The Voice of the Arctic I?upiat

Today we celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day and the diverse cultures and histories of Indigenous peoples across the U.S, including our own I?upiaq culture and history. Learn more about the North Slope I?upiat: https://loom.ly/K3EW2bk

On a day that is now commonly recognized as Indigenous Peoples' Day, we are shocked by the efforts of this administration to erase our people from our homelands. Time and time again, the federal government rewards the Indigenous peoples of this country according to the political agenda du jour. Today that means choosing one people over another regardless of history, facts, and settled law. As the rightful occupants of our ancestral homelands, we will continue to protest this injustice. Our future is not a political game. https://loom.ly/Hrln3YM

We call on the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Land Management to honor our right to self-determination when it comes to our ancestral homelands. Our voices cannot be silenced and our economic security cannot be ignored. Read more about our lawsuit challenging the DOI’s restrictions in our homelands: https://loom.ly/UN1dYGY

ICYMI: Last month a bipartisan delegation including Rep. Pete Stauber, Gov. Mike Dunleavy, Sen. Dan Sullivan, Rep. Mary Peltola, and members of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources visited the North Slope to see our ancestral homelands first-hand. We are grateful for their continued support of our right to self-determination. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dnMWcpEq

“Voting is our sacred and constitutional right. I hope my fellow Alaskans, from all parts of the state, join me in calling for the state Division of Elections to act with urgency to ensure this does not happen again.” We deserve to exercise our political rights and be heard on November 5th. In a new opinion piece in the Anchorage Daily News, Robyn Burke illustrates why we need properly functioning polling places and on-time ballot delivery on the North Slope: https://loom.ly/bI6Jgyg

Today, we remember and mourn the loss of Eugene “Buzzy” Peltola a year after his tragic passing. Our hearts are with Rep. Peltola and her family as they celebrate Buzzy’s life today. https://loom.ly/7C8cHSE

“No one knows the North Slope better than its original stewards and their descendants. We urge the Biden administration to center our Indigenous voices, as well as our self-determination, in future decision-making affecting our region.” These are the words of VOICE President Nagruk Harcharek when the Department of the Interior (DOI) blindsided the North Slope a year ago by announcing restrictions in our homelands. DOI has offered little since then to show any regard for our right to self-determination. Revisit our statement last year: https://loom.ly/jU4AyPE

Today marks the 53rd anniversary of the founding of the I?upiat Community of the Arctic Slope, the federally recognized tribal government that represents the North Slope. We are thankful for our members and their commitment to serving our people. Learn more about their work and service to our region: https://loom.ly/mhTYL9M

Alaska's Primary Election is TODAY! We encourage everyone to make their voices heard and vote. You can find your local polling place here: https://loom.ly/CegXtEA

“By visiting our communities, this bipartisan delegation witnessed firsthand the benefits of economic development and the impact of the administration’s flawed policies and their potential to stunt the economic future of the North Slope I?upiat.” This week Gov. Mike Dunleavy, Sen. Dan Sullivan, Rep. Mary Peltola, and members of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources visited the North Slope in a true example of bipartisan support for North Slope I?upiaq self-determination. Read VOICE President Nagruk Harcharek’s full statement: https://loom.ly/_5_QX1A