click on this figure to return to web database traditional knowledge & contaminants project...

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Traditional Knowledge & Contaminants Project

Bringing Together Traditional- and Research-based

Knowledge

www.nativeknowledge.org

http://shiva.iser.uaa.alaska.edu/knowledge/db/default.htm

http://www.nativeknowledge.org/

Table of Contents

What this project is about About this regional meeting Review of your concerns Tour of the database Research-based knowledge Research summary choices


Why “radionuclides”?

Alaska Natives have voiced their concerns about radionuclides:

Russian subs Project Chariot Medical Experiments


Where did this study come from?

In response to Native concerns, the US Congress authorized funds to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Traditional Knowledge and Contaminants Project

This project is the result.


Philosophy of project

The most important components of capacity to take effective action are ownership and trust.

We mean by ownership that tribes take responsibility for their own lives.

We mean by trust that tribes trust the world in which they live - the natural environment, the efficacy of their own actions, and the actions of others


Are we only interested in radionuclides?

We are interested in all sorts of changes in the natural environment.

Radionuclides may or may not have anything to do with these changes.


The goal of the project is

To help federally recognized tribes in Alaska to identify and address their concerns about radionuclides, other types of contamination, and about environmental change.


Practical outcomes

Show how traditional Native methods can help understand concerns and solutions

Provide grants to Alaska tribes to take action and devise their own solutions

Build a common agenda based on local- and research-based knowledge

Provide a web database to promote interaction and accumulation of knowledge.


We are working with federally recognized tribes in Alaska

EPA has a legal mandate to work with federally recognized tribes on a government to government basis

When we use the more common phrases,”Alaska Native communities” and “Alaska Natives”,

We refer to the 227 federally recognized tribes in Alaska.


Who is leading the project?

The Alaska Native Science Commission

The Institute of Social and Economic Research

The actions of federally recognized tribes.


We are using a holistic approach. Taking radionuclide concerns for example:


Local military sites

Uptake by fish and animals

People eat fish & animals



Atmospheric fallout

Atomic bomb testing

Nuclear accidents

Uptake by lichen

Caribou eat lichen

People eat caribou




Project Chariot

Nuclear testing


Atmospheric fallout

Atomic bomb testing

Nuclear accidents

Uptake by lichen

Caribou eat lichen

People eat caribou




Medical experiments, x-rays

Project Chariot

Medical experiments


Russian nuclear wastes

Atmospheric fallout

Atomic bomb testing

Nuclear accidents

Uptake by lichen

Caribou eat lichen

People eat caribou

Russian Nuclear plant wastes

River runoff to the Arctic Ocean

Uptake by migratory animals

Sea ice containing radioactive sediments

Ocean currents containing radioactive sediments Uptake by local

animals

People eat marine mammals & fish

Old Russian submarines




Medical experiments, x-rays

Project Chariot

Amchitka tests


Sources and Pathways

The usual approach to assessing contaminant risks is to start with possible sources and pathways



Research

There is research on each source and pathway:



Research

Science Assessment

Researchers normally then assess risks based on their findings



Research

Science Assessment

Science-based conclusions

Government agencies then normally issue advisories about what is safe to eat



Research

Science Assessment

Science-based conclusions

Community response?

Community responses may not be what is expected


Community Concerns Sources and Pathways

Research

Science Assessment

Science-based conclusion

Community response?

Community-based model Western Model

We are using a community-based approach



Research

Science Assessment


Community response?

Community-driven Research


We help communities to identify their own research priorities



Research

Community Assessment in context of cultural and nutritional values

Science Assessment


Community response?



Communities are best able to put testing results in context



Research

Community Assessment in context of cultural and nutritional values

Science Assessment

Community-based conclusions and action


Community response?



Communities can decide what is best for themselves; research can help them


Project Tasks

Year 1 Regional Meetings:

Talking circles to share Native knowledge on environmental change

ongoing

Year 1 Regional Meetings




Year 1 Synthesis Meeting:Communication of Native knowledge to scientists.

Denali Arctic Science Conference

Arctic Science Conference




Year 1 Synthesis Meeting:Communication of Native knowledge to scientists.Review of science knowledge and priorities

Denali Arctic Science Conference

Arctic Science Conference






Implications of Native and science knowledge for action.

1999-2000

Year 2 Regional Meetings







Year 2 Synthesis Meeting:Shared knowledge & prioritiesDifferences between Native and science perspectives.

Sept. 19-21 2000

Year 2 Synthesis Meeting








Community small grants program










Year 3 Statewide assessment meeting

Statewide Assessment Meeting










Sharing of experience with Native communities, scientists, agencies

Sharing the experience











Database development













Documentation of process

Project Tasks


The goals for Yr.2 workshops are:

Learn of your concerns Introduce you to the Alaska

Traditional Knowledge and Native Foods Database

Summarize research-based knowledge

Get your “take” on research-based knowledge.


Regional Meetings

Changes,

Possible Causes of Changes,

Ideas for Action

“Take” on Research

Who are the participants?

Members of federally recognized tribes who have depended on natural environments for time beyond memory,

Who are keen observers of natural environments,

And who hold the knowledge of elders that can help all of us to understand.


Participants

My grandpa used to say: You will live through a big change of weather.

Catherine Attla, Huslia


Participants

“I think that we are raising a lot of good perspectives here because of how we are approaching this.” David Sam, Sitka sitting next

to Elaine Abraham, Yakutat


Agenda Day 1 Review your concerns about

environmental change Introduce summaries of

science knowledge Get your “take” on science

knowledge relevance to your concerns


Agenda Day 2:

Introduction to the Traditional Knowledge and Native Foods Database

Summaries of research-based knowledge

Your “take” on these summaries


How were participants selected?

Regionally Invitations to federally recognized

tribal governments to nominate participants

Assemble groups of 20-25 men and women from different communities who are active hunters, gatherers, Native scientists, and elders.


How we are conducting the meetings

“A healthy village is a circle whose people are safe within its fold. Love, understanding, kindness, culture, history, goals, truth - these make the circle strong and protect the village, the family, the individual.”

Harold Napoleon


Basic rules of the Talking Circle

Respect for confidentiality Respect for each person in the circle Each person is given a chance to

speak without interruption or comment


The Traditional Talking Circle

The traditional facilitator begins the circle with prayer, singing, or drumming; establishing rules; and setting the tone for the circle.

She or he may use a symbolic object (e.g., rock, feather, or prayer stick) in the circle.


Circle process

The circle generally begins with traditional introductions. The circle goes clockwise in respect for the cycle of life and mother earth. Each person in the circle gets a chance to share if they choose to.

The circle may go around multiple times to give those who want to share more time to do so. There is normally a beginning, middle and a closure. The circle ends with a closing prayer.


A Traditional Talking Circle is used to:

Promote understanding, sharing and trust. This is key to participants feeling secure in sharing knowledge that is cultural or sacred and knowing that their information will be used in respected and appropriate ways.

An important part of the process is the sharing of food and gift-giving as is the usual community practice.


Recording what people say

To record the meeting, the scribes sit outside the circle and type the remarks of participants.

Each day the scribes return the comments to participants for review. General themes and actions are also reviewed by participants.

Consent forms are reviewed with all participants before asking for their signature.

Draft report documents in their entirety are also sent to all participants before the final report is prepared.


Native participants have shared many common concerns:

Cancers Fish abnormalities Local contaminated sites Russian sources of contaminants Plants changing in taste Desire to test for contaminants Influx of beaver Caribou showing signs of poor health Changes in weather, ice, lakes Changes in diet, use of tobacco,

medicines


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Documents

alaska tribes

recognized tribes

native concerns

alaska natives

local animalspeople

alaska native communities

traditional native methods

radionuclide concerns