Natural Resources

ONC Natural Resources Department

ONC Natural Resources Department works closely with the Orutsararmiut Native Council Members, Alaska Department of Fish & Game, and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and with the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission on all fish and game resources. We provide services as a central clearinghouse on resource questions within the Bethel area. The Natural Resources Director and Fisheries personnel attends all regulatory meetings of the Alaska Boards of Fisheries and Game, Federal Subsistence Board and the Alaska Migratory Bird Co-Management Council to pursue Fish & Game regulatory actions to help ease restrictions/requirements on the customary and traditional hunting, fishing, and gathering activities compatible with the desires of ONC.  

Contacts & Programs

  • Natural Resources Director
    Avery Hoffman, ext. 1516 
  • Environmental Program Coordinator
    Paul Larson 
  • NALEMP Project Manager
    Jacob Wade, ext. 1523 
  • Subsistence Committee Members
    Henry Hunter Sr.
    Thad Tikiun
    Ray Watson
    Robert Hoffman
    Peter Crow
    Elden Westdahl
  • Visit Fishcamps in the Bethel area
  • Conduct unique fishing surveys
  • Deliver fish to Elder, widows, and disabled people in the community
  • Bethel Youth Summer Hire
  • Science and Culture Camp

For in-season fishing information, please visit the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission.

The Native American Lands Environmental Mitigation Program (NALEMP) collaboratively works with ONC through government-to-government consultation with the U.S. Department of Defense. This helps address environmental impacts on Indian lands and Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA)-conveyed properties from former Department of Defense activities and facilities.

NALEMP helps address such issues as:

  • hazardous materials
  • munitions debris
  • unsafe buildings or structures
  • lead-based paint or asbestos
  • abandoned equipment
  • Environmental Education and Outreach/Establish Core Public Participation, Community involvement, and Communication Capacities 
  • Building Tribal Water Quality Program Capacities
  • Build Tribal Environmental Program Capacity in Emergency Preparedness and Response
  • Tribal Solid Waste Management 
  • Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grant Program for ONC to Expand the Bethel Community Recycling Program by Increasing recycling access ability, e-waste reduction, and community composting.

white goose walking

serving the Native Village of Bethel