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09-29 Support the marine mammal observer training program of Ilisagvik College in Barrow for all Natives

Published on November 10th, 2009

By ALEX DEMARBAN

Summary

AFN endorses the college, Alaska's only accredited tribal college, as the recognized training center for Natives as marine mammal observers. The AFN president and board of directors will oppose any efforts to enact congressional legislation to require post secondary education credentials over the accrued and expert traditional ecological knowledge of Natives in each respective region and community.

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Full Text

RESOLUTION 09-29

A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE MARINE MAMMAL OBSERVER TRAINING PROGRAM FOR ILISAGVIK COLLEGE FOR ALL ALASKAN NATIVES

WHEREAS: The Alaska Commission on Post Secondary Education has authorized Ilisagvik College to operate in the State of Alaska in accordance with the terms and conditions of Alaska Statutes 14.48 and with the rules and regulations pertinent thereto; and

WHEREAS: Ilisagvik College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU); and

WHEREAS: Ilisagvik College is the only federally recognized accredited tribal college in Alaska which provides quality post-secondary academic, vocational and technical education in a learning environment that perpetuates and strengthens culture, language, values, and traditions dedicated to providing well-educated and trained individuals who meet the human resource needs of Industrial Employers; and

WHEREAS: The State of Alaska has over 44,000 miles of coastline with nearly 75% of Alaska's residents residing in coastal communities with commercial fishing, logging, tourism, and oil and gas projects industrial operators that produce over 80% of the state's economic product; and

WHEREAS: Alaska Natives depend on renewable subsistence wildlife resources to sustain their unique cultural, customary and traditional identities through sustainable harvest levels of wildlife resources vitally important to each respective culture; and

WHEREAS: Lobbying efforts are being made to enact congressional legislation requiring post secondary education credentials prior to hiring Marine Mammal Observers on industry vessels in the future which would disqualify many Alaskan Natives who have been employed by industry operators; and

WHEREAS: The accrued Traditional Ecological Knowledge of Alaskan Natives is invaluable in providing expert traditional knowledge to monitor and protect industry operators from adversely impacting Alaska's marine mammal wildlife resources when actively conducting research, exploration, development and production in the open seas; and

WHEREAS: Ilisagvik College has developed a viable Stewardship Training for Marine Mammal Observers Program, that incorporates both Traditional Ecological Knowledge along with academic courses, that has trained many Alaska Natives who were employed as Marine Mammal Observers onboard industry vessels including subsistence hunters, whaling captains and whaling captains wives with decades of traditional knowledge in Arctic waters; and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Delegates to the 2009 Alaska Federation of Natives Annual Convention affirm and strongly support the vital importance of utilizing Traditional Ecological Knowledge in the protection of our renewable subsistence resource; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Delegates to the 2009 Alaska Federation of Natives hereby endorse Ilisagvik College, Alaska's only accredited tribal college as the recognized training center for Alaskan Natives as Marine Mammal Observers; and

BE IT FURTHERMORE RESOLVED THAT the 2009 Alaska Federation of Natives Annual Convention Delegates direct the AFN President and AFN Board of Directors to oppose any efforts to enact congressional legislation to require post secondary education credentials over the accrued and expert traditional ecological knowledge of Alaskan Natives in each respective region and community.

SUBMITTED BY: ILISAGVIK COLLEGE, UKPEAGVIK INUPIAT CORPORATION

COMMITTEE ACTION: DO PASS

CONVENTION ACTION: PASSED