Our Water

Enduring Understanding:

Our waters are vital to the health of our communities, the local ecosystem and subsistence way of life.

Essential Questions:

1. What is a watershed?
a. How is a watershed identified?
b. Where is your local watershed?
c. What is a healthy watershed?
2. Why is the watershed important to the health and subsistence way of life?
a. Animals in the watershed
3. Are watersheds changing?

Elder Quote:

“I remember my mom told me that the only thing that connects us all is water, and if you’re ever alone all you have to do is put your hands in the water, and you’re connected all the way around this world.” -Bill Smith (Valdez/Cordova, Alaska)

Our Water Overview

The Chugach Region is blessed with an abundance of water resources. Fresh and salt water resources provide access to clean drinking water, water for chores, food preparation, cleaning and transportation. Our expansive water resources provide perfect habitats for salmon, plants we gather, land animals and forests.

Traditionally, there was not any running water, so our ancestors relied on water resources located near village sites for year round access. Water was hauled with tightly woven baskets and bent wood boxes. Traditionally, toboggans and yokes were used to haul water for storage in homes.

Due to population expansion, tourism, garbage, and oil spills some of our waters have become polluted. We have to take care of our water and keep it clean. In the Our Water heritage kit, we will be exploring and documenting local water sources in the Chugach Region’s communities. What were some of the methods used for hauling and storing drinking water. We will delve into questions on how we can protect our waters and how the land provides us with fresh clean water.

We hope you enjoy Merpet -Our Water heritage kit. –Nick Jordan, Seward