Walrus resting on ice near Gambell, Alaska. Photo courtesy of Clarence Irrigoo, Jr.
The Sea Ice for Walrus Outlook (SIWO) announced the release of a new short film highlighting the collaboration and dedication of the many contributors who have shaped the program’s success as it approaches its 15th season.
SIWO provides weekly updates during the spring sea-ice season, which is approximately March through June, offering vital information on weather and sea-ice conditions relevant to the northern Bering Sea and southern Chukchi Sea regions. This information helps keep subsistence hunters and other travelers safe.
The program currently has observers in seven Bering Strait communities–Wales, Shishmaref, Diomede, Savoonga, Gambell, Brevig Mission, and Nome. In the film, SIWO project manager Lisa Sheffield Guy explains, “The reason Sea Ice for Walrus Outlook has been successful is because of our relationships with observers in these Bering Strait communities who keep coming back year after year sharing their knowledge, sharing their information and photographs, and having great folks at the weather service, University of Alaska Fairbanks, AOOS, all of these partners.”
Other SIWO partners featured in the film are Hajo Eicken (University of Alaska Fairbanks), Vera Kingeekuk Metcalf (Eskimo Walrus Commission), Igor Krupnik (Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History), Robert Tokeinna, Jr. (SIWO observer), Kaare Sikuaq Erickson (Ikaagun Engagement), Mary-Beth Schreck (National Weather Service), Marcus Barr (SIWO observer).
The film was initiated during a two-day SIWO workshop held on July 12–13, 2024, in Nome, Alaska. Responding to feedback from community observers, who identified increased youth engagement through video and social media as a high-priority focus, the workshop provided the opportunity to begin capturing footage. “It would be nice to see more and more of our young people involved in this work,” Vera Kingeekuk Metcalf said in the film.
During the spring ice season, AOOS provides images of sea ice forecasts to the SIWO Facebook page, which is a hub for information throughout the year. For more information about SIWO, please contact Lisa Sheffield Guy at sheffieldguy@aoos.org.