The Indigenous Sentinels Network (ISN) traces its roots back to the early 2000s when the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island (ACSPI) launched the Bering Watch/Island Sentinel Program. Initially a local initiative, ACSPI's environmental monitoring programs gained momentum with the hiring of Sentinels (e.g., local community members, Guardians, ISN App users, data collectors, etc.) to monitor wildlife species and environmental conditions in the Pribilof Islands - located in the middle of the Bering Sea just off the coast of Alaska. For over two decades, this Tribally owned and operated program has evolved, adopting new technologies from field books to modern iOS and Android apps. Today, ISN is a large Network focused on empowering Indigenous communities across Alaska and beyond, fostering collaboration and resilience through a robust, tech-enabled monitoring software platform that weaves together Indigenous and Western science.
ISN is a tribally-owned and operated program designed for and used by Indigenous communities, focused on bringing technology-based initiatives too communities who have been largely left out of conventional research development and practices. Indigenous Peoples have many diverse Knowledges and data that have been and continue to be shared since time immemorial. These Knowledges continue to inform and guide Indigenous People’s stewardship, relationships, laws, understanding of change and health on their lands, waters, and peoples. Historically, Alaskan and Arctic communities have been limited in technological capacity (e.g., internet speed and cell service); our goal as a Network is to provide those communities with tools, training, networking and convening, coordination, and capacity re-building for ecological, environmental, and climate monitoring to better inform management and stewardship of our environments.
ISN is a technology platform and support Network for recording and communicating significant environmental and ecological events in order to empower communities experiencing and dealing with the effects of climate change (i.e., environmental declines, economic disruptions for both subsistence and cash economies, loss of cultural knowledge, etc.). ISN uses a technology based system (i.e., online database, smartphone or template apps, etc.) that work offline and enable communities across Alaska and beyond to implement rigorous monitoring programs while utilizing ISN’s environmental database.
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ISN facilitates the creation data access policies and data sovereignty mechanisms between and within project and research groups; we facilitate the ability for partners within the Network to collect diverse data sets, privately store and own data collected through research projects, and control sharing and dissemination of data within project teams. Throughout its work, ISN is supporting the development of an Indigenous Data workforce (i.e., observers, Sentinels, Guardians, etc.), improving data literacy, and developing data infrastructure to enable the creation, management, and application of data for governance and stewardship of lands and waters.
The Indigenous Sentinels Network is a tool for recording and communicating significant environmental and ecological events in order to empower remote communities dealing with the effects of climate change (i.e., environmental declines, economic disruptions for both subsistence and cash economies, loss of cultural knowledge, etc.). ISN uses the approach of an internet-based system (i.e., online database, smartphone or template apps, etc.) that enables communities across Alaska and beyond to implement rigorous monitoring programs while utilizing ISN’s well-refined environmental database.
The ISN network is rooted in both Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Western scientific methods. We recognize the diversity of qualitative and quantitative data that are valuable in decision-making processes (conservation, policy, management), especially in a rapidly changing environment. Our goal is to provide remote, indigenous communities with tools, training, networking and convening, coordination, and capacity for ecological, environmental, and climate monitoring.
The strength of ISN is that it is a tribally-owned program designed for and used by Indigenous participants, who are inherently diverse and historically underrepresented in technology-based initiatives. Often, Alaskan communities are isolated and limited in technology (e.g., internet speed and cell service), yet they have a collective body of diverse knowledge and data that has been amassed over generations.
The Indigenous Sentinels Network (ISN) is powered by a small but dedicated core team, supported by a vast, dynamic, and growing network of partners throughout Alaska and beyond. Our work is strengthened through partnerships with federal and state agencies, collaborations with universities, and facilitation of national and international conversations and knowledge exchanges with groups like the Canadian Guardians and Australian Rangers.
With over 20 active projects and more than 100 engaged users, ISN brings together non-profits, NGOs, Tribal organizations, and Tribal leadership to advance Indigenous-led stewardship and environmental monitoring. As the Network continues to expand, we remain committed to fostering collaboration and empowering communities to protect and steward their lands, waters, and cultural heritage for future generations.
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Our vision is to create a connected Network of Stewards that empower communities to implement Indigenous-led and community-driven environmental monitoring programs that are grounded in Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge and local expertise.
Our mission is to train and equip communities with the skills and tools to conduct environmental monitoring and research. We integrate Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge with scientific data to implement effective ecosystem stewardship and resource management practices.
