Traditional Knowledge of the Native People of Chukotka About Pacific Walrus and Dialogue Across the Bering Strait on Walrus-Related Concerns

Post Date

June 16th 2015

Application Due Date

June 25th 2015

Funding Opportunity Number

P15AS00684

CFDA Number(s)

15.946

Funding Instrument Type(s)

Cooperative Agreement

Funding Activity Categories

Humanities

Number of Awards

1

Eligibility Categories

Other

This is a notice of intent to award to Kawerak. Please see the attached "Notice of Intent" for further information.

Funding

• Estimated Total Funding:

  $36625

• Award Range:

  $0 - $100000

Grant Description

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD This Funding Announcement is not a request for applications. This announcement is to provide public notice of the National Park Serviceмs intention to fund the following project activities without full and open competition. ABSTRACT Funding Announcement Number P15AS00684 Project Title Traditional Knowledge of the Native People of Chukotka About Pacific Walrus and Dialogue Across the Bering Strait on Walrus-Related Concerns Recipient ESKIMO WALRUS COMMISSION, KAWERAK, INC. Principle Investigator / Program Manager Vera Metcalf Director Eskimo Walrus Commission Total Anticipated Award Amount $36,625 Cost Share none New Award or Continuation? New Anticipated Period of Performance June 1, 2015 to June 1, 2016 Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement Statutory Authority 31 U.S.C. 6305 CFDA # and Title 15.946-Cultural Resource Management Single Source Justification Criteria Cited (4) Unique Qualifications NPS ATR Point of Contact Katerina Wessels OVERVIEW This project would allow for dialogue to occur between walrus hunters, researchers, and managers from Alaska and Chukotka on issues affecting the Pacific Walrus population, such as climate change and increased ship traffic in the Bering Strait region. This discussion would result in recommendations and plans of action from stakeholders on how to address these concerns. Participation in these discussions would occur during workshops held in Nome and Chukotka, as well as through outreach efforts to walrus-dependent communities throughout the Bering Strait to solicit feedback on the issues at hand. The other component of this project is the gathering of Traditional Ecological Knowledge related to walrus from four Chukchi communities and one Yupik community in Chukotka. Through this effort, a report will be published detailing the TEK gathered, along with a Chukchi/Yupik Walrus Dictionary. These publications will be delivered to the participating communities for their use in sustaining cultural knowledge, and will be made available for informational purposes to other Bering Strait communities as well. STATEMENT OF JOINT OBJECTIVES/PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN The Eskimo Walrus Commission, Kawerak, Inc. and the NPS Shared Beringia Project will work cooperatively together on achieving the goals and objectives of the project in accordance to the following plan. Year One: 2015 - 2016 Due Dates Establish work agreements with Russian counterparts Summer 2015 Conduct pilot studies in one or two Chukotkan communities Summer 2015 Complete all preparations and logistics for international travel of the Chukotkan workshop participants Summer _ Early Fall 2015 Convene a workshop in Nome October 2015 Establish priorities and refine strategies and methods for expanding walrus research Fall _ Winter 2015-16 Year One: Status report to NPS (90 days after end of agreement period) Year Two: 2016-2017 Due Dates Develop informational pamphlets and comment forms January 2016 Distribute the pamphlets and comment forms to the communities Winter 2016 Presentation at the Beringia Days conference or any other public presentation on the project Summer _ Fall 2016 Begin gathering TEK data and compiling into the ЯWalrus DictionaryН Throughout the year Process the results of collected TEK data Winter 2016-2017 Year Two: Status report to NPS (90 days after end of agreement period) Year three: 2017-2018 Due Dates Convene a workshop in Chukotka Fall 2017 Process the results of collected TEK data Spring-Fall 2017 Finish compiling TEK data into the ЯWalrus DictionaryН and contract for editing and layout Winter-Spring 2018 Prepare final report Spring 2018 Year Three: Final report to NPS FINAL REPORT, FINAL FINANCIAL REPORT (90 days after end of agreement period) RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT The following activities will be carried out by the recipient: 1. Conduct pilot studies in one or two Chukotkan communities in summer of 2015 to test TEK research program/methods; 2. Convene a workshop in Nome (Year 1) attended by Chukotkan and Alaskan researchers, managers, and walrus hunters to review previous walrus-related TEK projects conducted in the region and priorities/strategies for expanding this research. In addition to allowing for the establishment of a TEK research strategy, this workshop would be the first of two meetings between Chukotkan and Alaskan stakeholders to discuss Arctic shipping lanes, sea ice retreat, and other climate change issues affecting walrus. This project would support travel for Chukotkan representatives to Nome, ideally including representation from several key Native organizations. 3. Document concerns of Chukotkan and Alaskan walrus researchers and hunters in a manner that can provide bilateral opportunities to respond to conservation needs of the Pacific walrus and its environment (Years 1, 2, and 3). 4. Document the importance of traditional and historical use of walrus, the relationship between people and walrus, the utilization of walrus, walrus behaviors, habitats, and other TEK about walrus through consultation with local experts from selected Chukchi communities and one Yupik community in Chukotka (Years 2 and 3). 5. Compile TEK gathered through this project into a 'Walrus Dictionary,' with terms and phrases associated with walrus being translated into Chukchi, Yupik, Russian, and English, and including illustrations for more effective presentation of information (Years 2 and 3). 6. Convene a workshop in Chukotka (Year 3) attended by both Alaskan and Chukotkan researchers, managers, and walrus hunters to discuss research conducted throughout the span of the project, and to provide another opportunity for dialogue on changes affecting walrus populations such as increased ship traffic, sea ice conditions, and other climate change impacts that have occurred since the Year 1 workshop in Nome. This project would support the travel of Alaskan representatives, ideally including representation from several key organizations: the Eskimo Walrus Commission and the Native Villages of Gambell and Savoonga. 7. Report to Bering Strait communities the results of workshop discussions on climate change concerns affecting walrus and TEK research conducted in Chukotkan communities (Year 3). NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT Substantial involvement on the part of the National Park Service is anticipated for the successful completion of the objectives to be funded by this award. In particular, the National Park Service will be responsible for the following: 1. Act as liaison with the partner and possible individuals or groups in the Beringia region that may be interested in the Traditional Knowledge of the Native People of Chukotka About Pacific Walrus and Dialogue Across the Bering Strait on Walrus-Related Concerns. 2. Act as a liaison when needed to facilitate international travel logistics and enhance communication. NPS will provide translation and interpretation when necessary through our network of translators, as well as bilingual staff members, and will allow the use of government simultaneous translation equipment free of charge on an as needed bases. 3. To the extent possible, assist with organizing workshops and trainings, assist making agreements on using government housing, and other logistical support. 4. Provide technical assistance and safety briefings related to project and geographic location. 5. Utilize the Beringia Programмs contacts in Alaska and Russia (especially in Native communities) to inform communities and organizations about the project. Assist with the dissemination of information working with local park units to post information, advertise workshops, and share project activities and outcome on the NPS Shared Beringian Heritage Program website and Alaska National Parks Facebook page. 6. Use the network of contacts, the program website, and the Alaska National Parks Facebook page to share information from the final and interim reports with the public, as well as with targeted audiences through the development of a project-specific distribution plan. First and foremost it will be targeted toward the communities in the Bering Strait region. 7. Assign the NPS Shared Beringian Heritage Program staff as the Agreements Technical Representative (ATR) for the administration of this Cooperative Agreement. SINGLE-SOURCE JUSTIFICATION DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR SINGLE SOURCE POLICY REQUIREMENTS Department of the Interior Policy (505 DM 2) requires a written justification which explains why competition is not practicable for each single-source award. The justification must address one or more of the following criteria as well as discussion of the program legislative history, unique capabilities of the proposed recipient, and cost-sharing contribution offered by the proposed recipient, as applicable. In order for an assistance award to be made without competition, the award must satisfy one or more of the following criteria: (1) Unsolicited Proposal _ The proposed award is the result of an unsolicited assistance application which represents a unique or innovative idea, method, or approach which is not the subject of a current or planned contract or assistance award, but which is deemed advantageous to the program objectives; (2) Continuation _ The activity to be funded is necessary to the satisfactory completion of, or is a continuation of an activity presently being funded, and for which competition would have a significant adverse effect on the continuity or completion of the activity; (3) Legislative intent _ The language in the applicable authorizing legislation or legislative history clearly indicates Congressм intent to restrict the award to a particular recipient of purpose; (4) Unique Qualifications _ The applicant is uniquely qualified to perform the activity based upon a variety of demonstrable factors such as location, property ownership, voluntary support capacity, cost-sharing ability if applicable, technical expertise, or other such unique qualifications; (5) Emergencies _ Program/award where there is insufficient time available (due to a compelling and unusual urgency, or substantial danger to health or safety) for adequate competitive procedures to be followed. The National Park Service did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria: (4) Unique Qualifications Single Source Justification Description: The cooperator on this project, the Eskimo Walrus Commission (EWC), was created in 1978 by Kawerak, Inc. of Nome, and is the organization representing Alaska's coastal walrus hunting communities. Initially formed as a consortium of Native hunters, the EWC is a recognized statewide entity working on resource co-management issues, specifically regarding walrus, on behalf of Alaska Natives. The population of Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) on the continental shelf waters of the Bering and Chukchi seas ranges across international boundaries of the United States and Russia. This creates a common interest between both nations in ensuring the continued viability of the Pacific walrus population in a changing environment. The Pacific walrus population is a valuable resource to coastal Natives in Alaska and Chukotka. Walrus continues to be an essential cultural, natural, and subsistence resource to Alaskan coastal St. Lawrence Island Yupik, Central Yupмik and Iпupiaq communities. The past experience of the Eskimo Walrus Commission in undertaking projects based in Alaskan communities and in Chukotka has provided them with valuable experience of working in this remote environment. The EWC previous work, gained expertise, and established cultural contacts in the area uniquely qualify them to carry out this project.

Contact Information

• Agency

  Department of the Interior

• Office:

  National Park Service

• Agency Contact:

  Erica Cordeiro
  Contract Specialist
  Phone 907-644-3315

• Agency Mailing Address:

  Work

• Agency Email Address:

  Erica_Cordeiro@nps.gov