Yuuyaraq For the Future
UAV-Based Remote Sensing And Citizen Science to Combat The Effects of Climate Change in Quinhagak, AK
The Yukon-Kuskokwim (Y-K) Delta is one of the largest deltaic river systems in the world. It is home to the Yupiit (sing.Yup'ik) who are Alaska's largest Native community. Today, the Y-K Delta is a region facing the unprecedented effects of climate change, coastal erosion, and rising sea levels. In 2009 , the Yup'ik coastal village of Quinhagak began working with researchers from outside the village to help monitor and preserve the cultural heritage landscape. This project combines Yup'ik science with new technologies to document place names and locations associated with traditional subsistence practices known collectively as Yuuyaraq (trans. "the way we genuinely live.")
01 / 06
Our Subsistence & Study Area
The Quinhagak subsistence area is large, covering over 185,000 acres. This means that our drones must be capable of long-range surveying. Our team of land managers, researchers, and village leadership have utilized drone flights since 2018 to monitor the heritage landscape. We hope to expand our services and cultural heritage management activities to other Alaskan Native villages in the future.
Image Credits: Qanirtuuq Inc, Land Manager's Office & Jonathan Lim.
Our Methods
01 / 04
See The Difference
Slide your finger or mouse over the map below to see how we see things with drones.
UAVs mounted with multispectral sensors capture higher quality imagery than satellites and highlight vegetation changes surrounding archaeological features like these 20th century fish processing pits.
Our Timeline & Tasks
2019-2020
Community Meetings to Determine Project Goals, Feasibility, and Outcomes
2020-2022
On-Site Field Research & Design to Establish Methodologies
2022-
Bringing Our Framework to Other Alaskan Native Coastal Communities through Nalaquq Inc. Nalaquq is a proud subsidiary of Qanirtuuq Inc, an ANCSA 14(h) village corporation.
Our Project Combines Cutting-Edge Tech With Yup'ik TEK to Survey Over 184,000 Acres Near Quinhagak
Our Team
Leadership Council & Legal Services
Warren Jones , CEO, Qanirtuuq Inc.
Lynn Church, CEO, Nalaquq Inc.
Samuel Fortier , Legal Counsel, Fortier & Mikko, PC..
Research & Design Team
Sean Gleason , Hampden-Sydney College, Ethnographic Field Methods.
Jonathan Lim , The University of Oxford, Remote Sensing & UAV-Surveys.
Richard Knecht , The University of Aberdeen, Archeological Investigation & Yup'ik Material Culture.
