Gwich’in fight for their way of life

Dear Friends and Supporters,

If US President George W Bush gets his way, the herds of caribou deer vital for the survival of the native Gwich’in will be forced to give way to oil-drilling squads in the area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. On 1 August, the US House of Representatives voted upon a new energy policy which foresees, amongst other matters, provision for oil drilling in the area of the natural park in the far north of Alaska. As far as native Americans and environmentalists are concerned, such a dramatic u-turn in energy policy would never have been conceivable without the support of the extensive oil lobby which significantly supported the election campaign of the President. The very existence of a great range of species in the area renders this last great wilderness particularly worthy of protection: grizzly bears, the musk-ox, arctic foxes, wolves and polar and black bears along with around 100 different species of birds live together in a nature reserve the size of Bavaria. This part of Alaska has been home to the Gwich’in for more than 20,000 years. Just as their ancestors over thousands of years, today some 7,000 Gwich’in live scattered throughout the region.

No future without the Caribou

{bild1}Should Bush’s u-turn in energy policy become reality, the very survival of the Gwich’in will be under threat. The Gwich’in have therefore placed their hope in the US Senate who may in September still be able to withhold its consent to the planned legislation. Without a clear „no“ from the Senate to Bush’s deforestation programme in the ‚Arctic Serengeti‘, the future of the Gwich’in looks bleak. The Gwich’in hunters cannot conceive a life without the caribou herds of the Porcupine River. This particular species of caribou native of North Canada and Alaska has evolved over thousands of years within the coastal areas of the ANWR reserve in which the oil drilling is now planned. Up until now, the 129, 000 animals migrate each year from the mountains of Canada 1, 800 kilometers to the north and cross the Porcupine River in order to give birth to their calves on the flatlands of the coast. The Gwich’in always ensured that the newly born creatures would never come to harm. For the Gwich’in, the coastal area is a sacred place, as it is there that life itself begins. Many animal conservationists fear that should oil drilling begin, the caribou herd will simply stay away. There are also no alternative suitable areas for the animals, as their natural habitat is becoming more and more restricted. A decrease in the caribou population would have catastrophic effects for the animal kingdom of Alaska.

The Gwich’in do not regard the caribou as solely a source of nutrition. The hide, antlers and bones are also used in the production of clothing and other every-day articles. The caribous have however a far deeper cultural and spiritual significance for the Gwich’in. „Without the caribous, we would be lost“, explained Sarah James from the Gwich’in Steering Committee. Innumerable traditions, songs and stories exist about the animals. Even their name, People of the Caribou, hints at their close relationship with nature and animal.

The oil lobby is campaigning with false facts

If one is to believe the oil industry, any oil undertakings in the ANWR will be both trouble and contamination free. Experiences in the neighboring oil drilling area of Prudhoe Bay leave, however, nothing to the imagination: each year in that area, an average of 400 oil spill-type accidents occur. Thanks to the Arctic climate, any damage to the environment is to all effects irreversible. More than ninety percent of all coastal areas to the west of the ANWR have already been surrendered to oil exploration, with 1,400 wells already having been sunk.

The legislator deliberately deceived the public in declaring before the decision of the US House of Representatives was rendered that a mere 800 hectares of land within the ANWR would be required for purposes of oil drilling. It has since become known that roads and other elements of an infrastructure were omitted from such calculations. Trade union support for the project was guaranteed by means of a whole-hearted announcement that 700, 000 jobs would be created within the region; an empty promise, itself based upon figures from 1990. Even for the high energy requirements of the USA, development of the ANWR carries little relevance. Rather than the promised long-term guarantee of natural energy resources, the oil deposits are in any case only sufficient to supply the USA oil demand for six months. No more than two percent of energy required could be obtained from AMWR. The Gwich’in and environmentalists therefore relay a categorical „No!“ to oil prospecting in the areas of the nature reserve. The Gwich’in compare their situation to that of the Sioux, who were forced to give up their traditional way of life after the destruction of their buffalo herds and ask when their country will ever learn, that it is simply not possible to act in such a manner towards others.

Nor is the Bush administration prepared to step down. On the contrary: large-scale projects within the framework of this new energy policy also threaten the survival of further groups of native inhabitants within the nation. The Havasupai of the Grand Canyon are challenging plans to start prospecting for uranium; the Blackfeet in Montana are also against oil exploration and the Navajo are fighting an extension of coal mining facilities and forced migration from lands once shared with the Hopi on the Black Mesa.

Developments, as of February 2002

The Representative of the majority party Democrats within the US Senate, Tom Daschle, has given the Gwich’in new hope for the future. On Wednesday 10 October 2001, Jeff Bingaman, Energy Committee Representative of the Senate and Democrat from New Mexico, upheld an application from Daschle and put a stop to future debate on the proposed energy legislation. As a result of this unusual procedure, as it was described by the Washington Times of 11 October 2001, it is now within the competence of Daschle to determine both the content of the law and the consultation procedure within the Energy Commission. Until the middle of february 2002 there was no decision made on this issue. Daschle might even be willing to leave out the ANWR-project of the draft bill. Republicans heaped their scorn and angry protest upon Daschle, yet it has still not been determined as to whether the law will be re-submitted before the end of the current legislative period. Many Republicans even fear that Daschle would not even present the bill and therefore accuse him of irresponsible prejudice and of being a pawn in an issue of national interest at a time of national emergency.

How you can contribute to the survival of the Gwich’in

Please lend your support to Senator Daschle in his subsequent undertakings by speaking out in favour of the conservation of the ANWR and against oil exploration. Appeal to the representatives of the majority party Democrats in the US Senate who are determined that their party shall prevent any exploration in the protected nature reserves of the ANWR. (US Senate, 509 Hart Building, Washington DC 20510, USA Fax 001 202 224 7895; Email: tom_daschle@daschle.senate.gov) The politicians should also be encouraged to ensure effective protection for Native American communities against energy lobby corporations.

Please support our human rights work for the Gwich’in and other native communities by means of a donation. (Account number 50 90 at Sparkasse Göttingen, Bank Sort Code 260 500 01) or register – if you have not already done so – as a member. Donations and subscriptions ensure our continued political independence; thus they are of particular significance.

Please forward this appeal to others!

In the name of GfbV (STP), we thank you for your commitment.

Best wishes,

Tilman Zülch Francoise Geiger

Secretary General Executive Member

Send an email to Senator Daschle