1
S uden Guide
Łuk’a
& D ones
LOWER TANANA ATHABASCAN
h p://si es.google.com/alaska.edu/d ones
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Why a e łuk’a (salmon) impo an ?
Wild łuk’a play an impo an ole in Alaska. Łuk’a a e
a i al ood sou ce o people and animals. They p o ide
nu ien s o he en i onmen h ough he wa e s. Łuk’a
ha e been a adi ional ood o Alaska Na i e peoples
o gene a ions. Łuk’a also a e a majo pa o Alaska’s
economy. Łuk’a p o ide jobs o comme cial ishe men,
ha che y wo ke s, and people who wo k in he ou ism
indus y.
E e y yea , young łuk’a mig a e om he T h’i u’
(Tanana Ri e ) o he no u’ (ocean) and old łuk’a a el
om he no u’ back o he i e s and s eams whe e hey
began li e. Able o li e in bo h eshwa e and sal wa e ,
łuk’a ha e a complex li e cycle.
image by Ryan Hage y, USFWS
When king salmon ge s
he e, I emembe i ’s a
big celeb a ion. The e’s
ea all a ound he ish
camps a ound he e.
We ge ish and we’ e
happy, eal happy.
Vic o Lo d
Nenana, Alaska
Łuk’aŁuk’a
Salmon
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image by Ryan Hage y, USFWS
image by Ryan Hage y, USFWS
image by Ryan Hage y, USFWS
king salmon: ga h chum salmon: nulaghi
coho (sil e ) salmon: sanh łuk’a
He e a e a ew ypes o łuk’a a ound he
egion o Nenana. Di e en ypes o łuk’a
can ha e many names. Ga h is also called
Chinook, while nulaghi can be called dog
salmon. Ha e you hea d o he names o he
ish abo e? Wha a e he ypes o ish you
know o ?
No e: Łuk'a is a gene al e m o ish, bu in his
con ex he e m will be used o e e o salmon.
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Nenana (Lowe Tanana
A habascan) wo ds
English ansla ion
kha’ał ’ekhwneyi subsis ence (wha we li e on)
no’idelakh hey come back (salmon)
yo s’enodzida d one
T h’i u’ Tanana Ri e
no u’ ocean (sal wa e )
łuk’a salmon
k’eddhe ishing place, eddy
k’un’ endeyos de spawning s eam
ga h king salmon (Chinook salmon)
nulaghi chum salmon (dog salmon)
sanh łuk’a sil e salmon (coho salmon)
sanh summe
dęy’ sp ing
khwyh s’en’ all
ch’e ena animal ail
denigi moose
Ac i i y 1
Łuk’a Vocabula y
A habascan Values: Knowledge o language, Coope a ion, Sha ingA habascan Values: Knowledge o language, Coope a ion, Sha ing
Wo k wi h classma es o you eache o p ac ice he ocabula y wo ds in his bookle . Use he ca ds
p o ided in he ma e ial ki o p in hem a si es.google.com/alaska.edu/d ones
Visi : si es.google.com/alaska.edu/d ones o hea and p ac ice he ocabula y wo ds.
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Wha is he li e cycle o a łuk’a
(salmon)?
A łuk’a li es in di e en habi a s du ing di e en
s ages o hei li e. Łuk’a spend some pa s o hei
li e in esh wa e and o he s pa s in no u’.
The łuk’a li e cycle begins when he adul s
spawn in esh wa e . Łuk’a eggs a e laid in a k’un’
endeyos de (spawning s eam). Each emale lays
housands o eggs. Then he male łuk’a elease mil
o e he eggs o e ilize hem. Once he łuk’a eggs
ha ch, hey a e called ale in. Ale in ha e a yolk sac
Łuk’a lekhŁuk’a lekh
Salmon un image by Ryan Hage y, USFWS
Salmon [a e a] keys one
species o a whole ecosys em.
They spawn in he c eek and
when hey die, hei body
de e io a es. Tha ’s nu ien s
o all he o he o ganisms
in he wa e ha bi ds eed
on and ha eed he salmon
e en ually. [They] en ich he
en i onmen o e e y hing
else.
Jessica Black
Nenana, Alaska
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ha hangs o hei bellies. F om he e he
ale in g ow in o y. F y no longe ha e yolk
sacs and s ill li e in he esh wa e k’un’
endeyos de. Łuk’a a e called “smol ” when
hey mo e om esh wa e o no u’ (ocean).
The smol a el o no u’ whe e hey li e o
he nex 1-7 yea s. In he no u’, smol g ow
in o adul łuk’a.
A e li ing hei adul li e in no u’ łuk’a
a el back o he same k’un’ endeyos de
hey we e bo n in. Adul łuk’a lay hei eggs
in he same place hey we e bo n. A e
laying hei eggs, he łuk’a die. Łuk’a a e
an impo an pa o he en i onmen . Thei
decaying bodies supply nu ien s o he
s eams. Wildli e and plan s ha g ow in o
nea he wa e bene i om he nu ien s
o he łuk’a a e hey die. The eggs/young
ish a e a ood sou ce o some łuk’a. Adul
salmon a e an impo an pa o he ood
chain o bea s, seals, bi ds, and o he
p eda o s.
image by B igi e We ne | Pixabay
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Ac i i y 2
The Li e o a Łuk’a
A habascan S anda ds: Responsibili y o Village, Respec o he Land, Respec o Na u e, Respec o A habascan S anda ds: Responsibili y o Village, Respec o he Land, Respec o Na u e, Respec o
Elde s and o he sElde s and o he s
Łuk’a o salmon ha e a unique li e cycle. Ha e you seen baby o adul łuk’a in a s eam o a i e
a ound you home? In es iga e he li e cycle o he łuk’a om bi h o dea h. Think abou ways łuk’a
a e impo an o you communi y. In i e an Elde o cul u e bea e o go on a ield ip o a ish camp/
adi ional a ea in you communi y.
Ma e ials:
• Łuk’a Li e Cycle wo kshee
• Łuk’a Li e Cycle ca ds
• Clipboa ds
• Colo ed pencils
• Whi e pape
• Scisso s
• Tea and co ee
• Cups
P ocedu e:
1. Day 1: Discuss: Wha is a li e cycle? Wha does a human li e cycle look like?
2. D aw a pic u e o a li e cycle you a e amilia wi h. How many s ages o li e a e in you d awing?
Numbe hem. Sha e you d awing wi h he class.
3. Now hink abou he li e cycle o a łuk’a. Wha a e he s ages o a łuk’a li e cycle?
4. In a g oup o wo, wo k h ough he Łuk’a Li e Cycle wo kshee . Cu ou he Łuk’a Li e Cycle ca ds.
5. Shu le he ca ds and place hem in o de om bi h o dea h o a łuk’a. Repea .
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6. Compa e and con as he li e cycle o a łuk’a o a di e en li e cycle you discussed in s ep 2.
7. Day 2: In i e an Elde o cul u e bea e o come wi h you class o isi a ish camp/ adi ional
a ea in you communi y. B ing you Łuk’a Li e Cycle ca ds
8. A he adi ional a ea, ask he Elde o cul u e bea e o sha e adi ional ools/me hods used
in ish camp o ha es ing and ca ching łuk’a.
9. Discuss he uses o łuk’a in he communi y. Wha a e some ways you ha e seen łuk’a used?
10. Sha e he Li e Cycle ca ds wi h he Elde o cul u e bea e . Spli in o g oups - one g oup o
each s age o he Li e Cycle ca ds. A ange you g oups in he o de o he li e cycle om bi h
o dea h. Desc ibe wha you ha e lea ned abou each s age wi h he in i ed Elde o cul u e
bea e .
adul eggs
ale in
smol
Łuk’a
Li e
Cycle
O
C
E
A
N
S
T
R
E
A
M
/
R
I
V
E
R
adul
y
spawne
illus a ion by Ka he ine Bendall and Molly Pu man
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How a e łuk’a (salmon)
popula ions changing?
Łuk’a popula ions a e changing o a
numbe o easons. In Alaska łuk’a deal wi h
challenges like changes in habi a and ising
wa e empe a u es ha a ec how many ish
a e able o s ay heal hy and e u n om he
no u’.
In ecen yea s, łuk’a popula ions ha e
been dec easing. This a ec s communi ies
ha ely on ishing. Wa ming wa e elsewhe e
is a ac ing p eda o s o łuk’a and
UAF/GI pho o by Daniel Walke
I like o use all my senses o connec
and hink abou how [salmon] a e
a ailable o you and no aking ha
o g an ed ha you ha e ha ood
and hanking he land o p o iding
o you.
E a Bu k
Nenana, Alaska
“ Yegw da s’e dekho ’an’ k’wda dekhw h ’aną .Yegw da s’e dekho ’an’ k’wda dekhw h ’aną .”
“ Wha hey used o do is no being done.”
- Ellen F ank- Ellen F ank
compe i o s o łuk’a p ey. Lea ning mo e
abou łuk’a can help you hink abou how o
help hem.
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How can a yo s’enodzida (d one)
be used o moni o and lea n abou
łuk’a (salmon)?
A yo s’enodzida can be used in many ways
o lea n abou łuk’a. Wi h a bi d’s-eye iew, i
can be used o coun łuk’a in a s eam o i e .
I can be used o spo channels o łuk’a. A
yo s’enodzida can eco d ideo o places on
he T h’i u’ (Tanana Ri e ) ha may need o
be es o ed. Yea s a e bi h, łuk’a spawn in
he same s eams hey a e bo n. Du ing he
ime away, spawning s eams can change o
I could use [a d one] o iden i y
new spawning a eas o salmon
and o he ish species which
a e impo an in ou cul u e.
Don Cha lie
Nenana, Alaska
Yo s’enodzidaYo s’enodzida
D one
image by Daniel Aue bach, Washing on S a e Uni e si y
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UAF pho o by Todd Pa is
be blocked. D ones a e help ul o acking
whe e łuk’a a e mig a ing and how ha pa h
is changing.
Wi h a as changing clima e, landscapes
can change e y quickly. Landslides o
looding can al e łuk’a s eams in a sho
amoun o ime. Flying a yo s’enodzida o e
a landscape can help see whe e landslides
o e osion has happened. Will ees and
ocks be swep down he i e and a ec a
łuk’a s eam? E osion can also add deb is o
s eams and make wa e s cloudy which may
ha m g owing łuk’a. Wi h a iew om abo e,
a yo s’enodzida can spo places in s eams
which may be conce ning because o ex a
sedimen and cloudy wa e s. How would you
use a yo s’enodzida o lea n abou łuk’a o
hei habi a s?
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Ac i i y 3
Łuk’a & D ones
A habascan S anda ds: Responsibili y o Village, Respec o he Land, Respec o Na u eA habascan S anda ds: Responsibili y o Village, Respec o he Land, Respec o Na u e
The ime o yea when łuk’a a e mig a ing up he T h’i u’ (Tanana Ri e ) is changing. Some imes
people need help knowing when he łuk’a a i e and how he popula ion is doing. The kha’ał
’ekhwneyi (subsis ence) way o li e is changing wi h he ish. Discuss he mig a ion o łuk’a and
hink: How migh a yo s’enodzida (d one) be used o moni o łuk’a?
Ma e ials:
• D ones in Nenana: Łuk’a & D ones ideo
• Clipboa ds
• Pape
• Pencils
P ocedu e:
1. Wa ch D ones in Nenana: Łuk’a & D ones ideo a ailable he e:
h p://si es.google.com/alaska.edu/d ones/
2. Discuss: Wha is mig a ion? Wha mig a ion jou ney do łuk’a make? Wha o he kinds o animals
mig a e?
3. On a piece o pape d aw a able wi h wo columns labeled: no u’ (ocean), i e . Using you li e
cycle ca ds om Ac i i y 2, w i e he s ages o łuk’a ha a e in he eshwa e and which a e in he
no u’. A he bo om o he column, w i e he seasons o he yea łuk’a spend in each loca ion. T y
o w i e he Tanana wo d o each season using he łuk’a ocabula y in Ac i i y 1.
4. Discuss he idea o adi ional ools s. mode n ools:
a. Is a yo s’enodzida a adi ional o mode n ool?
b. Wha a e some o he examples o mode n ools?
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c. Wha ools a e used o kha’ał ’ekhwneyi? Which o hese ools a e adi ional? Which
a e mode n? How do bo h suppo kha’ał ’ekhwneyi needs?
5. Discuss he ways a yo s’enodzida can be used o moni o and lea n abou łuk’a.
6. Take a look a he yo s’enodzida image o łuk’a on he below. One was aken by a yo s’enodzida
and one was aken by a came a on he g ound. Wha was he yo s’enodzida pilo looking o ? Why
do you hink his pho o was aken?
a. Ci cle all he łuk’a you can spo in his image.
b. Find a pa ne . Wi h you pa ne , w i e a wo sen ence summa y o why you hink his image
was aken.
7. Re iew wha mig a ion is om you s uden guide pg. 13. As a class discuss: Wha majo li e e en s
lead łuk’a o mig a e? (Hin : he e a e a leas wo). How do you hink łuk’a mig a ion changes a e
impac ing you communi y? Wha ideas do you ha e o add essing he impac s o łuk’a mig a ion
changes in you communi y?
image by Ma k Wi e een, Alaska Depa men o Fish and Game UAF pho o by by Todd Pa is, UAF
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Basi’ ( hank you):
Special hanks o he Nenana Na i e Associa ion. Nenana
Tanana A habascan communi y membe s Don Cha lie,
Vic o Lo d and E a Bu k guided con en de elopmen o
his publica ion. Basi’ o his eam and he many addi ional
local knowledge bea e s, educa o s, and scien is s who
con ibu ed hei expe ise, in e iews, da a and pic u es o
his p ojec . The in o ma ion p o ided in his publica ion is
o educa ional pu poses only and no o comme cial use.
C edi s:
This publica ion was p oduced a he Uni e si y o Alaska
Fai banks Geophysical Ins i u e as pa o he D one
Resea ch Oppo uni ies o Na i e Elemen a y S uden s
(DRONES) p ojec unde he o e sigh o P incipal
In es iga o Lynda McGil a y and Co-P incipal In es iga o s
Cha lene S e n (UAF), Ca hy Cahill (UAF) and Dayna Jean
DeFeo (Uni . o Alaska Ancho age).
Au ho s: Ma iah McNama a, Lo i Schoening, Don Cha lie,
Vic o Lo d, E a Bu k
Tanana A habascan Consul an s: Si i Tu le, Da id Engles
Design, G aphics and Layou : Ka he ine Bendall
Science Edi o : And ew Sei z
English Edi o : Do een Haywa d
Educa ion Resea che : Dayna Jean DeFeo
This ma e ial is based upon wo k suppo ed by he Na ional Science
Founda ion unde G an Nos. 1850561 & 1850556. Any opinions,
indings, and conclusions o ecommenda ions exp essed in his
ma e ial a e hose o he au ho (s) and do no necessa ily e lec
he iews o he Na ional Science Founda ion. UA is an a i ma i e
ac ion/equal oppo uni y employe , educa ional ins i u ion and
p o ide and p ohibi s illegal disc imina ion agains any indi idual:
www.alaska.edu/nondisc imina ion/.
© 2024 Geophysical Ins i u e, Uni e si y o Alaska Fai banks
UAF pho o by Todd Pa is.
