Pledge to Defend the Sacred & Protect the Arctic
On September 28th, 2023 Gwich’in leaders once again voiced opposition to oil and gas development in the Arctic Refuge. Watch Arctic Village First Chief, Galen Gilber, share his story to #ProtectTheArctic
🚨 CURRENT THREAT TO THE 🚨
ARCTIC REFUGE
In late 2017 Congress passed a law requiring the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to hold oil and gas lease sales in the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (Arctic Refuge). The second of these lease sales must be held by the end of 2024. BLM recently released a draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) analyzing the impacts of the leasing program and seeking comments from the public.
The impacts of drilling in the Arctic Refuge are a human rights issue; it would significantly impact Gwich'in and Iñupiaq way of life. Drilling for oil and gas in the Coastal Plain of the Arctic Refuge would disrupt and terrorize the birthing grounds of the Porcupine Caribou Herd, an essential part of both Indigenous nations’ way of life.
