Of the people choosing supports offered by Hope Community Resources, Inc. (Hope), over 200, or approximately 25%, are Alaskan Natives. In an effort to assist these individuals in connecting with their cultural heritage, or enhancing their cultural experiences, Hope added a subsistence program to its array of services in 1995. Hope has self-funded two staff members who oversee all subsistence operations and day-to-day activities. The program has two distinct purposes.

Scott assists Wayne on their ice fishing trip.

The first purpose is to offer Alaskan Natives who experience a developmental disability a unique opportunity to participate in a subsistence lifestyle. Participation in this program allows individuals to become reacquainted or better acquainted with traditional subsistence activities. Whether it is hunting, fishing or trapping, every effort is made to fully use the entire animal and each individual fully participates in the taking, cleaning and processing of the hunt. These activities provide participants with an opportunity to provide their own year long supply of game, fowl and fish.

The second purpose of the subsistence program is to provide opportunities for other individuals choosing Hope's services to participate in general, normalized hunting, fishing and trapping activities that are a part of the Alaskan lifestyle for many of the state's non-Native residents.

Dara and Leonard had a very successful hunting trip.

Hope used community business donations and one-time Division of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities (DMH/DD) funding to acquire the equipment used to safely transport individuals in a variety of hunting, fishing and trapping activities. Safety is of primary concern to Hope. Any activity in the great Alaskan outdoors has the potential for risk. Hope compensates for some of this risk through extensive training of the primary subsistence staff. Subsistence staff members are experienced as guides and receive extensive specialized training including U.S. Coast Guard approved training and licensing for 25-ton boats, approved snowmobile safety courses and advance first responder wilderness training and certification.

For more information about the Subsistence Program,
please contact a Subsistence Specialist at 1-907-561-5335.