Drilling the Artic...

This is an often overlooked aspect of the whole Artic Oil Issue...

--ryan


Beach: Human Rights Ignored in Arctic Refuge Decision
© Indian Country Today April 21, 2005. All Rights Reserved
Posted: April 21, 2005
by: Luci Beach / Gwich-in Steering Committee

Drilling in the Sacred Place Where Life Begins would be a violation of the human rights of the people of the Gwich'in Nation. This fact is something that is continually left out of the debate by the proponents of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

During the recent ANWR debate in Congress, senators in support of oil development disregarded the fundamental basis of our concerns about the risks of drilling and the importance we place on the area where drilling would occur.

Many of the same disrespectful statements have been repeated over the years no matter how many times the Gwich'in speak and write and try to set the record straight. This year, however, a new claim was made that is far from the truth. The most fictitious statement made is that only one tribe is opposed to development in the Refuge. This is completely wrong.

First, there are numerous federal tribes in the U.S. and many First Nations in Canada opposed to oil development in the Arctic Refuge's coastal plain. The Gwich'in have the longstanding support of those opposed to oil and gas development from the Tanana Chiefs Conference, which represents 37 federally-recognized tribes in the interior of Alaska, including the Gwich'in. We also have support from the Alaska Inter-Tribal Council, which advocates on behalf of 187 tribal governments.

There are various individual resolutions from Alaska Native tribes and communities throughout the state. The senators failed to mention that a petition from Kaktovik has the signatures of 57 people and there is a resolution opposed to drilling in the Arctic Refuge and offshore in the Arctic Ocean from the traditional whaling community of Point Hope. Furthermore, outside of Alaska we have the support of numerous tribes.

This broad opposition to drilling comes from the cultural significance of the lands as well as the ethic of the sanctity of birthplace - a basic principle of many tribes. Furthermore, this is where the distinction has to be made between Alaska Native corporations and tribes.
More than likely, Sen. Daniel Inouye was referring to the Alaska Federation of Natives, which is dominated by the Alaska Native corporations. Even the corporations were not 100 percent in favor of drilling in the Refuge - when this issue was discussed in 1995, three Alaska Native corporations opposed development. The Alaska Inter-Tribal Council (AITC) was formed because tribes viewed the federation as not addressing the concerns of tribes. AITC supports the Gwich'in position to protect the calving and nursery grounds.
Now, regarding the statement that only 2,000 acres will be opened to drilling. First, the entire 1.5 million acre coastal plain, ''1002 area,'' will be opened to oil leasing, development and production. This is the last 5 percent of the North Slope that is not open to exploration or development. Recently, federal waters off shore of the Arctic Refuge were leased to Shell Oil.

We are talking about the biological heart of the Arctic Refuge. This is like our heart in comparison to the rest of our body - it is the most important part. And please do not forget that this is a place that we as Gwich'in consider The Sacred Place Where Life Begins - no less sacred to Gwich'in than Mt. Fuji to Japanese or Na Wahi Pana where Aloha 'Aina would be expected for Hawaiians.

Luci Beach, Gwichyaa Gwich'in and Vuntut Gwich'in, from Ft. Yukon, is executive director of the Gwich'in Steering Committee.