Oil and Gas Development in Caribou Calving Grounds
Arctic Refuge Under Siege
Back in 1985, during the Reagan administration, the U.S. congress
once again proposed to develop oil and gas in the caribou calving
grounds. The Porcupine Caribou herd is about 180,000 strong right
now, though it was much more than that years ago. This news came
to us just as I was elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly
in the Yukon to represent the Gwich'in - the Caribou People of the
Lakes of Northern Canada.
I also represent our people, on an international basis, with five
other people from Alaska, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon,
to be one of the Gwich'in spokespeople on environmental issues. We
have an international Gwich'in steering committee. When I speak
about our people, when I travel, it is of things I have learned
from them. What I say are the words and knowledge of my people.
The Gwich'in people were a relatively quiet people up until, once
again, the news came that development was proposed for the Arctic
Refuge in Northeastern Alaska - the caribou calving ground. We
occupied the northern part of the Yukon, Northeastern Alaska and
the Northwest Territories without exposing ourselves much to the
world. With this threat to our livelihood, the chiefs decided we
better get together. We are confronted with a slaughter that would
be comparable to what happened to the plains buffalo.
The chiefs got together and talked to one of the oldest
grandmothers in the community - Chitzu Myra Kikavichik. She was a
little over a hundred years old. They told her about the
development and she said it was time to gather the people together.
A long time ago, a hundred years prior, the Gwich'in used to do
this, for many reasons, just like all the other indigenous groups.
She said the people would have to gather and start talking about
"yourselves and your history." She passed on a few days later.
The chiefs took that direction and we all gathered in one of our
villages, Arctic Village, in Alaska. We invited Press from
everywhere in North America. We began the meeting with four days
of council. After two days, Elders went around and named six to be
the key spokespeople. I was one of those chosen and instructed to
begin to share our history and educate people on the outside about
our dependence on the caribou. For four days they counselled us on
every aspect of the caribou - the purpose of the caribou, our
purpose, how we live with the caribou and our spiritual
connections.
After the meeting we were sent out and I travelled all over to drum
up support. We worked with major environmental groups even though
they were seen to have caused alot of damage over the fur issue.
We had to overlook that because we had to work hard to bring
worldwide support. We tried to get on every environmental agenda
we possibly could, to speak. I went to the United Nations
Environment Program and spoke. We brought the issue to light
everywhere; we educated alot of people.
There was Jonathan Soloman, Sarah James, and Kay Wallace from
Alaska, Gladys Netro from my community - Old Crow, and Johnny
Charlie, Alicetine Andre from the N.W.T., and myself among many
other people. The Porcupine Caribou Management Board was involved.
We joined up with major groups: Sierra Club, Audubon Society,
National Wildlife Federation, Alaska Coalition, Greenpeace, and any
others we could.
We sent people into the United States. We attacked the areas where
the Congresspeople were very much against us - those we assumed
would vote against us, because they were so adamant about opening
the Arctic Refuge. We went to the grassroots people of their State
with slideshows. We educated universities. All to get thousands
of letters sent to that particular Congressperson. To the point
that, when the piece of legislation about the development came down
- almost three years ago now, we managed to win.
Everyone thought, well, it's over for a while. But there has been
a change in government in the U.S. At that time there was a very
strong democratic government. Clinton was pretty much on our side
- we still have his support; However, the Congress and the Senate
is a Republican majority. The Republicans are more into
development, economics of making money and the like. So, at this
point, as we speak, we are back onto the issue again.
Two key politicians, Senator Murkowsky and Congressman Don Young
who were running the Alaska State legislature before, are now in
Washington. They were on the two most powerful committees, in the
Senate and the House of Representatives, that would deal with oil
and gas development and revenues. They are the ones really pushing
to open up the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. A bill was put
forth last week, a whole budget bill for the U.S. to make billions
of dollars for the U.S. Right in there, a one-line item, was to
open up the Refuge. This makes the bill quite difficult for the
U.S. President to veto because there are also medicare items, that
are very dear to his heart, in the bill. They are pretty sneaky -
but we expect this.
We are back to square one. We have very little resources but there
are were Gwich'in people down in Washington, working hard on
Capitol Hill lobbying the senators, so they could put forth an
amendment to that bill for us. Senator Roth was the champion for
the amendment. We needed 50 votes of a hundred senators - We lost
the vote to the amendment: 44 to 56 senators. We are working hard
to get letters pouring in from all over. Hopefully, some letters
will get to the top of the administration - the President - who
must be able to take action.
It is really a shame that they have to sacrifice another Indigenous
Nation just to balance their budget deficit. I still don't feel
defeated and the Gwich'in people don't feel defeated either. It
makes us more determined to fight to preserve the Porcupine Caribou
and our way of life.
I'm staying home to keep in contact with my people and to
communicate what is happening, as it goes by, through radio, by
phone. The Gwich'in, since our initial international gathering in
'85, meet every two years to report back to the people and they re-
direct us with new strategy. We met last year but it looks like,
we are going to have to call together our people this year. If
they are going proceed with development, we will need a more
aggressive approach. We will look for guidance from our Elders for
the strategies.
We can't let this attack happen on our food. We are probably one
of the last group of indigenous peoples who have yet to have this
done to them. We will let our people know what has been done to
various indigenous groups around the world. And bring those people
in to explain to our people what has been done and we'll see what
our direction will become. We may have to do things that have
never been done up here before.
It is a very scary thought, given the history of the U.S.
government, of what they have done to many Indigenous Nations
around the world, to me as a Gwich'in. With a strike of a pen they
can wipe my people right off the map.
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Please support the Gwich'in in this fight for the Porcupine
Caribou. In the U.S. send letters to President Clinton. In Canada
send letters to the Prime Minister Jean Cretien, and Environment
Minister Sheila Copps.
Copies of your letters, messages of support to the Gwich'in, are
also needed and appreciated. Send them to:
Norma Kassi
7 Cronkhite Road
Whitehorse, Yukon
Y1A 5S9 Canada
ph/fax: 403-668-4588