The USDA, along with member tribes in the region, will work together to strengthen conservation efforts in the Bering Sea Interior region of Alaska.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) signed a Mutual Agreement with Member Tribes of the Bering Sea Interior Tribal Commission to advance conservation efforts in the Bering Sea Interior Region. Member Tribes across the Yukon, Kuskokwim, and Bering Sea regions will partner with the USDA to set local conservation priorities and ensure the sustainability of natural resources. They will also identify, develop, and provide technical, financial, and educational resources.
“We look forward to a long, fruitful alliance rooted in mutual respect and shared stewardship,” said Alan McBee, NRCS Alaska State Conservationist. “Forming Tribal Conservation Districts is a priority for NRCS. They are a critical step to establish local conservation priorities, and they help connect Tribal landowners and USDA programs. They empower Indigenous land stewardship and food sovereignty.”
“By working with the USDA, Tribes hope to work together so that our traditional ecological knowledge can guide natural resource conservation,” said Frank Katchatag, Chairman of the Bering Sea Interior Tribal Commission. “Forming this Tribal Conservation District is the start of a positive collaboration with the federal government toward protecting our way of life for our children and grandchildren.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Conservationist McBee and NRCS officials as they partner with the tribal commission to establish policies and priorities.
- Chairman Katchatag as he and his commission members work with the USDA to advance conservation efforts.
- For Secretary Rollins as she oversees the USDA’s efforts to protect and steward valuable resources in Alaska.
Sources: Native News Online, National Resources Conservation Service, Department of Agriculture
