The Significance of Sharing Resources in Sustaining Indigenous Alaskan Communities & Cultures

In this Box of Knowledge essay, Dr. Steve Langdon explores the significance of sharing as a foundational value and practice of Indigenous Alaskan cultures. The report shows how sharing provisions relatives and others with necessary and valued foods, how sharing occurs in ceremonial contexts that are culturally required, how sharing is done with deceased ancestors, and how sharing is done with other species. Sharing is necessary as part of the covenant with fish and animals who give themselves to those who share generously. Data is presented on the resources, amounts, contexts and meaning of sharing. Discussion is provided on the stresses on subsistence-sharing in the current period.