FNF: Federal (control) vs. AK Subsistence Hunting and Fishing

 This week on Friday Night Fights, I bring to you a new swing in the ever growing battle between the Federal Government's attempt over control over all VS States and the management of their land and resources.  This time around, it is Federal Government Vs. Subsistence Fishing and Hunting in Alaska.

The US Department of the Interior Melissa Schwarts prepared a statement where (i'm summarizing this) she accused the ADFG of allowing subsistence fishing of the Kuskokwim river, which is part of the Yukon River Systems, which is in violation of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act Title 8.  Her reasoning is because of PREDICTED low numbers of Chum and Chinook salmon that now require limited openings to federally qualified rural residents.

In other words......  control.

The area in question is home to several different villages where subsistence fishing is a way of life and engrained into these villages, and their peoples' cultures for many generations.  These are remote villages where either access via the Yukon or by air is the only way in and out.  

There are over 33 tribes of Indigenous people on this river in these villages.  They work with AK so that the river stays sustainable for the future, and they are having to substitute with other species to compensate. 

It is more than just a way of life for this region.  Subsistence is a way of life for every Alaskan, self included.  ADFG manages these times and locations for subsistence fishing, working closely with several entities to ensure things run smoothly.  

When grocery costs keep climbing and climbing due to b.s. in the lower 48, rising gas prices, political strife with Canada, and so on, do you blame more and more people for wanting to convert to a self-sustaining, subsistence lifestyle?  I don't.  My family doesn't.  My friends don't.  

So for the Feds to drop a lawsuit suing ADFG for violation of the treaty is just silly.  This takes me back to a thought I had last week of the carrot and the stick.  Instead of hitting ADFG with the stick, maybe work with them to better the fish counts and conditions in the state.  For such a large state with a deficit in fish counts and fish culture, we only have two hatcheries, and they aren't that large compared to some others I've seen in parts of the south.

Federal government sues Alaska over subsistence (msn.com)

Then we stack on an attack on a special subsistence hunt the AK Governor proposed, all following Title 8 of the treaty, which was shot down by a US District Judge.

The Organized Village of Kake relies on subsistence hunting and fishing, much like most of Alaska does.  It's part of who we are as Alaskans.  We live off the land for the most part, not the Corporate Food Tyrants (whom can't even keep their Food Processing Plants from burning to the ground).  

So the village proposed a special hunt, with a small window and selected households.  It was granted by a Federal Subsistence Board, but then shut down by a US Judge on the side of the Treaty. 

They plan on appealing, and rightfully so.  

Judge dismisses Alaska 's complaint against subsistence hunt - Indian Country Today

‘We don’t exist out here’ without subsistence - Indian Country Today

In conclusion, to deny someone the right to feed their family from the land is wrong in my book, pure and simple.  This Treaty is being used as a weapon by the Federal Government in the name of "Conservation," which just shows the big wig's hypocrisy to me yet again.

Keep on fishing everyone.  Keep on fishing.