CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2016
| Author | Tang, Cecile |
|---|---|
| Title | Changing Subsistence in Mid-Twentieth Century Alaska: An Analysis and Interpretation of Fish and Game Records Along the Yukon River |
| Summary | Throughout its long history, subsistence has been extremely important to Alaska’s Indigenous communities - in ways that go beyond the simple notion of harvesting wild resources for sustenance. Rather, it is a unique way of life enabled by a variety of food procurement and processing strategies, giving rise to a resilient food system. Yet, little is known about how people adapt their subsistence practices to wider social, economic and political forces, or the events that would stress these practices and require adjustments or transformations. This thesis addresses this research gap by examining the evolution of subsistence activities in 25 Alaska Native communities during a unique period of great political, economic and social changes; the mid-twentieth century. Belonging to the discipline of historical ecology, this research offers an analysis and interpretation of 236 historical survey records. It is the first attempt in academia to establish reference conditions of subsistence harvests from mid-twentieth century Alaska, providing valuable insight on the adaptation strategies of subsistence users to changing social, political and economic contexts. It includes the role of sled dogs, prey switching, outpost gardening and store-bought food. The ability to have a variety of food options, whose flexibility can adapt to new and complex challenges, is fundamental to the future of subsistence users and their practices. The Polar Regions are amongst the first impacted by climate change, and subsistence practices and food systems will need to continue to adapt and evolve in the face of such new challenges. |
| Supervisor | Loring, Philip; Gerlach, Craig; Cherp, Aleh |
| Department | Environment Sciences and Policy MSc |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2016/tang_cecile.pdf |
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