Ethnoichthyology of Southeast Alaska

2015 WAISC Presentation

Andrew Thomason BLA Anthropology and Biology

"Ethnobiology and ethnomedicine are exciting and revolutionary multidisciplinary fields at the center of many current debates on culturally appropriate management of the biodiversity and the human and animal health."

- Andrea Pieroni, Editor and Chief, Journal of Ethnobiology and

Ethnomedicine

Methods

Semi-directed interviews with commercial fishermen

Selection for adults (>18 years old) with at least 3 years or seasons of experience

52 Interview Conducted in Juneau, Kodiak, and Sitka

Limitations

Spatiotemporal Correlates

Ensured Anonymity

Willingness to Participate

Interview Topics

Fishing Practices Home, Body, and Self

BeliefsThe Environment and Regulations

Results

Body Art

Termination

Home/Office Art

Policy Issue

Deaths via Fishing

MarMam

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

Quantitative Analysis via Chi-squared Testing of Categorical Data

State of Origin and Years Fishing

Gender and Fish Representation

Years Fishing and Regulation Concerns

State of Origin and Regulation Concerns

-0.18205

-0.0533

-0.02876

-0.25533

Results Continued

Alpha .05/95% Confidence

Qualitative ResultsReoccurring Beliefs and

Practices:

• Sympathetic Magic

• Ladies on the Vessel

• Rainy Days and Salmon

• First Catch Sacrifice

Results Continued

Environmental Policies: Kudos and Complaints

Kudos• Maintains Fish Stocks

• Reprimands Over-harvest

• Maintains Local Economies

• Maximizes Fishermen Livelihood

Complaints• Political (Permit Stacking)

• Unfair to Alaska Natives

• Marine Mammal Protection/Violence

• Not Well Understood

Ethnoichthyological Conclusions

Syncretic Ecological Knowledge and Cooperative Management

Fish are "out there", seemingly apart from local commercial fishermen- as reflected in sociocultural phenomena

Gender representation and identity, both dynamic, seemingly in flux

What Makes for Good Fishing?

"A Lot of Things."- Every Fisherman. Ever.

Acknowledgements

Dr. Erica Hill, The URECA Committee, Kim Stewart Greinier, the Kimmel Family for hosting me in Sitka, Nathan Bodenstadt, Point Abercrombie Park Staff, Dr. Brian

Vandernaald, the Alutiiq Museum in Kodiak and Brian Fraley, and my

informants during the study

Thanks for listening! Any Questions?