Arctic Refuge Threatened Today

The U.S. Congress is currently working on a National Energy bill that poses grave threats to the Gwich'in way of life. The U.S. House of Representatives voted in April 2003 to include provisions that would change the law to allow oil corporations to drill for oil and gas in the very heart of the Arctic Wildlife Refuge coastal plain. A misleading amendment claimed 2,000-acres would be developed, but in fact the entire 1.5 million-acre coastal plain would be opened for oil leasing and development.

Fortunately, oil drilling in the Arctic Refuge was soundly defeated by a bipartisan majority of Senators in March 2003. The Bush Administration and Alaska's Senators had tried to include drilling into the federal budget bill where it was voted down. Next, in an unconventional move on July 31, 2003, the U.S. Senate passed the same Democratic National Energy bill that it had passed in 2002 – and this bill does not open the Arctic Refuge to the oil companies. In September, the Energy bill Conference Committee will meet to hammer out the big differences in the massive House and Senate bills. Please urge your members of Congress to keep any measures that would allow oil and gas exploration or development in the Arctic Refuge coastal plain out of the final National Energy bill. Ask them to protect the Arctic Refuge!

Gwich'in Nation Takes a Stand

The Gwich'in Nation of Northeast Alaska and Northwest Canada have a unified longstanding position to seek permanent protection of "Iizhik Gwats'an Gwandaii Goodlit" The Sacred Place Where Life Begins, the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The coastal plain is the primary birthplace and nursery for the Porcupine Caribou Herd that is currently 123,000 strong. The Gwich'in have relied upon the Porcupine Caribou Herd to meet our essential physical, cultural, social, economic and spiritual needs. The Gwich'in Nation is composed of about 8, 000 people who live in fifteen isolated communities, strategically located along the migratory paths of the caribou.

In 1988, the threat of proposed oil development in the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge led our elders to call upon the Chiefs to hold a traditional gathering Gwich'in Nintsyaa to discuss this threat and make a decision for the future of our Nation. The Gwich'in Niintsyaa, held in Arctic Village, was the first reunification of the Gwich'in Nation in over a century. We addressed this issue in a traditional way, and agreed unanimously to speak with one voice in opposition to oil and gas development in the coastal plain of the Arctic Wildlife Refuge. The Elders directed us to adopt this political position, and to approach our campaign in "a good way" as we educate the public of the reasons why this sacred area must be protected.

Gwich'in Steering Committee

The Gwich'in Steering Committee was given the mandate to work to protect the calving and nursery grounds. Spokespeople from each region of the Gwich'in Nation were selected to serve on the Gwich'in Steering Committee Board: Jonathon Solomon, Fort Yukon; Sarah James, Arctic Village; Ernest Erick, Venetie; Kay Wallis, Fort Yukon; Johnny Charlie, fort McPherson; Gladys Netro, Old Crow; Norma Kassi, Old Crow and Alestine Andre, Arctic Red River. Johnny Charlie has since passed away and Alestine Andre resigned. In 2003, Elaine Alexie of Fort McPherson began serving on the board. Over the past fifteen years, the board has worked closely alongside the staff and volunteers of the Gwich'in Steering Committee to fulfill the initial commitment put forth by our elders and leaders in 1988.

The Gwich'in Steering Committee was given the mandate of the Gwich'in Nation to work to protect the calving and nursery grounds. We are very committed to insuring that the Porcupine Caribou Herd will not go the way of the buffalo. We have a duty to uphold the integrity of our way of life, that is dependant upon the Porcupine Caribou Herd, for the benefit of our future generations. We need your help to achieve the vision of the Gwich'in Nation to permanently protect Iizhik Gwats'an Gwandaii Goodlit, the Porcupine Caribou Herd's calving and nursery grounds in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Please contact your U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives and urge them to ensure no Arctic Refuge drilling provisions are included in any final energy bill this year!

Please send letters to:

The Honorable _______________
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable _______________
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Call Congressional Switchboard and ask for your member of Congress:
202-224-3121

Mahsi' Choo, Shalak Naii (Thank-you, All My Relations)

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"...In no case may a people be deprived of their own means of subsistence." International covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Gwich'in Steering Committee
122 First Avenue, Box 2 s Fairbanks, AK 99701
(907) 458-8264
Fax (907) 457-8265
www.alaska.net/~gwichin
August 2003