Subsistence refers to the harvest, use, and sharing of wild, renewable plant and animal resources for food, shelter, fuel, clothing, tools, or transportation as part of long-standing practices that are an important foundation of Alaska Native cultures. In Alaska subsistence hunting, fishing, and gathering is protected and regulated federal law under Title VIII of the Alaska National Interests Land Conservation Act (ANILCA), which accords a priority for harvesting fish and wildlife by rural residents over recreational/sport and commercial users on federal lands. The State of Alaska also manages subsistence fishing and hunting for State and privately-owned lands, albeit all Alaska residents are eligible under these regulations.
“Our way of life” is how Alaska Natives describe their traditions of subsistence hunting, fishing, and gathering. Protecting these activities helps to preserve indigenous cultures, share traditional ecological knowledge, and connect Tribal elders and youth. Wild subsistence foods are healthier and more economical for Alaska Native people than processed store-bought foods, which must be shipped into rural communities at great expense.
Protecting subsistence activities also supports the economies of Alaska Native communities. Subsistence hunting, fishing and gathering constitute a local economy operating alongside the cash economy. A healthy balance between these two economies, including a sustainable subsistence economy, is critical to the ongoing resilience of Alaska Native communities.
Subsistence Use Programs and Funding
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Alaska Regional Office Subsistence Branch plays a key role in Federal and State agencies’ management of subsistence, and advocates for Alaska Native subsistence rights through the Federal Subsistence Board. The Subsistence Branch also provides funding, guidance, and technical assistance to Tribes, Alaska Native villages, and Alaska-based inter-Tribal organizations on managing natural resources for subsistence use.
The BIA Division of Natural Resources Branch of Fisheries, Wildlife and Recreation (BFWR) provides competitive funding for eligible Alaska-based inter-Tribal organizations to protect, conserve, use, enhance or restore natural resources for subsistence uses with a goal of obtaining a Tribal reserved right to subsistence resources allowing true co-management with State and Federal partners.
Who Manages Land in Alaska?
Subsistence activities in Alaska are managed by both the U.S. Federal government and the State of Alaska. This affects Alaska Natives as traditional hunting, fishing, and gathering areas used by Tribal members lands may encompass different jurisdictions. Thus, the regulations governing subsistence harvests will vary depending on the status of the land or waters where these activities take place.
The U.S. government manages subsistence fishing and hunting on federal public lands and waters under the Title VIII of ANILCA. Management authority is delegated to the Federal Subsistence Board, an eight member board composed of the Regional Director of the BIA, State Director of the Bureau of Land Management, Regional Director of the National Park Service, Regional Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Regional Forester of U.S. Forest Service, and three members of the public (including the Chair) representing rural Alaskans who are appointed by the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture.
The State of Alaska manages subsistence use of fish and wildlife on State public lands and privately-held Tribal lands (including Alaska Native Corporation lands and Native allotments) through the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
How to Apply for Alaska Subsistence Program Funding
BFWR has sent letters to eligible Alaska inter-Tribal organizations to apply for 2026 subsistence project funding. Completed applications must be submitted to the BIA Alaska Regional Office by July 3, 2026.
Eligible inter-Tribal organizations may submit proposals to develop and implement collaborative subsistence management partnerships with the federal agencies responsible for implementing the Title VIII of the Alaska National Interest Land Conservation Act (ANILCA), on federal lands in Alaska.
Each eligible inter-Tribal organization may request between $150,000 and $750,000 in project funding in their application (not including Tribal indirect rate). Eligible inter-Tribal organizations may submit more than one proposal, but only one proposal will be awarded funding.
Project applications are scored according to published eligibility and ranking criteria. Final funding amounts are determined by the amount of funding available in a given fiscal year, and the degree to which proposals aligns with the selection criteria.
For additional information on the program and application process, please contact Glenn Chen, Subsistence Program Manager by phone at (907) 350-4102 or email at glenn.chen@bia.gov.
Previously Funded Alaska Subsistence Program Projects
Chugach Regional Resources Commission
Inter-Tribal Federal Subsistence Cooperative Management Alliance
Mural at CRRC's Alutiiq Pride Marine Institute in Seward, AK emphasizes the diversity of Alaskan ecosystems through all seasons, blending terrestrial and marine species of cultural significance to the Chugach region.
Since time immemorial, Alaska Natives have harvested fish and wildlife resources for food, shelter, clothing, transportation, handicrafts, and trade. Subsistence remains an important source of healthy food, a vital part of rural economies, and a central cultural activity. The Chugach people, Alutiiq/Sugpiaq and Eyak, are Southcentral coastal Alaska Native people from seven Tribal communities located within a remote region, spanning west from the Lower Cook Inlet through Prince William Sound and east to the Lower Copper River. Residents are limited to travel via small aircraft, charter aircraft, and boat, with seasonal Alaska marine highway service.
Map displaying the CRRC member Tribes: Chenega (Caniqaq), Cordova (IiyaaGdaad), Nanwalek, Port Graham (Paluwik), Seward (Qutalleq), Tatitlek (Taatiilaaq), and Valdez.
All communities in CRRC’s region harvest on or in both federal and state lands and waters. Residents use a wide variety of fish and wildlife in their area, including but not limited to moose, caribou, black bear, all five species of salmon, and shellfish. To address environmental and natural resources issues of concern, Chugach Tribal governments formed the Chugach Regional Resources Commission (CRRC) in 1984. Their mission states:
"To protect, rebuild, and conserve the Chugach environment and natural resources while promoting Tribal sovereignty and the protection of a subsistence lifestyle. We strive to assure bio-cultural restoration and conservation, sound economic development, and stewardship of the natural resources in the traditional use areas of the Chugach region while bringing Tribal voices to the forefront of natural resource management processes.
We are the leading inter-Tribal fish and wildlife commission. The CRRC is founded as a community-based, Alaska Native, natural resource management organization. Community resiliency and self-determination are central threads interwoven throughout all our activities."
In partnership with the BIA, CRRC developed an Inter-Tribal Federal Subsistence Cooperative Management Alliance (Alliance) in 2020 to assist member Tribes in navigating the complex fish and wildlife regulatory process through training and technical assistance. The Alliance and CRRC staff work with federal agencies to develop strategies to protect the well-being of the Chugach people, increase Alaska Native influence in regulation and policy at the federal level, and enhance Tribal fish and wildlife resource management capacity. This Alliance provides a platform for CRRC member Tribes to speak and act with a unified voice on federal hunting and fishing regulations, protect Alaska Native hunting and fishing rights, including the harvesting and sharing of fish, game, and other resources, and enhance Tribal management of traditional lands and resources.
CRRC Alliance staff partnered with Alaska Department of Fish & Game to survey anadromous streams in coordination with their salmon projects in Port Graham and Nanwalek.
The Alliance's wildlife program involves research and monitoring studies with the wildlife subsistence species in the region. The CRRC's Alutiiq Pride Marine Institute in Seward, AK houses a new laboratory that researchers use to process and analyze eDNA samples from the field. Regional sample collection for wildlife projects began in 2024 and implementation of eDNA analysis into research and monitoring projects began in 2025.
The Alliance is building a fisheries program that is focused on collecting baseline fish and environmental data across the Chugach Region. They have also has announced a new initiative for 2026, the CRRC Tribal Youth Training Program. This program will be designed to strengthen Tribal capacity in fish and wildlife research by providing youth with hands-on training in scientific data collection. Opportunities will include a summer internship and Tribal Fish and Wildlife Technician Training Camp. Current Alliance projects include but are not limited to:
- USFWS TWG Port Graham/Nanwalek Moose Project
- ADF&G/CRRC Port Graham Comprehensive Subsistence Surveys
- Nanwalek Salmon Enhancement Program
- Region-wide anadromous waters inventory assessments
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