Bristol Bay Guardians

Indigenous Wisdom | Modern Stewardship

Protecting Our Lands, Waters, and Future . . . Together.

By investing in community relationships and capacity, Guardians will amplify existing environmental monitoring initiatives, revive important dormant activities, and identify novel opportunities to fill data gaps. In the ecosystem that sustains the last global stronghold for wild sockeye salmon populations and the relationships dependent upon them, it takes all of us . . .

Inspired by thriving Indigenous Guardians programs operating throughout Canada, the Bristol Bay Guardians initiative is centered on the transformative power of Indigenous-led stewardship and collaborative partnerships to enhance regional resilience and well-being. By prioritizing investments in communities and residents, the initiative aims to bridge critical gaps in environmental monitoring and climate adaptation efforts. Leveraging a holistic approach that combines Indigenous knowledge and western science, the Guardians network will foster inclusive monitoring and research, empowering local communities to actively participate in land relationship planning and stewardship activities.

The initiative envisions a future where Alaska Native perspectives are integral to decision-making processes, ensuring that land relationship strategies are both ecologically sustainable and culturally respectful. This shift toward inclusivity and collaboration promises to forge stronger, more resilient strategies for adapting to and mitigating the impacts of climate change in Bristol Bay and beyond.

By fostering cooperative relationships among diverse regional entities, the Guardians network will contribute to workforce development and economic opportunities, thereby enhancing the broader dynamics of community well-being. The ultimate goal is to unlock historically marginalized regional capacities, establish true co-management pathways, and address inequities in cultural diversity within agency employment practices, leading to a more sustainable and equitable future for all our relations.

Pilot Guardian Initiatives

  • atsalugpiat (salmonberry) monitoring

    In partnership with Ethnobotanist, Erica Wood, we are piloting a community-based monitoring approach to better understand how a rapidly changing climate will affect our beloved relative, the atsalugpiat.

  • aerial spawning habitat surveys

    Born out of a dormant long-term initiative to monitor spawning habitat and populations, we are investing in new technologies and community capacity to revive the effort using UAVs.

  • streamgage reestablishment

    Dormant since the 1980s, the United States Geological Survey streamgage on Kuicaraq (Kvichak River) is once again continuously measuring discharge and stream temperature.

  • environmental monitoring data collection collaborations

    In partnership with Indigenous Sentinels Network, we are tailoring existing mobile-based monitoring applications to incorporate place names, Alaska Native languages, and centering data sovereignty.

  • regional wildfire resilience support

    regional wildfire resilience support

    In coordination with Alaska Venture Fund and Bristol Bay Native Association, we are piloting novel approaches to address the need for community preparedness and response regarding structural and wildfire dynamics.