Total Environment of Change: Impacts of Climate Change and Social Transitions on Subsistence Fisheries in Northwest Alaska
Arctic ecosystems are undergoing rapid changes as a result of global climate change, with significant implications for the livelihoods of Arctic peoples. In this paper, based on ethnographic research conducted with the Iñupiaq communities of Noatak and Selawik in northwestern Alaska, we detail promi...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:9279451d619b4c06a17cd7cf11536d35 2023-05-15T14:48:20+02:00 Total Environment of Change: Impacts of Climate Change and Social Transitions on Subsistence Fisheries in Northwest Alaska Katie J. Moerlein Courtney Carothers 2012-03-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-04543-170110 https://doaj.org/article/9279451d619b4c06a17cd7cf11536d35 EN eng Resilience Alliance http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol17/iss1/art10/ https://doaj.org/toc/1708-3087 1708-3087 doi:10.5751/ES-04543-170110 https://doaj.org/article/9279451d619b4c06a17cd7cf11536d35 Ecology and Society, Vol 17, Iss 1, p 10 (2012) Arctic climate change environmental anthropology fisheries human dimensions local knowledge social-ecological systems subsistence traditional ecological knowledge Biology (General) QH301-705.5 Ecology QH540-549.5 article 2012 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-04543-170110 2022-12-31T07:49:24Z Arctic ecosystems are undergoing rapid changes as a result of global climate change, with significant implications for the livelihoods of Arctic peoples. In this paper, based on ethnographic research conducted with the Iñupiaq communities of Noatak and Selawik in northwestern Alaska, we detail prominent environmental changes observed over the past twenty to thirty years and their impacts on subsistence-based lifestyles. However, we suggest that it is ultimately insufficient to try to understand how Arctic communities are experiencing and responding to climate change in isolation from other stressors. During interviews and participant observation documenting local observations of climatic and related environmental shifts and impacts to subsistence fishing practices, we find the inseparability of environmental, social, economic, cultural, and political realms for community residents. Many of our informants, who live in a mixed economy based on various forms of income and widespread subsistence harvesting of fish and game, perceive and experience climate change as embedded among numerous other factors affecting subsistence patterns and practices. Changing lifestyles, decreasing interest by younger generations in pursuing subsistence livelihoods, and economic challenges are greatly affecting contemporary subsistence patterns and practices in rural Alaska. Observations of climate change are perceived, experienced, and articulated to researchers through a broader lens of these linked lifestyle and cultural shifts. Therefore, we argue that to properly assess and understand the impacts of climate change on the subsistence practices in Arctic communities, we must also consider the total environment of change that is dramatically shaping the relationship between people, communities, and their surrounding environments. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Climate change Alaska Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Ecology and Society 17 1 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Arctic climate change environmental anthropology fisheries human dimensions local knowledge social-ecological systems subsistence traditional ecological knowledge Biology (General) QH301-705.5 Ecology QH540-549.5 |
spellingShingle |
Arctic climate change environmental anthropology fisheries human dimensions local knowledge social-ecological systems subsistence traditional ecological knowledge Biology (General) QH301-705.5 Ecology QH540-549.5 Katie J. Moerlein Courtney Carothers Total Environment of Change: Impacts of Climate Change and Social Transitions on Subsistence Fisheries in Northwest Alaska |
topic_facet |
Arctic climate change environmental anthropology fisheries human dimensions local knowledge social-ecological systems subsistence traditional ecological knowledge Biology (General) QH301-705.5 Ecology QH540-549.5 |
description |
Arctic ecosystems are undergoing rapid changes as a result of global climate change, with significant implications for the livelihoods of Arctic peoples. In this paper, based on ethnographic research conducted with the Iñupiaq communities of Noatak and Selawik in northwestern Alaska, we detail prominent environmental changes observed over the past twenty to thirty years and their impacts on subsistence-based lifestyles. However, we suggest that it is ultimately insufficient to try to understand how Arctic communities are experiencing and responding to climate change in isolation from other stressors. During interviews and participant observation documenting local observations of climatic and related environmental shifts and impacts to subsistence fishing practices, we find the inseparability of environmental, social, economic, cultural, and political realms for community residents. Many of our informants, who live in a mixed economy based on various forms of income and widespread subsistence harvesting of fish and game, perceive and experience climate change as embedded among numerous other factors affecting subsistence patterns and practices. Changing lifestyles, decreasing interest by younger generations in pursuing subsistence livelihoods, and economic challenges are greatly affecting contemporary subsistence patterns and practices in rural Alaska. Observations of climate change are perceived, experienced, and articulated to researchers through a broader lens of these linked lifestyle and cultural shifts. Therefore, we argue that to properly assess and understand the impacts of climate change on the subsistence practices in Arctic communities, we must also consider the total environment of change that is dramatically shaping the relationship between people, communities, and their surrounding environments. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Katie J. Moerlein Courtney Carothers |
author_facet |
Katie J. Moerlein Courtney Carothers |
author_sort |
Katie J. Moerlein |
title |
Total Environment of Change: Impacts of Climate Change and Social Transitions on Subsistence Fisheries in Northwest Alaska |
title_short |
Total Environment of Change: Impacts of Climate Change and Social Transitions on Subsistence Fisheries in Northwest Alaska |
title_full |
Total Environment of Change: Impacts of Climate Change and Social Transitions on Subsistence Fisheries in Northwest Alaska |
title_fullStr |
Total Environment of Change: Impacts of Climate Change and Social Transitions on Subsistence Fisheries in Northwest Alaska |
title_full_unstemmed |
Total Environment of Change: Impacts of Climate Change and Social Transitions on Subsistence Fisheries in Northwest Alaska |
title_sort |
total environment of change: impacts of climate change and social transitions on subsistence fisheries in northwest alaska |
publisher |
Resilience Alliance |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-04543-170110 https://doaj.org/article/9279451d619b4c06a17cd7cf11536d35 |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic Climate change Alaska |
genre_facet |
Arctic Climate change Alaska |
op_source |
Ecology and Society, Vol 17, Iss 1, p 10 (2012) |
op_relation |
http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol17/iss1/art10/ https://doaj.org/toc/1708-3087 1708-3087 doi:10.5751/ES-04543-170110 https://doaj.org/article/9279451d619b4c06a17cd7cf11536d35 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-04543-170110 |
container_title |
Ecology and Society |
container_volume |
17 |
container_issue |
1 |
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1766319411933741056 |