My Side of the River

An Alaska Native Story

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Pub Date 01 Jul 2023 | Archive Date 30 Jun 2023

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Description

In 1971 the U.S. government created the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and extinguished Alaska Native aboriginal rights to hunting and fishing—forever changing the way Alaska Natives could be responsible for their way of life. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service claimed all wildlife management responsibility and have since told Natives when, where, and how to fish, hunt, and harvest according to colonial management doctrines. We need only look at our current Alaska salmon conditions to see how these management efforts have worked.

In My Side of the River, agricultural specialist Elias Kelly (Yup’ik) relates how traditional Native subsistence hunting is often unrecognized by government regulations, effectively criminalizing those who practice it. Kelly alternates between personal stories of friends, family, and community and legal attempts to assimilate Native Alaskans into white U.S. fishing and hunting culture. He also covers landownership, incorporation of Alaska residents, legal erasure of Native identity, and poverty rates among Native Alaskans. In this memoir of personal and public history, Kelly illuminates the impact of government regulations on traditional life and resource conservation.
 

In 1971 the U.S. government created the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and extinguished Alaska Native aboriginal rights to hunting and fishing—forever changing the way Alaska Natives could be...


Advance Praise

My Side of the River establishes Elias Kelly as a passionate, outspoken advocate for Alaska Native resource management rights. Combining cultural knowledge and traditions with a university degree, he provides a unique perspective on a complex set of issues facing Alaskans: Who decides where, when, and how fish, wildlife, and other natural resources are managed, and by whom? Such questions are vital to all of us as we meet an onrushing future.”—Nick Jans, author of The Last Light Breaking

“In My Side of the River Elias Kelly presents a unique Alaska Native voice [as] he recounts his personal experiences—growing up along the Yukon, fishing with his brothers, and hunting with friends up sloughs and downriver. He is telling his own story and, at the same time, sharing opinions that will ring true for many Alaska Natives.”—Ann Fienup-Riordan, author of Wise Words of the Yup’ik People: We Talk to You Because We Love You


My Side of the River establishes Elias Kelly as a passionate, outspoken advocate for Alaska Native resource management rights. Combining cultural knowledge and traditions with a university degree...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781496235091
PRICE $26.95 (USD)
PAGES 344

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Average rating from 2 members


Featured Reviews

Unfortunately, I chose not to finish this book as it simply wasn't what I was looking for right now. I was expecting a little bit more lyrical memoir, but this was more dry policy and hunting info. This is a fantastic resource on these topics, but just not something I wanted to keep reading right now. I may want to return to it later.

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This is written for a very niche audience, but is well written and contains valuable information.Thank you netgalley for the ARC, this is all my own opinion.

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