Sivuqaq Sharing Project

Arctic communities are facing unprecedented environmental, economic and social changes. The Bering Sea is at the geographic epicenter of these changes. Mixed economies—those that blend subsistence hunting, fishing, and gathering with wages and crafting work, fused by together by strong social relationships—are a persistent source of stability and social cohesion in a changing environment. In this research project, we will examine the mixed economies of two Alaskan communities, Sivuqaq (Gambell) and Sivungaq (Savoonga), by documenting flows of wild foods and other resources as they are shared among households and communities. By mapping the distribution of food, labor, and other goods within and between communities, we will describe the set of complex social relationships upon which subsistence practices and thus mixed economies are built. Understanding the social structures at the base of mixed economies will allow policymakers and others to more fully account for the potential impacts of climate and policy changes on Sivuqaq (St. Lawrence Island) and community responses to changing conditions.