Gwich'in Steering Committee Formed To Protect Arct

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Gwich'in Steering Committee Formed To Protect Arctic National Wildli
Posted by: "GroovinNativeDude" [e-mail] deschinny
Tue Jan 2, 2007 3:04 pm (PST)
www.gwichinsteeringcommittee.org/index.html

The Gwich'in Steering Committee was formed in 1988 in response to
increasing threats to open the coastal plain (also known as 1002 area)
of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to leasing for oil. Recognizing
that this threat to the caribou calving grounds was a threat to the
very heart of our people, the elders called upon the chiefs of all
villages from Canada to Alaska to hold a traditional gathering,
Gwich'in Niintsyaa
<http://www.gwichinsteeringcommittee.org/gwichinniintsyaa.html> , in
Arctic Village for the first time in over a century. In this meeting,
we addressed the issue with a talking stick in accordance with our
traditional way, and came to the unanimous agreement that we would speak
with one voice against oil and gas development in the birthing and
nursing grounds of the Porcupine River caribou herd. Over the past 15
years, the Steering Committee staff, board, and volunteers have
succeeded at a grassroots level to educate the public and
decision-makers on why the "coastal plain" of the Arctic Refuge
must be permanently protected as wilderness. We feel strongly that a
major part of our achievements are a direct result of the continuing
wisdom and guidance provided to us by our elders. The Gwich'in
people stand united in our continued efforts to protect the "1002
area" from oil and gas development.
Please explore this site to learn more about the Gwich'in Culture
<http://www.gwichinsteeringcommittee.org/gwichinculture.html> , our
relationship with the caribou and the land, and our struggle to
preserve Iizhik Gwats'an Gwandaii Goodlit (The Sacred Place Where Life
Begins), the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
<http://www.gwichinsteeringcommittee.org/arcticrefuge.html> .
A Moral Choice for the United States
The Human Rights Implications for the Gwich'in of Drilling in the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge [top]
<http://www.gwichinsteeringcommittee.org/GSChumanrightsreport.pdf>
The Gwich'in Steering Committee announces the release of a new
report which concludes that drilling in the Arctic Refuge would
violate the human rights of the Gwich'in people because of the
impacts drilling would have on Gwich'in subsistence,
culture, and way of life. This report is timely because
Congress is considering once again whether to open the Arctic Refuge
coastal plain to drilling � this time as part of the budget
reconciliation bill. The report was prepared on behalf of, and under
the auspices of, the Gwich'in Steering Committee along with
the Episcopal Church and Professor Richard J. Wilson, Director
of the International Human Rights Law Clinic at American University.
The public interest law firm Trustees for Alaska coordinated
the preparation of the report.
READ ONLINE
<http://www.gwichinsteeringcommittee.org/GSChumanrightsreport.pdf>
[top]
<http://www.gwichinsteeringcommittee.org/GSChumanrightsreport.pdf>
[PDF 2.076MB]