At the Edge of the Earth
What oil exploration in Alaska's north could mean for indigenous traditions and wildlife
Alaska’s indigenous Gwich’in tribe are fiercely proud of their pristine land but with Trump pushing to open up its largest protected wilderness for oil exploration, could it be under renewed threat?
Concerned that drilling for oil and gas will disrupt the caribou migration, Gwich'in's community are fighting to protect their tribe's way of life. "Everywhere around us is near the oil, made by oil, or using oil. And the oil company is powerful", says elder Sarah James. Conservationist Fran Mauer believes that the administration is rushing to sell off the oil drilling leases before there’s another election. "It’s as simple as that, because they know that the American people ultimately do not want this", says Mauer. Yet Marie Rexford from the Inupiat tribe is in favour of the drilling. "When I first heard about it I didn’t like it at all, but I saw the opportunities, what it can do for our young kids. I think it’ll help us", says Rexford. While some believe the damage to wildlife has already been done, Bernadette Demientieff from the Gwich’in tribe is more hopeful. "I think we're going to come together to stand up against this administration", she says. Recently the Democrat held house voted to prevent drilling, but many remain fearful that Trump's administration is determined to push ahead.
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