Hello Friends, Fall is always a productive time in Alaska–a time of new endeavors, convenings, and connections as we shift our energy indoors and put long-harbored plans into action. In the past month, we released a new report exploring how Alaska can thrive as we adapt to climate change, launched a (virtual) international exchange program for Indigenous ecosystem stewards, and added a new member to our team.
Against a backdrop of some of the worst COVID rates in the world and local political divisions ugly enough to make national news, our work to uplift Alaskan communities and invest in a better future has never felt more important.
If you’d like to learn more about any of our ventures, drop us a line. We are always glad to be in touch.
Stay safe,
The Alaska Venture Fund team
Alaska Venture Fund - News & Views Project updates, stories and perspectives that inspire our work. New Report: Alaska Resources & Opportunities in the Response to Global Climate Change We are excited to share a new paper exploring how Alaska can position itself as a global player in climate response efforts and realize financial benefits from climate change mitigation opportunities. This report has the potential to shift how we think about Alaska's future, how we pursue prosperity, and our position on the global stage. Read the report here. Underway: The Indigenous Ecosystem Stewardship Virtual Exchange Program For the next three months, Indigenous leaders from the Bering Strait, Bristol Bay, and Southeast regions of Alaska will gather to learn from peers around the world who have successfully created ecosystem stewardship projects based on Indigenous values, with the hope of inspiring similar initiatives here in Alaska. Learn more here. Village of Igiugig awarded $2.1 million language revitalization grant by DOE Building on years of work by Igiugig Village Council to uplift the transmission and use of Dena’ina and Yup’ik languages, the grant will enhance opportunities for remote language-learning, help students develop the skills they need to build careers in language revitalization, and fund a virtual cultural curriculum for language learning in local schools. More on this here. The Alaska Venture Fund team expands We are delighted to welcome Lev Greenstein to our team! Lev has a passion for storytelling, community gathering, and collaborative efforts to build a better future for Alaska. As Communications Coordinator, you will find him on all of our digital platforms, helping improve the visibility and reach of our work. You can contact Lev at lev@alaskaventure.org.
From Across Alaska Tribal recognition ballot measure moves forward: A new ballot measure requiring the state of Alaska to formally recognize all 229 Alaska Native tribes has begun collecting signatures to appear on the 2022 ballot. If successful, the initiative will represent a major step for tribal sovereignty, requiring the state to have a government-to-government relationship with tribes. If you’d like to learn more about supporting this effort, please contact Matt.
Understanding the Yukon’s salmon collapse: As communities deeply impacted by devastatingly low salmon returns contend with what might come next, efforts to unpack the situation have continued. Stephanie Quinn-Davidson, our Program Director for Fisheries and Communities, spoke with the Associated Press, hoping to shed more light on the crisis based on her first-hand experience of managing the region’s fishery.
Investing in Indigenous resource management: While Indigenous peoples make up nearly 22% of Alaska’s population, there is a near-complete absence of representation in state or federal resource management bodies, and almost no Indigenous knowledge being taught or guiding fisheries management. A new program at UAF seeks to change this by elevating 14,000+ years of Indigenous stewardship and training the next generation of fisheries scientists and managers. Read more about the Tamamta Program here.
In case you missed it:
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