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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2001

Separated by a border and threatened by a plan to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to drilling, Gwich'in villages in the United States and Canada are united in opposing development on land considered vital to their survival as a people.

The Gwich'in believe drilling will hurt the Porcupine caribou herd, on which they depend for subsistence and cultural needs. Proponents of development, including most Alaskans and some Alaska Natives, say the fear is unfounded.

Calves in the herd give birth in a number of areas in ANWR -- including the coastal plain where development is slated to occur if Congress authorizes it.

The House has passed a bill to authorize exploration on 2,000 acres in ANWR. The Senate is considering a similar proposal.

Get the Story:
'The Caribou and Our People Are One' (The Washington Post 9/10)

Relevant Links:
Gwich'in Steering Committee - http://www.alaska.net/~gwichin
Oil Issues in ANWR, US Fish and Wildlife - http://arctic.fws.gov/issues1.html
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, US Fish and Wildlife Service - http://arctic.fws.gov
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Pro-Development site - http://www.anwr.org

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On ANWR, Young made nice with Teamsters (8/6)
Young: Still full of (dung)? (8/3)
House approves limited Arctic drilling (8/2)
Bush makes last-ditch pitch for Arctic drilling (8/1)
House panel approves Arctic drilling (7/18)
Gwich'in Nation blind-sided by Norton visit (6/15)