Organizing Natural Resources
The protection and management of natural resources has been central to CATG’s mission since its inception. The Gwich’in Athabascan people have been stewards of the Yukon Flats for thousands of years.
Traditional Stewardship
For millennia, the Gwich’in people have maintained a deep connection to the land, managing resources sustainably through traditional practices and indigenous knowledge. This relationship to the land is not just economic—it is cultural and spiritual.
Modern Challenges
The modern era brought new challenges to resource management: competing land uses, regulatory frameworks imposed from outside, and threats to traditional subsistence practices. CATG was created in part to address these challenges.
Natural Resources Department
CATG established a Natural Resources Department to:
- Protect traditional tribal lands and resources
- Coordinate wildland firefighting services
- Manage forestry and conservation programs
- Advocate for subsistence rights
- Integrate traditional knowledge with contemporary resource management
Wildland Fire Management
One of CATG’s most visible natural resource programs is wildland firefighting. CATG provides a Type 2 wildland firefighting crew in the Upper Yukon Zone, with assembly points in Fort Yukon, Venetie, and Arctic Village. This program protects communities while providing employment opportunities for tribal members.
Looking Forward
Natural resource management remains a cornerstone of CATG’s work, ensuring that future generations of Gwich’in people will inherit the same rich landscape that has sustained their ancestors for thousands of years.