A leader of the Gwich'in Nation is speaking out against the Senate's vote to favor drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Luci Beach, executive director of the Gwich'in steering committee, said the tribe depends on animals in the refuge for subsistence. "For us this is a human rights issue and it's a basic Aboriginal human rights issue," Beach told BBC News.

The Gwich'in Nation's opposition to drilling was brought up on the Senate floor by Sens. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) and Ted Stevens (R-Alaska). Both discounted the tribe's stance and said other Alaska Natives support development.

Get the Story:
Native Americans decry Alaska exploration ruling (BBC 3/18)

Roll Call:
To strike section 201(a)(4) relative to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (March 16, 2003)

Relevant Links:
Gwich'in Steering Committee - http://www.alaska.net/~gwichin
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish and Willdife Service - http://arctic.fws.gov
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Pro-Development site - http://www.anwr.org

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