Kawerak is proposing to create a tribally-led regional fisheries program focused on salmon monitoring and observing work, documentation and incorporation of traditional knowledge, creating a…

Kawerak is proposing to create a tribally-led regional fisheries program focused on salmon monitoring and observing work, documentation and incorporation of traditional knowledge, creating a region-wide salmon futures plan, creating of education and outreach materials for tribal members, and exploration of a tribal fish commission model for governance. The monitoring and observing program will establish a monitoring network of trained indigenous observers (sentinels) based in their home communities to address critical gaps in salmon ecological data in the kawerak region. Financial and logistical constraints have limited scientific monitoring efforts of salmon and habitat in this remote area. We will utilize existing technological frameworks and employ trained sentinels who will integrate traditional knowledge with standardized monitoring methodologies to collect robust watershed level ecological data on salmon and habitat. These data will inform salmon management and policy and increase capacity for tribal participation in salmon recovery and conservation planning. Ultimately, this initiative will enhance indigenous stewardship, fill critical knowledge gaps, and support the sustainability of salmon populations for future generations. A traditional knowledge expert group (tkeg) will be formed as part of the monitoring program. Tkeg members will be chosen by tribal councils and will be experts in salmon, salmon habitat, traditional values and practices, and related topics. The tkeg will be involved in reviewing and analyzing the observing and monitoring data through a traditional knowledge lens and produce reports derived from their review. The tkeg reports and the conventional monitoring data will be shared widely with relevant resource managers and policy makers. Kawerak also proposes to develop a salmon futures plan (SFP) for all five species of salmon in our region. The SFP will constitute the main initial planning component undergirding the development of kawerak tribal fisheries stewardship program. This plan will be developed CO-productively, will outline the history of regional human-salmon relationships, and will guide future tribal fisheries tools, planning, partnerships, agreements, research, and visioning, among other things. Dovetailing with the SFP project, kawerak will also work with region tribes to explore the possibility of developing a tribal fish commission for the region. There are two other tribal fish commissions serving parts of western alaska the yukon river and the kuskokwim river inter-tribal fish commissions - neither of which cover our region. Through analytical research (e.g. of regulations, CO-stewardship opportunities, etc.) and direct work with tribal councils, a draft charter and terms of reference for a tribal fish commission will be developed to lay the groundwork for future development. While multiple fish species are harvested in our region, the focus of a future commission would likely be salmon because of their importance in our region. Additionally, kawerak will expand our regional fisheries, and salmon-specific, outreach and education for capacity building. This work will have a focus on the utility of multi-directional engagement. On the one hand, the project will develop a comprehensive outreach and education program (containing, for example, toolkits and webinars) relating to local, state, and federal fisheries management and policy processes. Additionally, we will create tools and spaces for the engagement of non-tribal entities in salmon-related science, management, and policy spheres to be able to engage with our tribal knowledge and perspectives. Kawerak will accomplish all of the above activities with current staff, through the hiring of multiple new staff, and through collaborations with long-time partners. All kawerak research activities adhere to the kawerak-region tribal research protocols, guidelines, expectations and best practices (kawerak ET AL. 2024).