A Collaborative and Mutually Beneficial Tribal Marine Science Workshop Format for Tribal Natural Resource Professionals, Marine Educators, and Researchers

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Tribal Marine Science Workshop has run annually since 2010. The workshop takes place at the Kasitsna Bay Laboratory, owned by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and operated by NOAA and the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, near Seldovia, Alaska. It is hosted by the Seldovia Village Tribe, sponsored by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and coordinated by Kai Environmental Consulting Services. The idea for the workshop started with two of the authors. Based on discussions with and requests from local tribal communities, they realized that many tribal natural resource managers have a range of responsibilities and extensive job experience but may not have relevant formal education and training. Lacking these, the managers believed their insight and opinions were undervalued by scientists, policy makers, and government officials. This workshop focuses on Alaska Natives in tribal environmental offices working in the coastal marine environment. It brings together researchers, educators, and tribal leaders who are experts in their respective fields to work with tribal natural resource managers. A primary workshop goal is to have the participants implement what they learn in the workshop in their communities. The Kasitsna Bay Laboratory is the perfect location for this workshop, with its wet lab, dry lab, classrooms, and ability to house everyone on-site. The format for the workshop combines classroom presentations, hands-on activities and field programs led by researchers, educators, and tribal leaders. The workshop closes with a potluck subsistence dinner featuring traditional marine and terrestrial foods from the participants' home regions. The organizers cover all costs of the workshop. The workshop's effectiveness is demonstrated by the desire of participants to return in subsequent years and to bring members of their community to the workshop, as well as by qualitative summary evaluations. Summary evaluations and conversations during the workshop indicate that participants view the integration of traditional knowledge and Western science as one of the strengths of the workshop and the presenters' focus on storytelling as a means of instruction. We hope to continue this workshop and to gather more quantitative evidence concerning its effectiveness, and we encourage others to replicate this workshop format in other areas and with other communities.