The Trump administration has advanced the process of opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to lease sales. The Department of Interior released its "Record of Decision" on August 17, 2020

The Trump administration has advanced the process of opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to lease sales. The Department of Interior released its "Record of Decision" on August 17, 2020 taking the most aggressive and destructive drilling alternative possible. It paves the way for lease sales as early as December. During an oil glut, increasing threats from climate change, and a world-wide pandemic, the administration will attempt to lease the entire Coastal Plain of the Arctic Refuge-- more than 1.5 million acres-- to the oil industry. Representing the last 5% of America’s Arctic Coastal Plain where the law has barred oil and gas activity, this would forever transform these wild lands into a toxic industrial drilling complex. The Gwich’in people who depend on these lands call it “the sacred place where life begins.”

This move threatens the food security, and spiritual and cultural foundation of the Indiginous Gwich'in Nation, in addition to threats to endangered polar bears, the Porcupine Caribou herd, and birds that migrate to these lands from six continents and all 50 states. This is one of the most high-profile battles in America today at the intersection of the environment and social justice. 

This video includes five members of the Gwich’in community-- raising their voices at the 2016 Gwich’in Gathering in Arctic Village, Alaska-- Neets’aii Gwich’in Tribal Land. Thanks to Arctic Village Council, Venetie Tribal Council and Native Village of Venetie Tribal Government for permission for National Geographic photographer Florian Schulz to record these testimonies.

#ProtectTheArctic #StandwiththeGwichin

Voices include:

Dr. Rev. Trimble Gilbert
Sarah James
Nani’eeth Peter
Gideon James
Anthony Garnett
Narrator: Princess Daazhraii Johnson

Part I available here.

Part I available here. Part III is here.

Language of the breadth of life. Sequoyah Trueblood speaks candidly of his experiences with the Mamos, or spiritual elders of the high mountains of Colombia. He was accompanied by James O'Dea, one of the great peacemakers of our time. In this, Part II, Sequoyah speaks of his first visit to Colombia, the unexpected invitation to serve as one of 9 people to be called to translate the tribal "Law of Origin" with a transmission of the reason for these indigenous people to come down from their sacred mountain. Recent visions of the Mamos have called for them to share their ways of being with the world. Click here for Pt. 3 of 3.

The Foundation for Global Humanity is grateful for this opportunity to film Sequoyah at the Shift Retreat at IONS in Northern California in June 2011. With deep respect, we present this sacred story from Sequoyah Trueblood, accompanied by James O'Dea.