Ahtna Intertribal Resource Commission

10/21/2026

It’s Wildlife Wednesday! Can You Identify This Bird?

Sometimes, all you need is a silhouette!

🔎 Did you know? Bald Eagles aren’t born with their iconic white heads and tails! Juveniles have mostly brown plumage, often with patches of white, and don’t develop their recognizable adult coloring until they’re around 4–5 years old.

Even without their distinctive white feathers, Bald Eagles can be identified by their broad wings, fingerlike wingtips, and large bodies.

During the Cordova leg of AITRC’s Copper River Stewardship Program, students had the opportunity to watch juvenile Bald Eagles soaring overhead!

10/20/2026

🍂🐟 Learning About Salmon at Changing Seasons!

AITRC had a great time participating in this year’s Changing Seasons program, a two-day outdoor educational event for 2nd and 3rd grade students from Kenny Lake and Glennallen Schools!

At AITRC’s station, students learned about the five species of Pacific salmon found in Alaska and explored the salmon life cycle through an interactive game! Students experienced the different challenges salmon face at each stage of their lives, discovering just how many obstacles they must overcome to survive and return to their spawning grounds. 🐟

A big thank you to Wrangell Institute for Science and Environment (WISE), educators, teachers, and volunteers for making this event possible!

📸 Photos by Brian Hodges and Derrick Sinyon.

10/19/2026

🌊🔬 A closer look at lake ecosystems!

During our summer fieldwork, we were able to collect vertical depth profiles and phytoplankton samples for the Prince William Sound Science Center (PWS Science Center)!

Plankton are tiny organisms that drift with water currents rather than swimming against them. Although small, they play a huge role in aquatic ecosystems, forming the foundation of food webs that support fish and other wildlife.

By identifying the species present in plankton samples, scientists can better understand the makeup of these communities and how they change over time. Changes in plankton abundance or nutritional quality can affect the food available to fish, potentially influencing their growth, survival, and overall health.

Collecting these samples helps us better understand the connections between water conditions, plankton communities, and the fish that depend on them!

10/16/2026

🌎🐟 Happy World Food Day!

Food is more than just nourishment. It connects us to our land, our culture, our communities, and one another.

At AITRC, we recognize the importance of protecting healthy fish and wildlife populations, supporting sustainable harvests, and creating opportunities for youth and community members to learn traditional food practices.

This World Food Day, we’re celebrating the connection between healthy ecosystems, healthy communities, and the foods that bring us together. 🌿

10/16/2026

🫎 HAVE EXTRA CANNING JARS? WE NEED YOUR HELP! 🫙

We’re gearing up for the Glennallen High School Educational Moose Harvest, and we’re inviting our community to be part of the experience!

This collaborative, hands-on program gives local high school students the opportunity to learn about moose from field to table! Students will gain experience in wildlife biology, subsistence practices, butchering, food safety, meat processing, preservation, and more!

🫙 EVERY JAR HELPS!

We’re collecting new or used canning jars of ALL sizes to help students preserve their harvest. No lids required!

📍 Drop-off Locations:

* Glennallen High School Office
* AITRC Office

Don’t have jars to donate? You can still help by sharing this post and spreading the word!

This program brings together local schools, organizations, and community members to provide meaningful, hands-on learning opportunities for our youth.

💜 Help us fill the jars and support the next generation!

🔗 Learn more: https://www.ahtnatribal.org/educational-moose-harvest

10/14/2026

Great opportunity from the Native American Fish and Wildlife Society, check it out!

🗺️ Don't Forget to Register! ArcGIS Resources for Tribal Nations

📅 November 18, 2026 | 2:30–3:30 p.m. MT
💻 FREE Virtual Webinar

🪶 There's still time to register! Join NAFWS for a free virtual webinar exclusively for Tribal staff and representatives to explore available ArcGIS training, resources, and support.

🌟 Learn about resources to support ArcGIS implementation for Tribal Nations, including:

🔹 Free virtual trainings offered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
🔹 Esri training resources
🔹 Additional support available through Tribal GIS

⚠️ Don't wait! Registration is limited to the first 500 participants!

📲 Scan the QR code or visit the link below to register:
www.nafws.org/training-and-workshops

10/13/2026

📢Alaska Tribal Leaders: Nominations Are Open!📢

The Region 10 Tribal Operations Committee (RTOC) is accepting nominations for two Alaska representative positions!

RTOC provides Tribal input and guidance to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on programs and policies that impact Tribal communities.

Who is eligible?
Elected Tribal Officials or staff from federally recognized Tribal Governments who are willing to serve a three-year term beginning January 1, 2027.

📅 Nomination Deadline: October 31, 2026

📩 To request a nomination packet, contact Ashley Corrao, RTOC Tribal Leadership Program Director, at [email protected]

Official ballots will be distributed in November, with election results announced in early December.

Help ensure Alaska Tribal voices are represented in decisions affecting our communities!

10/09/2026

Last month, AITRC's Ecologist Kelsey Stanbro and Wildlife Biologist Sterling Spilinek traveled to Sitka for the 2026 Native American Fish & Wildlife Society (NAFWS) Alaska Regional Conference!

Hosted by the Sitka Tribe of Alaska, this year's conference centered on the theme "Asserting Sovereignty through Science." The annual gathering brought together 69 Tribal fish and wildlife professionals, partners, and community members to share research, strengthen partnerships, and discuss natural resource management.

During the conference, Sterling gave a presentation titled "Tribal-led Monitoring of Wolf Pack Range, Distribution, and Diet in Ahtna's Eastern Territory," highlighting AITRC's ongoing wolf research and Tribal-led wildlife monitoring efforts.

Tsin'aen to the Sitka Tribe of Alaska and NAFWS for bringing together natural resource professionals from across Alaska for a week of learning, collaboration, and connection!

10/08/2026

AITRC hosted a Regional TCD Meeting as part of the larger Alaska TCD Network! This regional meeting focused on why form a Tribal Conservation District (TCD) and what to do after formation.

We were honored to have representatives from Kake, Kawerak, Bering Sea Interior, Tyonek Tribal Conservation District, and Yakutat join us! We also had contractors who are working on various project in the AK TCD Network from Ginga & Ignin and Strategic Prevention Solutions. We also welcomed speakers from AITRC, Native American Fish & Wildlife Society, and Copper River Growth Company.

During the two-day conference, we explored:

• What is a Tribal Conservation District?
• Why build a TCD?
• Tribal resolutions and the formation process
• Board structure and responsibilities
• TCD organizational structure
• How to assess community and natural resource priorities
• The fundamental building blocks of a TCD
• Developing a roadmap and action plan

Each TCD worked on an action plan identifying responsible staff, milestones, deliverables, and next steps to bring back to their Tribe or Council.

It was a wonderful meeting filled with learning, sharing, collaboration, and connection. We are stronger when we work together!

The future of Tribal Conservation Districts is bright, and we’re excited to see what comes next for this growing network! 🌱🤝

10/07/2026

It’s always such a great time to join WISE and others at the Changing Seasons event!