Bridging Knowledge Systems and Perspectives to Inform Salmon Management and Research: A Kuskokwim River Case Study.

In this research, we bridge knowledge systems and perspectives from Indigenous and rural fishers alongside state and federal managers and biologists regarding the state of salmon management and research processes in the Kuskokwim Region of southwestern Alaska. The key objectives were to identify strategies to improve salmon management, document perspectives on Alaska Native inclusion in current management and research processes, and illustrate ways to develop more inclusive management processes and organizations. We also identify key opportunities and barriers to relationship building between Tribes and management agencies. Lastly, we explore perceptions of equity and equality and how research and management account for these dimensions. This was a two-component research project, with one component being primarily Indigenous-led and community-engaged, and the second component involving agency management and research staff. We carried out 28 semi-directed interviews with 45 Indigenous and community knowledge holders across five different communities from June 2019 to May 2022, in addition to 12 interviews with state and federal managers and researchers in 2023. Our study revealed both key differences and shared understandings between state, federal, and community perspectives regarding salmon management and research and around agency inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge systems and Tribal governments. Shared visions and solutions for improving salmon management in southwestern Alaska and elsewhere reflect a greater need for community and Indigenous empowerment and inclusion in fisheries management and research, in addition to increased relationship building and agency time spent in communities. A key recommendation arising from this study is that trust and respect are precursors to meaningfully bridging knowledge systems. Our team encourages further investigation of current power and resource disparities that prohibit equitable knowledge sharing in fisheries management and research, while identifying broad solutions for improving the current salmon management system given diverse sharing across Indigenous, federal, and state experts.