A Place For Knowledge Exchange: Intersection of well-being and fisheries

The International Arctic Research Center and the College of Rural and Community Development co-host a virtual seminar series called A Place for Knowledge Exchange. April's conversation is with Courtney Carothers, Harmony Jade Wayner and Freddie Christiansen on the intersection of well-being and fisheries. The seminar is taking place virtually on April 18 at noon.

Speaker bios:

Courtney Carothers is a professor of fisheries at the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences at the University of ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ Fairbanks. She partners with tribes and Indigenous communities to advance equity and justice in fisheries systems. She is helping to uplift the Tamamta (All of Us) program which supports 19 Indigenous and allied fellows to get their graduate degrees in fisheries and related fields. The program seeks to transform fisheries education, research, and governance in ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ and beyond. Carothers was honored with the Denali Award this year from the ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ Federation of Natives. Carothers is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and has Irish ancestry. She is raising her two daughters in Anchorage on Dena’ina homelands.

Harmony Jade Sugaq Wayner is a tribal member of Naknek Native Village, a commercial fisher in the Bristol Bay salmon fleet, and a marine scientist with a focus on social-ecological systems to promote Indigenous values and well-being in fisheries. Wayner holds a Master of Resource Management from the University Centre of the Westfjords in Iceland and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ Southeast.

In her current professional role, Wayner serves as the Indigenous liaison for the Research Networking Activities for Sustained Coordinated Observations of Arctic Change Project (RNA CoObs) at the International Arctic Research Center. Under that role, she is assembling an expert panel to address issues related to salmon in her home region of Bristol Bay. Wayner is committed to integrating Western and Indigenous knowledge within resource management for sustainable and equitable futures while amplifying the voices of Indigenous communities.

Having served on the board of directors for the Arctic Youth Network from 2021 to 2023, Wayner has contributed to high-profile dialogues on climate and nature, including the World Economic Forum, Arctic Circle Assembly, Arctic Encounter, and the Polar Symposium of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. She has also been a youth ambassador for Arctic Base Camp, an Arctic Frontiers Emerging Leader, and an ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ Sea Grant Fellow.

Currently residing in Anchorage, ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ, Wayner returns to Naknek during the summer months to engage in the traditional activities of fishing and berry gathering with her family.

Freddie Christiansen has commercial fished all of his life – starting at age six and earning a paycheck by age nine. He grew up living a subsistence way of life in the Alutiiq village of Old Harbor. He also ran a sportfishing lodge out of his home village for 15 years. He currently fishes out of the Old Harbor and Chignik areas.  

Christiansen has served as a board member for the Old Harbor Native Corporation, Gulf of ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ Coalition (G0AC3), Kodiak Area Native Association, ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ Federation of Natives, Kodiak Island Housing Authority, and the Koniag Board of Directors.

Christiansen also runs his own business, a development consulting company called Nuniuq Consulting. He works to promote ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ Natives in his community and throughout ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ. He lives in Anchorage with his wife Glenna and they have two daughters Tarrissa (Chris) and Billie (Ty) and a son Ron (Deidra). During his leisure time he enjoys sport fishing, outdoor recreational activities and spending time with family and friends, especially his grandchildren Katie, Payton, Kamryn, Kendall and Chase.

ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ A Place for Knowledge Exchange

The A Place for Knowledge Exchange seminar series provides monthly conversations about collaborative approaches to research, education and real-life community-based practices in rural ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ. As part of the series, CRCD and IARC hold quarterly collaboration brunches for faculty interested in building stronger ties between the two organizations.

The seminar and brunches are facilitated by:

  • Josie Sam, assistant professor, Department of ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ Native Studies and Rural Development and International Arctic Research Center
  • Jessica Black, associate vice chancellor for Rural, Community and Native Education
  • Sonta Roach, assistant professor, Department of ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ Native Studies and Rural Development
  • Margaret Rudolf, postdoctoral fellow, International Arctic Research Center