History
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A Brief History of the Chugach Region
Natives of the Chugach Region in Alaska live in seven coastal communities in Prince William Sound and on the southwestern tip of the Kenai Peninsula. Historically, this area has had abundant natural resources, with spectacularly productive fisheries. The present-day prominence of the Russian Orthodox Church and of "Russian" surnames are evidence of the impact that early Russian explorers, fur traders, and clergy had on this area. When the United States became connected to the area, copper mines and the commercial fishing industry brought many non-Natives to the Region, resulting in continued contact between the regional Native cultures and non-Native beliefs and values.
The Native people of this region have had several devastating experiences. In the early 1900s, a small pox epidemic decimated the community of Nuchek, which had been a trading center and the focal point for regional Natives since the Russians came to the area. The pneumonia epidemic in the 1930s also had a significant impact on the region, with those who were known to have pneumonia being sent away, never to return. The 1964 Good Friday Earthquake and Tsunami washed away many of the residents and most of the buildings in Chenega, as well as causing extensive damage in Valdez and Seward. Most recently, in 1989, the Exxon Valdez ran aground on Bligh Reef, just seven miles from Tatitlek, spilling an estimated 11 million gallons of oil which spread across the Prince William Sound through lower Cook Inlet to Kodiak Island and beyond.
Consequences of the Exxon Valdez oil spill remain under dispute, but the lifestyle of the regional Natives has unquestionably been affected. One recent study of 15 villages affected by the spill (including 4 of the Chugach Region communities) documents a significant decrease in subsistence usage during 1989-1991. The decline in usage in the four communities of the Chugach Region studied are presented in the table below.
Changes in subsistence levels following the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
Community |
Percent Decline in Subsistence Usage |
Chenega Bay |
|
Tatitlek |
|
Nanwalek |
|
Port Graham |
Hunters need to travel further for seals and other sea mammals. The herring fishery, which is the first to open each year, did not open in 1993 or 1994 due to the minimal number of fish returning and the high numbers of diseased fish. The pink salmon fishery, which has been the mainstay of the Prince William Sound commercial fishing fleet, was not productive enough in the 1992, 1993, or 1994 seasons to cover operating losses for boat owners. Subsistence losses were specifically excluded from the court proceedings in 1994, although the Native communities will be receiving pro-rated portions of the settlements and punitive damages arising from the criminal judicial process.
Since the time of the spill, the fisheries have grown, though (as noted above) they have done so in fits and starts. However, the Natives of the region have again been adversely affected by a disaster which was not of their making. The economic importance of the fisheries to the Chugach Region cannot be overstated. But just as importantly, the spill has harmed the cultures of the Native Communities of the Chugach Region. The communities of the Region are traditional fishing communities, where subsistence gathering of fish, game, and plants for use during the winter is the activity which dominates the summers. The villages gather subsistence foods not just for the sake of feeding themselves, but as an activity which involves entire extended families. After harvest, where different members of the family have different duties, subsistence food is shared within the village. In short, subsistence is the way of life for the peoples of the Chugach Region.
The losses in subsistence harvests in the years directly following the oil spill were significant. The long-term effects of the spill are more significant. The Natives of the Chugach Region have come to realize that they cannot take their subsistence lifestyles for granted. They have to attempt to mesh their traditional economies with the western cash economy. The tribal governments must take the lead in the social and economic development of the villages and communities.
The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA)
The passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) in 1971 settled the aboriginal claim to land in Alaska by transferring title to 40 million acres of land and nearly a billion dollars distribution over a ten year period to Alaska Natives. The settlement, however, was handled differently than any other that the U.S. government had reached. Instead of settling directly with tribes (or Alaska Native counterparts, villages) the U.S. government structured the settlement in such a way that the recipients would be business corporations established by Alaska Natives on village and regional levels. Under this act, the state of Alaska was divided into twelve geographical regions, based upon the existence of Native associations throughout the state. (See Map 1 in Appendix A).