Stand with the Gwich’in
Protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Gwich’in elders of Vashrąįį K’ǫǫ (Arctic Village) and Vįįhtąįį (Venetie) called for an Emergency
Gwich’in Gathering to be held in Vashrąįį K’ǫǫ to address imminent threats to our people, our
way of life, and to protect the birthing grounds of the Porcupine Caribou herd in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
We, the Gwich’in Elders, Chiefs, leaders, and youth gathered in Vashrąįį K’ǫǫ, call upon all people to join us in our fight to protect the Porcupine Caribou Herd and their birth place, nursery and calving grounds within the 1002 area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. For thousands of years our people have lived in balanced relationship with our lands, waters and animals. We pass on our traditional knowledge from generation to generation to ensure the ongoing stewardship of our homelands and the resources upon which our people depend. We are blessed to still live as our ancestors; in sustained relationship with the land, waters, and animals, especially the Porcupine Caribou Herd. Over 200,000 vadzaih (caribou) still migrate freely across their ancestral lands and traditional use areas unobstructed by industrial development, returning every fall to our northern Gwich’in communities providing the foundation of our cultural, spiritual and physical survival.
The birthing grounds of the caribou is a place we refer to as Izhik Gwats’an Gwandaii Goodlit, the Sacred Place Where Life Begins. It is critical that we protect their entire habitat, including migratory routes and calving grounds. This makes up the last intact ecosystem in the United States.
The Gwich’in call upon all of our supporters now more than ever to educate your local, state, and national leaders of the pressing need to stop attempts at seismic activity, oil exploration and development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. When the caribou are under threat, the Gwich’in are under threat. Please join our effort to Defend the Sacred, Stand with the Gwich’in and Protect the Arctic Refuge!
Learn more about how you can help at https://gwichinsteering.org/ and please use #gwichin #protectthearcticrefuge #arcticrefuge #defendthesacred in all social media posts