Jonathon Solomon
Norma Kassi
The Gwich'in Steering Committee elected James as its chairperson in 1988. Since then, she has become a national and global leader in the Gwich'in campaign to save the refuge and caribou. She has continuously worked to educate Congress about maintaining ANWR’s protected status. In 2000, she traveled to the international climate change talks in the Netherlands to publicize the connection between global warming and the degradation of the Arctic. James is currently coordinating the efforts of various native peoples to develop sustainable sources of energy in the region. As a result of her work, solar power was recently installed in two Gwich'in villages. James also offers inspiration and guidance to the next generation of Gwich'in. This year, she helped organize the Gwich’in Young Peoples Gathering, a five-day assembly to celebrate and to strategize about ANWR conservation.
Sarah James
Kassi initiated the struggle to save the Porcupine Caribou in Northeastern Alaska on behalf of the Gwich'in. She has organized numerous conferences, community activities and media events on environmental and health issues affecting the Arctic. She has appeared at U.S. Congressional hearings and has organized support among major environmental organizations such as the Sierra Club, Audubon and the National Wildlife Federation. In August of 2000, she met with former President Jimmy Carter, who pledged to ask then-President Clinton to declare the ANWR a national monument. This summer Kassi traveled to Hawaii to urge Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI), a member of the Senate Energy and Resources Committee, to join others in Congress in denouncing oil drilling in the refuge.
"We are caribou people," said James. "It’s our clothing, our story, our song, our dance and our food—that’s who we are. If you drill for oil here, you are drilling right into the heart of our existence."
"Some might say it is a fool’s errand to fight the oil industry in Alaska, but we have no choice but to fight," added Solomon. "They may have their lobbyists and campaign contributions, but we have found that a well-timed visit to the halls of Congress by Gwich'in, whose lives and livelihoods would be devastated, can make for a very convincing argument."
Kassi noted, "For thousands of years the Gwich'in have safeguarded the sacred calving grounds of the Porcupine Caribou, which sustains our existence. Is it right that the fate of yet another indigenous culture will be determined by the U.S. government?"
Page created on 10/22/2011 3:51:27 PM
Last edited 10/22/2011 3:51:27 PM