Investing in Southeast Alaska by continuing to place relationships first.
By Lee House
This story was produced for the Sustainable Southeast Partnership's monthly column with the Juneau Empire, 'Resilient Peoples & Place.' Read the full story here. The story provides an overview of the work done through SASS in its first year and plans for the work ahead.
Many hands help to get the work done. Participants of the Alaskan Youth Stewards program in Kake install a Lingít/English road sign, a project in partnership with community elders and the USDA Forest Service. Photo by Lee House / Sitka Conservation Society
The Sustainability Strategy, though grounded in the healing work of listening, learning, and building relationships, is also focused on tangible efforts on the ground, with much of the work happening on or around the US Forest Service managed Tongass National Forest. The projects that are currently invested in include restoration of lands and waters, increasing recreational opportunities for locals and visitors, bolstering food systems, developing youth programs, cultural revitalization, diversification of economic opportunity, Indigenous co-stewardship, sustaining cultural wood use, establishing second growth wood use, and refining forest management.
The story is also available at the Sustainable Southeast Partnership's website: https://sustainablesoutheast.net/a-year-of-building-and-reconnection-investing-in-southeast-alaska-by-continuing-to-place-relationships-first/