I grew up in Point Baker, a fishing village in the heart of Southeast. I attended high school in Petersburg, where AYEA provided me with the support necessary to form an Earth Club.
I am currently taking a leave from Wellesley College to intern with Trout Unlimited in Juneau. My internship has been focused on the Save Bristol Bay campaign. I’m also taking a few classes at University of Alaska Southeast.
When I was last at Wellesley I was very involved with a campaign to shut down a nearby coal plant, one of my favorite moments from working that campaign was during a “Roll Against Coal” bike rally that I helped organize with a coalition of groups in Boston. Around 70 people rode bicycles 18 miles from Boston to Salem to protest the Salem Harbor Coal plant, which is one of the oldest and dirtiest coal plants on the East Coast. The event went so smoothly that I was able to enjoy the ride! That’s one of the best moments as an organizer, when you realize that folks are so excited to be part of something that you are able to be just another participant. I also helped organize a week of coal awareness on my campus, we held lectures, screened films, and took powerful direct action, including a coal “die-out”.
Why do you do it?
I think the motivations that I cite may be common between many AYEA folks. Growing up in Alaska gives one an unique perspective on the environmental and social ramifications of extractive industries. We’ve all bore witness to environmental degradation, and equally important many of us know folks who work in extractive industries. I think this gives us a realistic approach to environmental issues. The lower 48 has seen an array of “green” fads that have done little to effect real change, but most Alaskan environmentalists focus on truly important issues.
We are also privy to some of the most beautiful and expansive wild places left on the planet. While young environmentalists in the lower ’48 seem to long for a lifestyle that allows them to reconnect with the earth, Alaskans are fighting to save the connections that we already have.
I grew up commercial fishing in Southeast Alaska, and I have worked on fishing boats every summer of my life. My connections to salmon fishing definitely motivate me in my work to protect Bristol Bay. As a fishermen I recognize that the only way to preserve this lifestyle is to support well-managed fisheries, and fight to protect salmon habitat from the ill-effects of industrialization.
How has your AYEA experience as a teen influenced what you’re doing?
When I started working on campus campaigns I felt like I was already experienced with some core organizing tools, such as running meetings, writing agendas, and facilitating discussions. Ultimately it was my confidence in my ability to use these basic organizing tools which left me feeling that I had something to add to campus activism.
How you’ve stayed connected to AYEA as an alum?
I’m certain that there will be opportunities to stay connected with AYEA in the future; for now, I do whatever I think might be helpful. Recently I put together a presentation for JAYEA on college environmentalism.
Anything else you’d like to share:
Our current politicians might think that gold will sustain future generations in a way that salmon cannot, or that melting Arctic ice is the ideal opportunity to drill for oil; but the leadership that I have seen from AYEA convinces me that we can take this state in a better direction while remaining firmly rooted in a culture of independence. I think a perfect example of this can be seen in the campaign to save the fisheries of Bristol Bay, which is sees leadership from a number of youth.
To build support for Bristol Bay in marketplaces across the US, commercial fishermen and organizations like Trout Unlimited have taken the story of Bristol Bay to retailers, chefs, and farmers markets across the country. Sharing this story has won support for the political cause, but it has also leveraged the value of Bristol Bay salmon in the marketplace. When a customer buys a fillet of sockeye salmon, they want more than just the protein, they want the story; the independent fisherman, the endless Bristol Bay horizon, the labor and the camaraderie.
Essentially, they want to experience Alaska. Gold would never lay claim to such a story. So as we fight for the future of Alaska, let’s make sure to share our stories, and most importantly, let’s remember that we are never alone. Solidarity AYEA friends!
Keep up the great work, Elsa, we are proud of you!
