Place-Based Solutions for Alaska Native Food & Energy Sovereignty (ANS)

 

/drumbeats/images/DrumbeatsLogo_web.pngThe Drumbeats Alaska Consortium was developed with support from the USDA, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Alaska Native-Serving and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Education Competitive Grants Program (ANNH) to  implement the ANS project.  The goal of ANS is to advance place-based Alaska Native food and energy sovereignty through equitable education.  Objectives are as follows:

1) Amplify Alaska Native knowledge and voice in wild and cultivated food systems, both in education and governance. 

2) Enhance Alaska Native place-based energy system knowledge and efficiency.

Drumbeats Alaska Consortium is comprised of academic and community outreach programs from five Alaska Native-Serving Institution  campuses within UAF College of Rural and Community Development:

  • Sustainable Energy (SE) | Bristol Bay Campus - Dillingham
  • Ethnobotany (EBOT) | Kuskokwim Campus - Bethel
  • High Latitude Range Management (HLRM) | Northwest Campus - Nome
  • Tribal Governance & Stewardship (TGS) | Interior Alaska Campus - Fairbanks
  • Food Security & Sovereignty (FSS) | Chukchi Campus - Kotzebue

ANS strengthens educational capacity by supporting faculty to provide food, agricultural and natural resource systems and science curriculum. Faculty employ place-based Indigenous and Western knowledge to design and deliver curricula that increases relevance, while improving student recruitment and retention.

This multifaceted project provides education through distance delivery instruction, experiential learning and place-based instruction. ANS enhances student decision-making, communication and leadership skills to improve quality of life in their communities.  

BBC ENVI students measuring sockeye salmon in local stream at Summer Science Camp 2016 in Dillingham, AK.   /drumbeats/images/hlrm/Portable-Meat-Processing.jpg

Left Photo: Todd Radenbaugh - BBC ENVI students measuring sockeye salmon in local stream at Summer Science Camp 2016 in Dillingham, AK.

Right Photo:  Greg Finstad - Portable slaughter & meat processing classroom in Savoonga, AK. 

 This work is supported by Alaska Native-Serving and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions  Education Competitive Grants Program [grant no. 2021-38426-35089] from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.