Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
The coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is
one of America's last and greatest wilderness.
It is also a birthing ground for wolves,
caribou,
and polar bears.
For over 20 years,
the Gwich'in Nation has been protecting
the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge from oil and gas development.
In our beliefs, we are not supposed to go to that area because it's sacred,
sacred,
sacred place to our people.
I'm a Gwich'in girl.
I'm a Gwich'in woman and I'm proud of it.
Gwich'in women who never had a voice before
I'm a mother, I have two children.
Great grandmother
I was one of the first women Gwich'in chiefs.
The most important things I speak up for
is the rights of indigenous people
to live the way they've always lived and
have a relationship with the land.
You want some?
If we didn't have caribou,
we won't be Gwich'in.
They can't voice for themselves that they need to be
protected that their birthing grounds need to be protected.
As an indigenous person, we are always looking to protect our lands.
It's our land and that's where we come from.
Spill in the Gulf of Mexico,
that was a wake up call.
We're not protecting the Arctic Refuge for ourselves,
we're protecting it for everyone.
Let's work together.