CATG "real" project, the experience becomes transferable to other projects. An example of a regional project being developed through this process is an agreement between CATG villages for bulk fuel purchase. This was initiated at a Planning Meeting, in March of 1988. The designated village planners are responsible for gathering statistics on fuel consumption, transportation, and related costs. Other resources to the project include RurAL CAP's Energy Department and model purchase agreements made by other groups involved in bulk fuel buys. The planning and development of model projects is how the Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments is implementing our long range goals for local control and economic self-sufficiency. They fit into our comprehensive plan to develop industries that are compatible with our subsistence economy and way of life. At the same time, each of them moves us one step closer to our overall goals for Strength and Unity, Land and Resource Protection, and Social and Economic Development in the Yukon Flats. L p. o. box 126 *fort yukon, alaska 99740 * (907)662-2587 or (907)662-2581 RESOLUTION 88-05 REQUESTING THAT CERTAIN ACTIONS TAKE PLACE REGARDING FIRE MANAGEMENT IN THE YUKON FLATS IN THE INTERIOR OF ALASKA WHEREAS: The Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments is a tribal organization authorized by the tribal governments of the villages of the Yukon Flats in the interior of Alaska; and, WHEREAS: The purpose of the Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments is to conserve and protect tribal land and other resources; to encourage and support the exercise of tribal powers of self-government; to aid and support economic development; to promote the general welfare of each member tribe and it's respective individual members; to preserve and maintain justice for all; and to otherwise, exercise all powers granted by its member villages; and, WHEREAS: The Athabascan Indian people of the Yukon Flats continue, as they have since time immemorial, to derive their living from the land and its renewable resources including fur bearing animals; and Hunting, fishing, and trapping provide for the nutritional, cultural, and economic well being of our people; and, WHEREAS: WHEREAS: High unemployment and shrinking state and federal programs have caused recurring economic recession and reinforced our determination and need to depend on the land for survival; and, WHEREAS: WHEREAS: During the Summer of 1988 numerous forest fires were ignited on traditional hunting, fishing, and trapping lands and Native Allotments in the Yukon Flats in the Interior of Alaska; and, According to personal testimony from several trappers, when the fires were still small and manageable, they had informed the Bureau of Land Management and requested that the fires be manned immediately to avoid the danger to their trap lines and Allotments; and, WHEREAS: The United States Fish and Wildlife Service requested the Bureau of Land Management not to fight these fires because of the current Fire Management Policy of Zoned Suppression popularly known as the "Let Burn" Policy and because they say that the growth which would occur after the fire dies out would constitute good moose browse ; and, WHEREAS: Over one million acres of valuable waterfowl habitat have been destroyed in the fires of the summer of 1988 as a result of the fire management policies of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service contrary to the intent of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act; and, WHEREAS: This land constituted the trapping lands and livelihood of over twenty five trappers whose cabins, equipment, and traditional trap CATG 89-05 WHEREAS: lines were burned; and, Known, traditional cabins were allowed to burn if they had no WHEREAS: The damage caused by these fires will significantly impair trapping in the Yukon Flats for the next twenty years and there after; and, WHEREAS: The smoke from these expanded forest fires blanketed the Yukon Flats for many days causing great danger and discomfort to the health and safety of all the residents of the Yukon Flats and seriously interfered with aviation in the Yukon Flats; and, WHEREAS: WHEREAS: WHEREAS: WHEREAS: WHEREAS: The cost of fighting the fire at the outset would have been After the Fish and Wildlife Service recognized these dangers, the Bureau of Land Management began fighting the expanded fires at enormous expense; and, The BLM did not insure the safe evacuation of the village of Birch Creek nor did they make arrangements for their basic needs after evacuation, asking the villagers to make a very dangerous trip on the river in their own boats, risking breakdown and getting caught in what could quickly become a hazardous fire area when fixed wing air transportation was readily available in Birch Creek and Fort Yukon, a short flight away; and, Fire crews were brought in from Nevada, Idaho, etc. as trainees from the lower '48 while seasoned local Native fire crews were available; and, While Alaska Native fire crews are highly skilled in their work and train lower '48 fire fighters, there are numerous areas of potential employment in the fire service for which Alaska Natives are not trained; and, WHEREAS: These problems clearly outweigh any benefits derived from the creation of moose grazing habitat; and, WHEREAS: These problems could be prevented in the future by aggressively fighting forest fires in the Yukon Flats and by including the Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments in any future Fire Management Planning meetings. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments requests that action be taken to by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Land Management to gauge the full impact of the 1988 Summer fire season on the Yukon Flats and take steps to resolve the problems raised in this resolution; and, CATG 88-05 THAT: THAT: THAT: THAT: THAT: THAT: THAT: THAT: the Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments requests the Department of Community and Regional Affairs of the State of Alaska, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Land Management fund an assessment program to be completed in each affected village in the Yukon Flats to document and estimate trapline loss, cabin loss, equipment loss, new start-up costs and overall long range income loss to individuals in the Yukon Flats as a result of the 1988 Summer Fire Season; and, the Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments requests that they become part of any future Fire Management planning effort that will effect the Yukon Flats; and, the Council for Athabascan Tribal Governments requests that the current Fire Management Plan be changed to reflect the concerns of this resolution; and, A reforestation program be instituted in the Yukon Flats utilizing local Native hire from the Yukon Flats to implement the program; and, A program be implemented to provide training opportunities and employment for Alaska Natives in every type of fire service work from labor to management; and, Hiring procedures be changed to have recruitment closer to the fire season rather than in December which is too far ahead for people to plan; and, Step tests be given at the time of hiring for those that want to work but do not have updated red cards: and, A program of medical testing be instituted whereby a check-up ADOPTED OCTOBER 13,1988, AT THE FOURTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF Clar Alexander, Chairman Paul Williams, Sr. Member t ande Date 14-16 -85 Larry Nathaniel, Member me & Brick Ernest Eric, Member Date 10-14-88 _Date___ /(- 14 - ÿ Date 10-14-88 Date__10-14-88 Randall Balaam, Member Randall Baalam. CATG 88-05 |