Full Breakdown
The Impact of Climate Change and Development on Inupiaq Hunting Traditions in Alaska
12/13/2025, 6:39:49 PM
The Changing Landscape of Kotzebue
In Kotzebue, Alaska, the effects of climate change are profoundly altering the traditional hunting practices of the Inupiaq people. James Schaeffer, a 7-year-old boy, and his cousin Charles Gallahorn, 10, navigate a landscape transformed by warming temperatures, where permafrost thaw has destabilized the ground. Their great-grandfather, Roswell Schaeffer, a 78-year-old Inupiaq elder and experienced hunter, reflects on the loss of stable ice that once supported seal hunting and the changing patterns of caribou migrations, which scientists attribute to climate change driven by fossil fuel consumption.
Threats from Development
A significant concern for the Inupiaq community is the recent approval of a 211-mile mining road by the Trump administration, which is set to disrupt crucial caribou and salmon habitats. This project faces opposition from environmental and native groups, with Roswell Schaeffer expressing fears that it could lead to overhunting and further decline of already vulnerable wildlife populations. He stated, “If we lose our caribou – both from climate change and overhunting – we’ll never be the same. We’re going to lose our culture totally.”
Cultural Transmission Amidst Uncertainty
Despite these challenges, Roswell Schaeffer remains committed to passing down hunting traditions to the next generation. He emphasizes the importance of teaching young hunters like James about their responsibilities to provide for the elders. However, he voices concerns about the sustainability of these practices, noting a shift in diet from traditional hunted foods to more reliance on store-bought items. “The reason I’ve been a successful hunter is the firm belief that, when I become old, people will feed me,” he remarked, highlighting the interconnectedness of community and tradition.
Broader Implications of Environmental Change
The impact of climate change extends beyond hunting practices. Record rainfall and severe storms have increasingly affected the region, leading to flooding and further threatening wildlife. Roswell Schaeffer's friend, Seth Kantner, a writer and commercial fisherman, echoes these sentiments, lamenting the absence of caribou that once populated the area. He describes the current situation as “lonely” and identifies both the mining road and climate change as significant threats to their way of life.
Verbatim Quotes
- “If we lose our caribou – both from climate change and overhunting – we’ll never be the same,” — Roswell Schaeffer, Inupiaq Elder
- “The reason I’ve been a successful hunter is the firm belief that, when I become old, people will feed me,” — Roswell Schaeffer, Inupiaq Elder
- “I can hardly stand how lonely it feels without all the caribou that used to be here,” — Seth Kantner, Writer and Commercial Fisherman
Conclusion: A Tenuous Future
As the Inupiaq community grapples with the dual challenges of climate change and development, the future of their hunting traditions hangs in the balance. The ongoing changes in wildlife populations and environmental conditions raise critical questions about the sustainability of their cultural practices and the ability of future generations to thrive in Kotzebue.
