Que Sarah, Sarah

In 1988, when we learned of the threat of oil development in the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge, the Gwich'in elders called upon the chiefs to hold a gathering, Gwich'in Niintsyaa, to discuss this threat. We agreed unanimously to speak with one voice in opposition to oil and gas development in the birthplace and nursery grounds of the Porcupine caribou herd. Our communities established the Gwich'in Steering Committee with the mandate that the organization represent the interests of the Gwich'in Nation in the Arctic Refuge debate.

Representatives were appointed from each region within the Gwich'in Nation. In 2002, three of us -- Jonathon Solomon, Norma Kassi, and myself -- were awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize. Solomon, the former chairperson from Fort Yukon, passed away this summer. The Gwich'in gathering was dedicated to his memory. He was a very good leader and is greatly missed.

The board, staff, and volunteers of the Gwich'in Steering Committee have succeeded in working on a grassroots level to educate the public and decision makers of the many reasons why this sacred place must be protected and why this is a human-rights issue for the Gwich'in Nation. We want to be able to continue the way of life that we have known since time immemorial. We hope that through our work, people will become better educated about the Arctic Refuge and tell their friends and the decision makers why it needs to be protected for them and for future generations.

I hope that the recent elections lead to a better energy policy. We have a chance to protect the land, and the elections showed that the people of the United States, along with the Gwich'in people, want an energy policy that makes sense. We have to pay attention to climate change. I have been seeing changes around Arctic Village for several years now, like the tree line changing and lakes drying up. This is serious -- we have to do something now.