTY, AND TRADITIONAL CRAFTS AND NATIVE LANGUAGE TO UNDERSERVED ALASKA NATIVES. TO THIS END, DRUMBEATS DIRECTLY SUPPORTS INSTITUTION CAPACITY AND SALARIES TO DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN THIS UNIQUE, TARGETED CURRICULUM. ADDITIONALLY, AN INDIGENOUS FOOD AND ENERGY SCHOLARS PROGRAM WILL BE DESIGNED TO FURTHER ALASKA NATIVE LEADERSHIP AND REPRESENTATION IN FES THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A COHORT.DRUMBEATS 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.GOALS/OUTCOMES: THE GOAL OF DRUMBEATS IS TO ADVANCE PLACE-BASED ALASKA NATIVE FOOD AND ENERGY SOVEREIGNTY (FES) THROUGH EQUITABLE EDUCATION, WITH THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES: 1. ADVANCE ALASKA NATIVE REPRESENTATION AND LEADERSHIP IN REGIONAL FOOD AND ENERGY SYSTEMS THROUGH CULTURALLY-APPROPRIATE, PLACE-BASED EDUCATION; 2. PROVIDE ALASKA NATIVE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH TO ENGAGE IN LEADERSHIP ROLES IN FOOD AND ENERGY SOVEREIGNTY THROUGH ACADEMIC AND COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERSHIPS; AND 3. FURTHER ALASKA NATIVE LEADERSHIP IN DECISION-MAKING AND COMMUNICATION IN FOOD AND ENERGY SOVEREIGNTY THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INDIGENOUS FOOD AND ENERGY SCHOLARS PROGRAM.SHORT TERM OUTCOMES: 1. INCREASED ALASKA NATIVE ENROLLMENT IN FES COURSES, AND FANH SCIENCES DUAL ENROLLMENT COURSES, AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES; 2. INCREASED RATE OF ALASKA NATIVE GRADUATES WITH FES OES, CERTIFICATES AND DEGREES; 3. INCREASED KNOWLEDGE AND IMPLEMENTATION BY ALASKA NATIVE STUDENTS IN: GARDENING, FOOD PRESERVATION, NATIVE PLANT SPECIES SPECIALTY CROPS, REINDEER HERDING, SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS, WILD FOOD STEWARDSHIP, AND TRIBAL GOVERNANCE; 4: INCREASED YOUTH KNOWLEDGE, INTEREST, AND ENGAGEMENT IN FANH AND/OR FES; 5. SCHOLARS' INCREASED KNOWLEDGE OF FES, LEADERSHIP SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, AND CONFIDENCE IN THEIR ABILITY TO LEAD; AND 6.IMPROVED COLLABORATION ACROSS ACADEMICS, TRIBAL, AND COMMUNITY INSTITUTIONS TO ADVANCE ALASKA NATIVE FES.MEDIUM TERM OUTCOMES: 1. MORE EQUITABLE REPRESENTATION OF ALASKA NATIVES IN FES ACADEMIC PATHWAYS; 2.INCREASED ALASKA NATIVE LEADERSHIP IN FOOD SOVEREIGNTY AS EVIDENCED IN INCREASED LOCAL FOOD,PRODUCTION AND WILD FOOD HARVESTING; 3. INCREASED ALASKA NATIVE LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY SOVEREIGNTY, CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY IN ENERGY SYSTEMS; 4.INCREASED ALASKA NATIVE LEADERSHIP IN FES DECISION-MAKING AND GOVERNANCE AT LOCAL, REGIONAL, STATEWIDE LEVELS.LONG TERM OUTCOMES: 1. ALASKA NATIVES HAVE EQUITY IN FES ACADEMIC PATHWAYS; 2. ALASKA NATIVE COMMUNITIES ACHIEVE IMPROVED RESILIENCE, SELF- SUFFICIENCY & SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH FES; AND 3. ALASKA NATIVE COMMUNITIES SUSTAIN ALASKA NATIVE WAYS OF LIFE, KNOWLEDGE, ANDPRACTICES.
$1.5m 9/7/24