Subsistence Resource Commissions (SRCs)

NPS staff leads Cape Krusenstern SRC meeting at the NPS facility, Northwest Arctic Heritage Center in Kotzebue

NPS Photo/Emily Mesner

Cape Krusenstern Subsistence Resource Commission

Established by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), Cape Krusenstern National Monument specifically protects subsistence harvest by rural Alaska residents. In ANILCA, Congress acknowledged the exceptional and unique conditions of life in Alaska's rural areas in Title VIII of the Act, noting that:

“The Congress finds and declares that the continuation of the opportunity for subsistence uses by rural residents of Alaska, including both Natives and non-Natives, on the public lands and by Alaska Natives on Native lands is essential to Native physical, economic, traditional, and cultural existence …”

Subsistence Resource Commissions (SRC) were established to ensure local voices and perspectives are included in the management and regulatory process. Over the years the Cape Krusenstern National Monument SRC has informed changes to wildlife regulations, provided insights to changes in the arctic ecosystem, offered suggestions to mitigate and resolve user conflicts, and much more. The Cape Krusenstern National Monument Subsistence Resource Commission is an essential co-steward of the National Park.

 

Chair of the Cape Krusenstern SRC at a meeting in Kotzebue

NPS Photo/Emily Mesner

What is a Subsistence Resource Commission?

Subsistence Resource Commissions (SRCs) have been established for most national parks and monuments in Alaska to provide meaningful participation and involvement of local subsistence users in planning and management decisions. The purpose of the Commission is to recommend to the Governor of Alaska and the Secretary of the Interior a program for subsistence hunting within Cape Krusenstern National Monument.

Since the establishment of the federal subsistence management program in 1990, the SRC has also been making recommendations on proposals for hunting and fishing regulations (e.g., harvest limits, seasons, and customary and traditional use determinations) affecting Cape Krusenstern National Monument directly to the federal subsistence Northwest Regional Advisory Council (RAC) and the Federal Subsistence Board.

Cape Krusenstern National Monument has ten designated "resident zone communities" in the vicinity of the park that have special privileges regarding subsistence within park boundaries. Resident zone communities have cultural ties to the National Park for countless generations. These communities are known as NANA region and are: Ambler, Buckland, Deering, Kiana, Kivalina, Kobuk, Kotzebue, Noatak, Noorvik, Selawik, and Shungnak.

The Commission is comprised of nine local rural residents representing geographic, cultural, and user diversity from within the region. SRC members are appointed by the Governor of Alaska, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Northwest Arctic RAC- three from each appointing body. Cape Krusenstern SRC meets at the NPS Northwest Arctic Heritage Center in Kotzebue two times per year, generally in late February and in October. Updates on meetings can be found on our Facebook page. Meetings are also announced on KOTZ radio.

For more information, to apply for the commission, or to sign up for press releases and meeting announcements contact Subsistence Coordinator, Emily Creek at [phone] or [e-mail]

 

2024-25 CAKR SRC Roster

• Alex Whiting, Chair
• Cyrus Harris
• Attamuk Shiedt 
• Larry Westlake Sr.
• Enoch Adams
• Hilda Booth
• Brian Booth
• 2 vacancies

 

Cape Krusenstern National Monument

NPS Photo/Emily Mesner

Taikuu to all the Cape Krusenstern Subsistence Resource Commission members past and present!