GAEA CHERISSA

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, also known in Gwich'in as, Iizhik Gwats'an Gwandaii Goodlit, or, "The Sacred Place Where Life Begins," and disaffectionately "Section 1002" has sustained human and animal life since time immemorial. The far-reaching lore of this region's unique magic captures hearts and minds far and wide. Yet, an ongoing debate over that which lies beneath its caribou birthing grounds has ensued for decades, and is now at a crucial pinnacle... This region is important habitat for 180 migratory bird species, polar bears in search of sea ice, the Porcupine caribou herd, and it is traditional land of the Gwich'in and Inupiaq people... In 2017, the Trump administration passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that included amendments to the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act by Lisa Murkowski that mandated at least two lease sales in the Coastal Plain of the Arctic Refuge for oil drilling. An Environmental Impact Statement was completed in 2019. Currently, a..