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President Barack Obama offers thoughts on historic trip to Alaska






President Barack Obama in Alaska. Photo by Pete Souza / White House

President Barack Obama is back in the nation's capital after his historic trip to Alaska and he's written a recap on Medium.

Obama posted pictures and updates on social media throughout his three-day journey. He met with Native people and Native leaders and visited two Native communities -- Dillingham and Kotzebue, a village in the Arctic.

"I’m proud and happy I got to do it — because some pretty extraordinary people live up there," Obama wrote on Medium today.

Regarding his visit to Dillingham in Bristol Bay, Obama said he will "support efforts to protect this community as long as I’m President." His comment appears to spell doom for the controversial Pebble Mine that was already on shaky ground due to opposition from the Native community and environmentalists.

Obama also said his visit to Kotzebue and a fly-over of Kivalina solidified his resolve to address climate change. He said both communities face dangers from rising sea levels that Alaska Natives link to rising temperatures.

"When it comes to climate change, I believe there’s such a thing as being too late," Obama said. "And that moment is almost here."

Get the Story:
Barack Obama: My Visit to Alaska: Closing Thoughts (Medium 9/3)

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