Human Health and Well-Being

The Arctic Coasts Workshop was held on October 9 to 11, 2023 at the University of Colorado Boulder. 64 in-person and 4 on-line participants attended the workshop. The goal of the workshop was to bring together a dynamic group of experts to exchange knowledge regarding coastal hazards and impacts, strengthen and expand partnerships, and develop actionable and immediate recommendation for Arctic research and community resilience.

In recognition of the important role that education plays in economic, cultural, social, and political development of a people, and the critical education gaps faced by Inuit today, the delegates of the 2014 Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) General Assembly mandated the ICC Executive Council to hold an Inuit Education Summit prior to the next quadrennial ICC General Assembly in July 2018.

The purpose of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) is engagement with stakeholders: local governments, businesses, associations, membership organizations, tribes, and State and Federal agencies to implement the collective best practices for the improvement of the regional economy. The CEDS is to be an evolving, guiding document for SWAMC, providing direction that supports economic development in the region backed by quantifiable data and the insight of our leadership.

Resolution for Stronger and More Lasting Protection of Tribal Subsistence Resources in the Northern Bering Sea and to Ensure Tribal Self-Determination for Decisions Impacting These Resources

In Alaska, Inuit recognized the lack of decision-making power and management authority to be the greatest threat to Inuit food security. One of the key recommendations of the 2015 report was to learn what is occurring within other Inuit regions, leading to a comparative analysis of co-management practices across Inuit Nunaat (homeland).

In 2020, the Inuit Circumpolar Council Alaska (ICC Alaska) published the Food Sovereignty and Self Governance: Inuit Role in Managing Arctic Marine Resources report. The report examines Inuit management and co-management practices and approaches to distill lessons that can apply across geographic boundaries. 

Kawerak partnered with McKinley Research Group, an Alaska research firm, to survey households in the Kawerak Service Area. The survey was designed to identify community strengths, challenges, and needs, as well as individual household needs. Impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic were also assessed. Survey results will be used to inform Kawerak strategic planning, services, and programs.