CONTEMPORARY SUBSISTENCE ACTIVITIES AND LAND USE

In 1983, as in the past, the Nupapicuarmiut incorporated seasonal movements into their round of subsistence activities. The contemporary seasonal round included nearly all of the same fish and wildlife resources as in the past, with the exception of caribou and introduced reindeer that were no longer present in the area. Moose are recent to the area and have been incorporated into the annual harvesting activities during the second half of the century.

Similarly, hunting seals, which are not in the immediate area, has been added. Musk ox are the most recent arrival (since the early 1980s); in 1983, they were not included in the seasonal round, in part, due to enforcement of state regulations. However, musk ox meat was obtained from the Nelson Island area and was part of the diet.

Muskrat, whitefish, pike, and some species of waterfowl were cited as examples of resources that had declined since the early 1960s; although it was not clear to what the declines have been attributed. Local residents stated that the increased number of beaver in the area may have affected whitefish and pike stocks, as their access to spawning and feeding areas has been blocked by beaver dams. Suitable habitat and increasing numbers of moose and musk ox in areas adjacent to the Aklumiut area have been cited as factors contributing to increased numbers in the area. . . .

Seasonal Round and Settlement Pattern

The Nunapicuarmiut harvested a variety of fish, game, and plant resources throughout the year during 1983. Timing of harvest was influenced by the seasonal availability of resources, species abundance, weather, regulations imposed by the State of Alaska and federal government, wage employment opportunities, technology available, mandatory school attendance for school-aged children, and personal circumstances.

In 1983, the annual round of activities indicated the Nunapicuarmiut harvest several species of salmon (chinook or king; chum; sockeye, or red; pink; and coho or silver); several freshwater non-salmonid fish species (several species of whitefish; burbot or loche; northern pike; balckfish; and sheefish; large game (moose, black bear); sea mammals (ringed and spotted seal); small game (hare, ptarmigan, and muskrat); furbrearers (beaver, mink, land otter, and red fox); migratory waterfowl (numerous species); berries (blueberries, crowberries, cranberries, salmonberries, and thimbleberries); edible wild plants and roots; and wood. . . .

With the exception of seal and salmon, all of these resources were harvested in the Johnson River drainage and the area west to Aropuk Lake and Baird Inlet. Seal were taken in the east-central Bering Sea and salmon in the lower Kuskokwim River.

As in the past, the seasonal round of subsistence activities shows that fish and wildlife harvests fluctuated from month to month. In 1983, these periods of harvest were very similar to those described above for the earlier part of the century with few exceptions.

Subsistence activities were based at Nupapitchuk. However, at times, temporary camps were made for overnight use, and many families established seasonal salmon fish camps along the lower Kuskokwim River. . . .

These places correspond to hunting, fishing, trapping, and gathering sites used by individuals and their families. In 1983, many of these and other sites were used as temporary camps, particularly when residents were moose hunting, waterfowl hunting, and when hunting and trapping furbearers. At some, small plywood cabins have been constructed for shelter. At others, canvas wall tents were used. Many families camped for one or several nights in tents or cabins when gathering berries, especially salmonberries. Salmon fish camps were used for longer periods of time, throughout most of the summer, and from year to year. Usually these have included several plywood cabins and/or canvas tents for housing and cooking, as well as smokehouses, drying racks, and steambaths. For many families, the fish camp was the summer residence. . . .