The traditional role of Spirit, Sila or Inua in the lives of Alaska Natives is to connect everything holistically, so that they can make use of things at hand. Important elements which are considered alive and interconnected include tides, water, food, living abundantly. Basics include shelter, clothing, and handicrafts -- created "art". Spirit is a nurturing aspect, honored and respected. Resources are seen as "gifts which are then honored through rituals, ceremonies, and art" (Backround essay for Subsistance video clip).
A Yupik woman derives sila as temperature or atmosphere and "intelligence of the world." (video in lesson). To see yourself as a people to be a "health barometer", able to see changes because of living so close to the land, is an integral part which enables native subsistence people to have an eye on real and changing science. To survive life takes character, being curious, being bold, able to deal with stress, having courage, being creative. This makes native subsistence users natural guardians, worth supporting in their effort to stay on the land.
Scientist Dolly Garza, Tlingit and Haida Biologist working in Kotzebue and Sitka helps with fisheries and on the AK Native Science Commission. She is an advocate for seeing historical life patterns, historic uses, policies, protective measures not only of individual scientific studies i.e. sea otters but of the native people themselves. Any scientific endeavor can be holistically incorporated into a way for the subsistence people to remain whole and connected.
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