|
|
|
|
|
Nov. 28, 2012 - Anchorage - Dr. Dee Williams, supervisor of the BOEM Alaska Region Environmental Sciences Management Section, participated in the Fireside Chat series at BLM's Campbell Creek Science Center. Williams spoke about how BOEM has been able to increase the role of Traditional Knowledge in research, assessment activities, and decision-making processes and the benefits this can bring for understanding and managing arctic ecosystems. Afterward, audience members commented that it was good to see "positive things happening with the government." Campbell Creek Science Center, BLM Photo.
|
|
|
Nov. 22, 2012 - Anchorage - The Arctic Sounder newspaper featured an article about a BOEM-funded social science study that has been adapted for classroom use. The North Slope Borough School District added maps, illustrations, and photographs and updated introductory material to the 1989 report Point Lay Biographies. The result is a middle school text book that tells the stories of four Inupiaq elders who lived in what is now Point Lay. In the book, the borough gratefully acknowledged BOEM's permission to adapt the original report. BOEM Sociocultural Specialist Chris Campbell with the original report and the adapted textbook. BOEM Photo.
|
|
|
Nov. 13-15, 2012 - Anchorage - BOEM Alaska Region Director Dr. James Kendall was among the presenters at the 2012 U.S. - Canada Northern Oil and Gas Research Forum. He spoke on the use of science in BOEM decision making and reaffirmed the significant value of Traditional Knowledge in research and decision making. The biennial forum provides an opportunity for U.S. and Canadian regulators, industry, scientists, Native groups and others to discuss current research and the future direction of oil and gas activities. The North Slope Science Initiative, the U.S. Department of the Interior, and Canadian counterparts co-hosted the event.BLM Photo
|
|
|
Nov. 7-8, 2012 - Anchorage - BOEM Alaska Region team members attended the Institute of the North's Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act Seminar. Alaska Program Coordinator with the Institute Karlin Itchoak (second from right), served as one of the key instructors. Attendees included BOEM Alaska Region Director Dr. James Kendall (right); Department of the Interior Regional Environmental Protection Assistant Grace Cochon (second from left); and BOEM Tribal and Community Liaison Michael Haller (left). In 1980, Congress passed ANILCA setting aside 106 million acres of federal lands in conservation system units. The seminar serves to increase understanding of the Act and to strengthen partnerships between federal agencies and Alaskans. BOEM Photo
|
|
|
Oct. 25, 2012 - Washington, DC - Dr. Dee Williams, Supervisor of the BOEM Alaska Region Environmental Sciences Management Section, discussed the importance of including Traditional Knowledge in scientific studies during the 18th Inuit Studies Conference, hosted by the Smithsonian Institution. BOEM Photo
|
|
|
Oct. 16-18, 2012 - Anchorage - Leadership of BOEM Alaska attended the First Alaskans Institute Youth and Elders Conference and Alaska Federation of Natives Convention in Anchorage. With up to 5,000 attendees the AFN Convention is the largest representative gathering of Natives in the U.S. Both of these annual gatherings provide an opportunity to exchange ideas and discuss current issues and events affecting Alaska Natives. BOEM Photo |
|
|
Oct. 16, 2012 - Anchorage - Dr. James Kendall, BOEM Alaska Region Director and other team members, met with Yukon Territory Deputy Minister of Energy, Mines & Resources, Brian Love, and YT Director of Oil & Gas, Ron Sumanik. Among the topics they discussed were consultation with Tribal leaders, permitting processes, and the roles and responsibilities of BOEM and BSEE in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas.
|
|
|
Oct. 15, 2012 - Anchorage - Leaders of the newly formed Bering Straits Alliance received a special briefing on the potential for oil and gas exploration in and adjacent to the Federal waters of Norton Sound. Jeffery Loman, Special Assistant for BOEM Alaska Region, detailed results of research and exploration in the area that found little to no potential that would warrant further offshore exploration or development.
|
|
|
Oct. 13, 2012 - Anchorage - Leadership of the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission met with leadership of BOEM Alaska. George Noongwook, AEWC Chairman and President (center), and Johnny Aiken, AEWC Executive Director (second from left), met with Alaska Region Director Jim Kendall (far right), Sharon Warren, Michael Haller, and Dave Johnston during a recent visit to Anchorage. Their discussion highlighted the successes of the Fall Whaling Season, OCS oil and gas exploration activities, and plans for the winter. BOEM Photo |
|
|
September 2012 - Cross Island - BOEM Director Tommy Beaudreau accepted an invitation from Nuiqsut whaling captains to observe a traditional bowhead whale hunt. Beaudreau (left) and Isaac Nukapigak, a whaling captain and president of the board of directors of the Kuukpik Corporation, examine a map of whaling areas near this small island in Beaufort Sea. In designing potential oil and gas lease sales in the Arctic, BOEM considers subsistence use as well as a range of other critical factors, including resource potential and relevant environmental information. DOI Photo
|
|
|
September 20, 2012 - Barrow - James Watson, (second from right) Director of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), and BSEE Alaska Region Director Mark Fesmire, (left) met with Native Village of Barrow President Tommy Olemaun (center), and other North Slope leaders to provide an informal report on observations of Shell's preparations for limited exploration activities in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. BSEE photo
|
|
|
Aug. 24-27, 2012 - Girdwood - U.S. Department of the Interior Deputy Secretary David Hayes and the leadership of BOEM Alaska Region, met with Alaska Native leaders during the annual Arctic Imperative Summit. The event brings together representatives of Alaska's Arctic coastal communities; state, national and international leaders; and industry, providing a forum for collaboration on solutions to Arctic policy issues. BOEM Photo |
|
|
Aug. 2012 - BOEM Ocean Science published a special edition focused on integration of Traditional Knowledge in BOEM's biological resource studies. The effort was led by BOEM Alaska Region's Environmental Sciences Management Section, with section supervisor Dee Williams serving as guest editor. BOEM Photo
|
|
|
Aug. 17, 2012 - Kaktovik / Point Lay - The BOEM North Slope ShoreZone Project teamed up with the "Sense of Place" filmmaking project. The ShoreZone project collects aerial coastal imagery to map shoreline habitats. The project team, with funding from the Arctic Slope Community Foundation and North Slope Borough, provided support to a community-based film project by taking community members on some flights. Elders reviewed the film and were interviewed by young local filmmakers. The elders shared stories related to the land and their observations of change. The collaboration provided an opportunity to integrate Traditional Knowledge into the ShoreZone project. ShoreZone Photo
|
|
|
June 24-28, 2012 - Anchorage - Chris Campbell, BOEM Alaska Region Sociocultural Specialist, gave a presentation at the National Marine Educators Association annual conference describing BOEM's efforts to identify subsistence use areas on the North Slope. She addressed how Traditional Knowledge influences planning and policy for the Alaska Outer Continental Shelf offshore the State of Alaska. BOEM Photo
|
|
|
May 22-23, 2012 - Kotzebue - BOEM and BSEE participated in an oil spill workshop hosted by the Northwest Arctic Borough, the Coastal Response Research Center and NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration. There were more than 50 participants from communities in the borough as well as government and non-government representatives. The meeting included discussions about community involvement in oil spill response; natural resource damage assessment, restoration and recovery; integration of local community and Inupiaq traditional knowledge in disaster response; and enhancing relationships between communities and government agencies regarding planning and preparation for potential oil spill response.
|
|
|
April 30-May 4, 2012 - Grand Ronde, Oregon - BOEM Alaska Region Director Dr. James Kendall attended the Environmental Protection Agency's Region 10 Tribal Leader's Summit, hosted by the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon. The summit's theme, Balancing Traditional Knowledge and Western Science, provided an opportunity to meet, consult and share Traditional Knowledge and to bring attendees up to date on current oil and gas activities in the U.S. Arctic Outer Continental Shelf. |
|
|
March 19-20, 2012 - Barrow - James Watson, Director of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), and Mark Fesmire, Director of the BSEE Alaska Region, consulted with Mayor Charlotte Brower and her leadership team at the North Slope Borough. BSEE Photo
|
|
|
March 19-20, 2012 - Barrow - James Watson, Director of BSEE, and his team consult with Executive Director Doreen Lampe and other leaders of the Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope. The meeting provided an opportunity to listen to the concerns of Alaska Native leaders and to affirm BSEE's mission to promote safety, protect the environment, and conserve offshore resources. BSEE Photo
|
|
|
Feb. 6-10, 2012 - Anchorage - BOEM Alaska Region team members reach out to the community at the Alaska Forum on the Environment. The forum provided an opportunity to learn stakeholders' positions on a range of environmental issues. BOEM Photo
|