Chris Campbell Sociocultural Specialist Environmental Studies Program US-Canada O&G Forum, 2012 Sociocultural Studies Alaska OCS Region Environmental Studies

Chris Campbell

Sociocultural Specialist

Environmental Studies Program

US-Canada O&G Forum, 2012

Sociocultural StudiesAlaska OCS Region

Environmental Studies Program

Background Environmental Studies Program national in scale-information

about environmental, social, and economic topics in support of the OCS leasing program.

ESP began in 1973.

ESP funded $29M+ for sociocultural research in Alaska.

Over 198 reports regarding TK, ethnographies, subsistence resource harvest patterns, small community impact modeling, social networks.



BOEM’s Working Definition of TK:A body of evolving practical knowledge based on observations and personal experiences of local residents over an extensive, multi-generational time period that promotes survival and well being in a specific location or environmental context, such as technical mastery or expertise shared primarily through kinship or household networks.

• Social Indicators in Coastal Alaska: Arctic Communities- SRB&A Jack Kruse, PI.

• Scaffolded on and integrated with ASI project SDWG• Develop OMB approved survey instrument• Collaborative: Under guidance of North Slope

Management Board, one member from each community serves to provide oversight and ensure cultural relevance selected by and ably chaired by Taquliq Hepa, NSBWD. NSMB helped select questions to be asked; have provided guidance on methodology


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• The Study of Sharing Networks to Assess the Vulnerabilities of Local Communities to Oil and Gas Development Impacts in Arctic Alaska

• Gary Kofinas, Shauna BurnSilver (UAF), Jim Magdanz (ADF&G)

• Wainwright and Kaktovik, Venetie Control Community

• OMB approved survey instrument

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• Collaborative: BOEM, UAF School of Natural Resources and Agriculture through CESU, ADF&G, NSBWD, Native Villages and city governments of Kaktovik, Wainwright, and Venetie, Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments, and

• Local Steering Committees in each community comprised of respected elders to help guide the study effort and communicate goals and objectives within each community

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Research Questions • What are the inputs (and outputs) of community

households on subsistence foods and cash resources?

• What are the social networks for the distribution of those resources? – (patterns, flows, magnitudes)

• What are the vulnerabilities of community subsistence-cash systems to changing conditions?

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Why Share?• Respecting prey• Security in times of

scarcity• Taking care of others,

feels good• Cultural identity, pride,

and continuity• Gives feeling of social

togetherness

Aviktuaqatigiinig, Sharing• Practice the ancient

tradition of sharing• Be willing to share your

knowledge of Iñupiat ways

• Take turns and share• Share with others in

need• Respect and practice

traditional sharing customs

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Studying Sharing Networks• Simplifies and clarifies complex subsistence

systems without sacrificing richness.• Demonstrates contributions of both subsistence and

market resources to rural Alaska economies.• Relies on empirical data to describe rural Alaska

community economies.• ID vulnerable and resilient community structures.• Compares communities with one another and over

time.• Assesses impacts of economic, social, or ecological

change.

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Preliminary Findings:• Subsistence is more than just about harvesting meat

(it is a complex livelihood system)• ¾ of HH’s resource flows are the result of

cooperative hunting and sharing• Patterns of sharing differ by harvested resource• Small # HH’s account for 70% of the total flow of

resources• The flow of pounds of caribou to HH’s from others is

similar to the flow from bowhead whales (and is higher in Wainwright)

Alaska OCS Region

• Biological studies: local hunters’ TK about species habitat, timing, and behavior.

• Traditional Knowledge Regarding Bowhead Whales in the Chukchi Sea

• Co-PIs Laurie Quakenbush and Henry Huntington (Final Report OCS Study MMS 2009-063 September 2010)

• Has led to integrating TK in studies underway walrus, ice seals, and polar bear (USGS)


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Variation in Abundance of Arctic Cisco in Colville River (Nuiqsut) (SRB&A)• Local concerns Arctic Cisco not as abundant and

tasted muddy- due to O&G development.• Workshop in 2003• Field Study in 2005• Study involved panel of local experts to review and

partner with external scientists• Concluded that summer winds account for 80%

variation in first year arrival rather than industrial activity


14 Cross Island Whaling tracks IDed through GPS 10 year period.


15 COMIDA GPS tracks Marine Mammal hunting, fishing, egging

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Elements of Successful Sociocultural Work • Take time to launch the project-successful projects may be

delayed for over a year.• Adjust schedule to conform with local activities and ensure

work will not interfere with subsistence schedule.• Work with respected local and regional entities: the NSB

Wildlife Department, the AEWC, local whaling institutions, and the Tribal Councils.

• Seek to build local capacity.• Collaborate locally and use a replicable process for key players

to be nominated by peers.• Pay honoraria in agreed upon amounts and agreed upon form,

be it fuel vouchers, food desired by group, or cash.• Make sure locals agree that you have a good idea.

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Engage Community at All Levels of Project• Listen and show respect for community input• Trusting relationships local leaders and institutions• ID local experts on specific topics through systematic,

documented and replicable processes• Involve local experts in development of research design• Adopt local terms into fieldwork as appropriate• Provide funding for local residents to participate• Allow community review of draft reports• Give something back to host communities (presentation

of findings, executive report in plain English, posters, videos)

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Take Away Message• ESP strives to lead field in TK integration

• We actively seek TK from Iñupiat residents to gain insight and observations (with remuneration)

• TK informs all aspects of the ESP biological studies and Phys. Oceanography as well as Sociocultural studies and is processed in NEPA analyses.

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Documents

Chris Campbell Sociocultural Specialist Environmental Studies Program US-Canada O&G Forum, 2012 Sociocultural Studies Alaska OCS Region Environmental Studies