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Intersections of water, |
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Anthropology of water resource use
Anthropological Objectives
Anthropological Study of Freshwater Use and Change
Despite its importance, there is little research that documents the interaction between the fresh water system and Arctic peoples. Both historically and contemporarily, little is known about how Arctic peoples experience, understand, and exploit fresh water systems. Understanding how the human population and the fresh water system interact with one another is an issue that becomes more pressing as climate change threatens the sustainability of traditional and contemporary water resources. Site of Fish River settlement prior to gold rush Concurrent to changes in the ecological landscape are changes to the social, technological, political, and economic landscape, among others. We understand that these changes alter the ways in which people procure fresh water for consumption, and changes in ways to travel and hunt, etc. All of these changes together, affect how people view, experience and cope with a changing climate. Village of White Mountain Our research demonstrates that Inupiaq and Yupik peoples in the Arctic have adapted to the environment differently, leading to highly variable ways of procuring and using freshwater resources both in the past and contemporarily. We also understand that perceptions of changing systems on a local level are affected both by experiences in the environment and by outside science, politics, and other influences. Finally, coping strategies employed at a local level when faced with changing climate are highly subject to both pressures and advantages from social and cultural changes. Village of White Mountain Fireweed, a home, and food in White Mountain Fish rack at a summer subsistence camp up the Fish River For further information on the anthropology portion of this project, contact Peter Schweitzer at ffpps@uaf.edu. Storm coming into Wales Photos by Beth Marino
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This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. OPP-0328686. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. UAF is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and educational institution. The University of Alaska Fairbanks is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
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