In “About us, without us” (Might 25, Opinion), Charles Lampe and Nagruk Harcharek accurately famous that selections about oil improvement 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, nonetheless, 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 improvement to advertise jobs and financial improvement, the Gwich’in have opposed drilling as a result of they depend upon caribou and different wildlife sources to help subsistence and conventional economies. The pursuits of all affected Native Alaskans must be revered in making selections about oil improvement on the North Slope, and all these views must be introduced.
Bob Adler, Duvall
