In “About us, without us” (Could 25, Opinion), Charles Lampe and Nagruk Harcharek appropriately famous that choices about oil growth on Alaska’s North Slope (together with the Arctic Nationwide Wildlife Refuge) ought to respect the views of Native Alaskans who’ve lived within the area for hundreds of years. As representatives of Iñupiaq communities, nevertheless, they didn’t point out that one other group of Alaska Natives, the Gwich’in Athabaskans, additionally reside within the area.
Whereas many Iñupiaq have supported oil growth to advertise jobs and financial growth, the Gwich’in have opposed drilling as a result of they rely on caribou and different wildlife assets to assist subsistence and conventional economies. The pursuits of all affected Native Alaskans ought to be revered in making choices about oil growth on the North Slope, and all these views ought to be introduced.
Bob Adler, Duvall
