“Thank you, for your ‘commitment to protecting sacred lands and the Gwich’in’s way of life’ J. Estus ICT
Flying into Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (Photo by Danielle Brigida, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
Excerpt: Biden halts Arctic Drilling…By Joaqlin Estus, ICT
“President Joe Biden put a hold on oil and gas drilling in the Arctic just hours after being inaugurated.
He signed an executive order Wednesday placing a temporary moratorium on all federal activities related to oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge…Biden also reinstated an Obama-era order withdrawing areas in Arctic waters and the Bering Sea from offshore oil and gas drilling and establishing the Northern Bering Sea Climate Resilience Area.
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge encompasses calving grounds for the Porcupine Caribou Herd, which includes some 200,000 animals. Pregnant females annually trek to the coastal plain of the refuge to give birth to as many as 40,000 calves.
The Gwich’in Athabascan people call the caribou calving grounds ‘Iizhik Gwats’an Gwandaii Goodlit’” meaning the sacred place where life begins…President and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation Collin O’Mara, said in a press release, ‘We applaud President Biden for taking these critical first steps on our long journey to rebuild our economy, revitalize frontline communities, improve our health, reduce pollution, restore our public lands, respect Indigenous communities, and protect our wildlife heritage.”
