Akaka asked to Members of a northeastern Alaska Indian tribe have brought their fight against oil development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to Hawaii.
oppose Arctic drilling
A Indian tribe from the
region hopes to influence
Hawaii Sen. Akaka's voteBy Gordon Y.K. Pang
gpang@starbulletin.comHawaii Sen. Daniel Akaka, a Democrat, is considered the lone fence-sitter in a critical vote on an omnibus energy bill before the Senate Energy Committee. The issue could determine the fate of oil drilling in the 1.5 million-acre Arctic region of Alaska, as well as of 130,000 porcupine caribou that migrate to the area every year so their cows can give birth in early June.
Lucy Beach, executive director of the Gwich'in Steering Committee, said she wants Hawaii constituents to apply pressure on Akaka to vote against the energy bill, which if approved would clear the way for oil drilling in the wildlife refuge
"We call this the sacred place where life begins," Beach said.
The Gwich'in living in Arctic Village, Old Crow and Fort Yukon rely on the caribou for food, skin, fat and other essential items to help them survive the sub-zero temperatures of the Alaskan winter, Beach said.
The Gwich'in have both a physical and spiritual relationship with the caribou that some have compared to the tie once shared by native American Indians of the Great Plains and the buffalo. Oil drilling opponents say that just as North American tribes began their decline when buffalo began disappearing, so too will the Gwich'in if the caribou vanish.
The caribou, described as the largest herd of migrating animals in North America, move north during the birthing period to get away from predators such as wolves and bears, as well as mosquitoes and other insects that hit the tundra in the spring.
"We're hoping that Sen. Akaka will see the need to protect the last complete, arctic ecosystem in the world," Beach said.
Local organizations such as the Hawaii Audubon Society have allied with the Gwich'in, adding that there is also a local tie because animals that could be adversely affected include about 200 species of birds that come here during the winter.
Beach is scheduled to speak at 6:30 tonight at the annual meeting of the Conservation Council for Hawaii at the Waikiki Aquarium.
There are many, however, who believe the drilling will not affect the herd or the Gwich'in.
Paul Cardis, Akaka's spokesman, said the senator "believes that (drilling) can be done in an environmentally responsible way, but he would want to make sure that any package does do that."
Cardis noted that the Inupiat Eskimos, who actually live in the refuge lands, back exploratory drilling.
"The Inupiat people, who also rely on this caribou, should and do know their lands, and one should trust them to be good stewards, and if they favor exploration and economic development, credence should be given to their wishes as well."
Beach said, however, that the Inupiats stand to profit from the drilling, adding that they have more of a connection with whales than they do with the caribou.
Cardis said that developers are looking at agreeing to halt drilling during breeding months, as is done in the Prudhoe region.
The oil drilling is being pushed by the Bush administration and supported by Alaska's two senators, Republicans Frank Murkowski and Ted Stevens.
Environmentalists fear that last week's terrorist attacks will place more pressure on Congress to try to increase domestic oil production. Beach said she and the Gwich'in believe this should really be a time when Americans look more at conservation.