An Overview Of Air Pollution Education and Outreach



“Most of Western science is reductionist in nature and seeks to force natural experience and knowledge into predetermined categories that ultimately fail to describe or explain anything. Indians have to be particularly alert as to the nature of education and what non-Indians seek to accomplish with it.” - Vine Deloria, Jr, Standing Rock Sioux from his book: "Power and Place, Indian Education in America".

Educating Tribal Communities in Alaska regarding air pollution issues can effect social and cultural aspects. Communities in rural Alaska have unique environmental issues that are, in some perspectives, disconnected from those issues (industrial effects of other countries are affecting lands and territories that Tribal communities had no knowledge they existed, much less that these activities can and are polluting their air, lands, waters and animals). Agencies and the individuals who deal with these matters are in the lower 48 states, so major miscommunication and no communication on environmental matters have to be met and overcome.

Complex issues surround the tribal communities as they work to balance their "subsistence-way-of-life" versus economic/industrial development whose activities can affect air with pollution emissions that ultimately end up in the water and food resources. Solid waste disposal affects the lands, water and air and heating homes not on the main road system take complex measures. There is not a “simple” fix.

Education and planning for programs is most successful when there is a “community-based” approach. Using this approach helps those in the communities develop a sense of ownership and accomplishment when addressing pollutions problems in villages. Experts can more easily address options once they have visited the tribal community in person.

Environmental education in rural Alaska can be a powerful process not only from each individual standpoint but in asserting the sovereign rights of First Nations and peoples of Alaska.


Tribal Program Examples

Currently there are many Tribes with programs that have developed samples/models which can be modified for use in tribal communities in Alaska.

The first EPA program was developed by the environmental outreach specialist at Chugachmuit. This website can be linked to when delivering the air pollution information with this program. The program title and the manual can be found at: 7 Generations: Addressing Village Environmental Issues for Future Generations.
http://www.7generations.us/7GenMan.pdf.

The 7 Generations Program addresses the issues of environmental assessments and planning in villages/tribal communities, environmental assessment surveys and resources for communities. The 7 Generation Manual addresses Air Pollution issues on pages 133-136. Additional issues discussed include: Open landfill burning, Burn barrels, Environmental: tobacco smoke and wood stove smoke. This is a program that was designed to address the unique issues in tribal communities in Alaska.

Nez Perce Tribe
Education and outreach for the Tribe and to the reservation community.
Contact:
Julie Simpson
(208) 842-7375
julies@nezperce.org

Maniilaq Association
In 2003, Maniilaq Association of Kotzebue, Alaska, teamed/partnered up with Appalachia State University, Boone, North Carolina, for the first national Appropriate Technology Summer Internship Program. Eleven interns journeyed into Inupiat country to share their knowledge of appropriate technology (energy conservation, wind power, solar power, etc.). They worked with twelve villages within the Region who range in populations numbers from 150-3,100. The largest village is Kotzebue, where Maniilaq has its offices. The internship program ran from May 25 to July 25, 2003.

A few of the program activities were: designing displays and demonstration units for energy fairs (given in each village), conducting residential energy and emission inventory surveys, inspecting sites for wind turbines, erecting and repairing anemometer towers, installing a fish camp wind turbine, operating PM10 hi-vol dust monitors, activity reports and wind turbine grant writing.

Non-program activities included: talks with the Village Council, the environmental staff, and Tribal Community inhabitants; attended gatherings; fishing; camping; beach parties; sample traditional foods and just enjoyed the rich, unique and wonderful Artic countryside. There were many long faces when the interns had to leave. This program was a good thing! Tai ku (Inupiat/Eskimo for "thank you").

International Experts Review Air Quality in the Arctic
The National Park Service hosted a meeting of International Experts on Air Quality in September 2008. The experts discussed issues affecting air in the Arctic. To read this report go to: www.ijc.org/en/publications/rpts.htm.