North Slope Mayor Responds to "Nostalgic
Haze" surrounding ANWR Development
Mayor George Ahmaogak letter of response to Christian Science
Monitor commentary on ANWR
October 14, 2000
Dear Editor:
 The
sympathetic tone of your guest commentary on oil development and
Gwich'in culture ("A resource more valuable than oil",
October 11) may have struck a chord with people who live far from
the wilderness area it described. As an Alaska Native who has spent
his life in the remote reaches of arctic Alaska, I thought it merely
helped to perpetuate the nostalgic haze surrounding issues of resource
development and indigenous cultures.
Oil development in ANWR (the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge) will
not destroy the Gwich'in subsistence hunting culture. I can say
that with confidence, because my people the Inupiaq Eskimos
live in the territory that surrounds and includes ANWR. The Porcupine
caribou herd is our wildlife resource too, and we will not allow
it to be destroyed.
Like the Gwich'in, we treasure our Native heritage, which is structured
around the spiritual interdependence of people, animals and the
land. We have done battle with the oil industry and the government
when they ignored our concerns. But we have also seen the benefits
of responsible oil extraction. The development at Prudhoe Bay has
not jeopardized wildlife populations there, and it was developed
when the industry had considerably less arctic experience. The industrial
"footprint" of ANWR development would be much smaller,
thanks to significant advances in technology during the past 15
years.
I believe that Native people in the 21st century are not well-served
by the attitude that indigenous cultures cannot survive unless their
world remains untouched. That attitude only weakens Native people
in the face of change. We must exercise leadership so that our needs
and traditions are honored in the process of change. If we simply
say "No" and fail to adapt, we will not survive.
I believe that the Gwich'in together with experts from wildlife
agencies, the oil industry, and our people can craft a plan that
will protect the animal migrations and deliver oil to communities
in the south. Such a plan will improve the quality of life in Gwich¹in
villages and incorporate environmental controls to protect the land
and the caribou.
All healthy cultures continually adapt to changes in their environment.
Native people are not "noble savages," and neither we
nor the non-Native people who seek to save us from a changing world
should cling to that Hollywood stereotype. However, the Gwich'in
and the Eskimo are survivors. If you don¹t believe me, come visit
us in the middle of winter.
Our people have thrived despite the harshest climate on the planet.
We can protect our traditional culture even as we respond to the
demands of the larger world. The Eskimo have done it. We look forward
to the partnership of the Gwich'in as we adapt and progress into
the 21st century.
--George N. Ahmoagak, Sr.
Mayor North Slope Borough
Barrow, Alaska
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