Native groups in Alaska with ties to Arctic National Wildlife Refuge welcome White House proposal

Native groups in Alaska with ties to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge welcomed the White House proposal to put two-thirds of the area’s 80,000 square km off limits to oil exploration.

The Obama Administration’s decision provides the refuge the highest level of protection and demonstrates important recognition of the area’s value.

The ANWR is an important cultural area for the Gwich’in and Inupiat, who call it ‘the sacred place where life begins’. Sarah James, chair of the Gwich’in Steering Committee, said “Oil development there would hurt the caribou and threaten the Gwich’in way of life.”

But Alaska lawmakers called the plan an “attack” on the state’s sovereignty, reports The Arctic Journal. Supporters of drilling in ANWR insist its oil would help reduce America’s reliance on foreign oil.