| Summary: | This paper aims to discuss contemporary situations and challenges regarding natural resource management and extractive industries in Kuskokwim River drainage, Alaska, U.S.A. Indigenous societies along the Kuskokwim River experienced severe decline of king salmon during the 2010s. With the effort of various stakeholders, the number of spawning king salmon seems to be increasing. However, there is another issue to be solved. Donlin Gold mine was proposed in the middle part of Kuskokwim River and is now in the process of getting permission from related agencies. If it begins its operation, the mine will be one of the biggest in the world. The gold mine may bring long-awaited opportunities for employment for locals during the 30 years of operation, but it is also possible that it may cause devastating environmental damages. In this paper, I discuss how local indigenous societies respond to this new environmental management issue.
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