Tribal Textbook

In 2008, a working group met in Alaska initiated by the Chugach Regional Resources Commission (CRRC) to work toward developing of a college-level textbook on Tribal Management of Natural Resources. At this time, CRRC invited the Native American Fish &Wildlife Society to discuss collaboration efforts towards this endeavor.

Meeting a Need
At that time, the CCRC in cooperation with the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Interior-Aleutians Campus which offers college-level education to remote villages in Alaska became aware of the lack of suitable reading material for college students regarding Tribal management of Natural Resources.

Although many colleges and universities offer Native Studies of some sort, and Natural Resource Management classes, the materials are often written from a Western academic point of view. Many times it does not reflecting Tribal issues, concerns, or perspectives other than a few footnote entries or a few paragraphs on Native American experiences.

While many Tribes across the nation and state have practiced Tribal Natural Resource Management for years and are often not consulted or contacted for their wealth of information and knowledge. Especially in the areas of contemporary and Indigenous Knowledge where this information is lacking.

"The goals and objectives are to create a textbook and accompanying supplemental materials that reflect Indigenous beliefs, values and understandings of the natural world. These textbooks will be distributed to universities, tribal colleges, natural resource programs and booksellers nationwide.”

-PattyBrown-Schwalenberg, Chugach Regional Resources Commission

Project Update

Since 2008, the Tribal Textbook Project has entered an MOU with the Native American Fish & Wildlife Society and seeks funding for a three-year project.

Project
Tribes are welcome to add information regarding tribal management of natural resources. This includes spirituality, relationships to all of creation, science, tribal values, worldviews; and written by tribal people, for tribal people, from a tribal perspective. Tribes may offer their tribal codes and other management plans and ideas.

Tribal Resolution of Support
The project seeks Tribal assistance in Resolutions of Support. This is for tribes to identify their culture bearers and experts in traditional environmental knowledge from your respective regions; case studies; and any other assistance you may offer.

Working Group
The project working group consists of Native American tribal professionals from across the nation who are working in Tribal Natural Resource Programs.

For more information about the Tribal Textbook Project, please contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , at the Chugach Regional Resources Commission.