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bear, sea otter, beluga whales, bowhead whales, fur seals, sea 

 lions, and a variety of species of seals, are a key source of food 

 for Alaska Natives living throughout coastal Alaska. Marine 

 mammals supply a preferred fresh food for Alaska Natives throughout 

 the year, as well a source of barter and trade with inland Natives 

 in exchange for land mammals that may not be available to those who 

 dwell on the coast. Marine mammals also figure prominently in 

 Native stories, art, traditions, and cultural activities. 



Alaska Natives make a wide variety of handicrafts and clothing 

 from the marine mammals they harvest. They sew parkas, hats, 

 gloves, and footgear to keep themselves warm. They make carvings 

 and decorations for their homes and for gifts to their friends and 

 relatives. They barter these items for other items through 

 traditional trading networks throughout Alaska. And they sell what 

 they make to Natives and non-Natives alike. 



The sale of handicrafts made of marine mammal by-products has 

 become a crucial source of income in many remote Native villages. 

 Jobs are scarce there, and many have limited ways to make money 

 other than government assistance and the occasional seasonal job. 

 The limited cash that carvers and sewers can make from their hand- 

 made clothing and handicrafts therefore is vital in providing at 

 least some cash in the villages to sustain the subsistence hunting 

 and fishing way of life. 



I want to emphasize two things in this respect. First, in 

 keeping with the conservation ethic upon which all Native cultures 

 are fundamentally based, Alaska Natives do not take marine mammals 

 just to make handicrafts from the ivory and skin. Rather, they 

 take marine mammals for subsistence purposes and for the use of the 

 non-edible parts for clothing and handicrafts. This leads to my 

 second point: the production of handicrafts is not commercial 

 activity, but a continuation and adaptation to a market economy of 

 an ancient Native tradition of making and then bartering 

 handicrafts and clothing for other items that Natives need. 



As this short description of the use and importance of marine 

 mammals makes clear, the taking and use of marine mammals is a 

 fundamental part of Native culture, whether it be Yupik, Inupiag, 

 Indian or Aleut. It is so fundamental that Alaska Natives are 

 committed to doing whatever it takes to preserve and protect their 

 rights to harvest these animals according to the cultural ways. 



Alaska Natives are not the only ones with a long-standing 

 tradition of reliance on marine mammals. Their relatives in 

 Greenland, Canada and Russia are egually dependent on these 

 resources, and rely on them in much the same manner: for food and 

 clothing, and as a source of income. I urge the Committee to keep 

 this important point in mind as it evaluates how best to continue 

 to protect uses of marine mammals by all indigenous peoples, 

 regardless of where they live. 



