Seasonal Round [1960s]

. . . Fishing and hunting followed a regular cycle. As the snow melted in early April, black bear were hunted. Migratory birds such as cranes, geese, and ducks also arrived with spring and were harvested. Herring were caught throughout February and March. By April, herring roe on seaweed and lingcod roe off rocks were also gathered.

In May, gathering activities increased. Razor clams, sea urchins, seaweed, and bird eggs were all harvested. At that time, king and red salmon began returning to the sound. June, July, and August were spent salmon fishing. July and August were peak months for pink and chum salmon, and taking salmon roe. Dolly Varden and trout were harvested in streams. Cockles and mussels were taken throughout the summer. By July, blueberries and salmonberries were ripe for harvesting.

Fall activities centered on silver salmon, black bear, deer, goat, moose, small game, and most varieties of waterfowl. Hunting continued well into winter on several of these resources. Trapping also occurred.

Throughout the year, bottomfish such as halibut and various cods and rockfish were taken. Intertidal resources including sea cucumbers, chitons, and several kinds of clams were also gathered. Sea lions were taken throughout the winter and spring; while seals were hunted all year.

Unlike the interior where resources are only available seasonally, the rich marine environment of the sound, complemented by productive land habitat, offered Chenega residents a variety of resources throughout the year. The weather, however, played a significant role in the timing of activities. Severe winter storms could make open water travel dangerous if not impossible, so residents could not access certain areas for fishing and hunting.

Participation in Harvest and Use of Resources

One hundred percent of the households were involved in harvesting and using resources in the early 1960s. All households reported harvesting silver salmon, seals, and berries. All but one household (93 percent) harvested pink and chum salmon, herring roe, deer, sea lions, ducks, bird eggs, mink, and land otters. Thus, all households were involved in fishing, marine mammal hunting, and gathering activities, and all but one in game and bird hunting (deer and ducks). Use levels reflected the high participation rates. . . .

Resources used and Harvested, 1985-86

The varieties of fish, wildlife, marine invertebrates, and vegetation harvested by contemporary residents of Chenega Bay in 1985-86 were almost identical to the species listed by Chenega residents in the 1960s. . . . There were some minor differences. Several resources were used in the 1960s, but not in the 1980s. These resources included sea urchins, sea cucumbers, seaweed, ptarmigan, cranes, cormorants, loons, gulls, snails and several kinds of furbearers. Sea urchins and sea cucumbers were not as abundant as in earlier years, most likely as result of sea otter predation. Ptarmigan and crane are not readily available in the Evans Island vicinity. Villagers were under the impression that there were no legal seasons on cormorants, loons and seagulls, so have not hunted them. Porpoise are valued differently by many of the residents. The tendons are no longer used for sewing, and people enjoy watching them to the extent that few hunt them. The current market for most furbearers has not paid enough to encourage the widespread participation in trapping seen in the 1960s.

Seasonal Round, 1984-86

The seasonal round of hunting, fishing, and gathering activities during 1984-86 was very similar to that of the 1960s. Black bear hunting and herring fishing herald the onset of spring harvesting activities in March and April. The salmon harvest began in May when king salmon were harvested. Red salmon came in shortly after the kings. May also marked an increase in the same gathering activities as in earlier years: razor clams, cockles, seaweed, plants, and bird eggs. Salmon fishing dominated the summer months. Seal were taken in conjunction with commercial fishing, suggesting and opportunistic approach to seal hunting, at least during summer.

August, September, and October mirrored the patterns of the 1960s, with silver salmon, large game (goat, moose, deer), small game, and waterfowl harvests. Shrimp were taken in late summer and early fall by some Chenega Bay residents, an activity rarely conducted in the 1960s.

Hunting for goat, deer, small game, and marine mammals continued throughout the year, much as they had been in the previous village. Overall, the current seasonal round of activities was almost identical to that in the 1960s. A few species were added, and a few were deleted. Seasons of harvest effort appeared to be a little shorter for some resources in the 1980s. However, this may have been related to the settling and familiarizing process; seasons may extend as new use areas are explored, and as various species are located. . . .