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The value of the Native commissions . 



The formation and work of the commissions discussed above is 

 meant to satisfy several goals. First, the commissions operate to 

 provide information to and advocacy on behalf of Native marine 

 mammal users. This provides a formal means for Alaska Natives to 

 pass on their beliefs to future generations, and to help remote 

 villagers understand the myriad of rules and regulations with which 

 they must contend. 



Second, the commissions work to develop regulatory structures 

 with the villages, thereby formal structures to supplement (not 

 replace) existing practices to protect marine mammals species. 

 These regulatory structures also provide the concrete mechanisms 

 sought by government agencies and outside interests, demonstrating 

 in a more western context precisely how Native rules and 

 regulations are applied and enforced in the villages. 



Finally, the commissions provide a vehicle for comanagement of 

 marine mammal species between the government agencies on the one 

 hand and Native users on the other hand. "Comanagement" has become 

 an important concept in Alaska, referring as it does to the actual 

 sharing of power and responsibility for marine mammal management in 

 a way that best protects the interests of the Native peoples, the 

 government, and the marine mammal species themselves. It is so 

 important that I would like to discuss its value in greater detail. 



Comanagement 



The idea of shared decision-making over marine mammal 

 research, regulation, and enforcement has taken on considerable 

 urgency in recent years, as Alaska Natives have increasingly had to 

 deal with federal and state hunting regulations that often are 

 inconsistent with Native customs and traditions, to the point that 

 those regulations may require hunters and fishers actually to 

 violate their own cultural rules. The custom and tradition of 

 Alaska Natives is characterized by two key principles. First, as 

 a general rule, Native subsistence users take only fish and game as 

 needed, and they take it when it is available. Second, the take is 

 shared with their family and neighbors. The standard management 

 tools of seasons and individual bag limits generally are 

 inconsistent with these customs. For example, a fall hunting 

 season will severely restrict the custom and need to obtain fresh 

 meat during the winter; and an individual bag limit of one animal 

 per hunter hardly will allow that hunter to provide for his family, 

 his sister's family, and his parents. 



Another standard management tool is the use of methods and 

 means restrictions, generally for the purpose of conservation (such 

 as prohibitions on fish traps) , enforcement (sealing and tagging 

 requirements) , and some notion of fairness (not shooting from a 

 snowmachine) . While unintentional, some of these restrictions 

 place Native hunters in a difficult position, for they may require 

 them to violate their cultural rules. For example, with some 



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