PROTECTING THE ARCTIC REFUGE THROUGH INDIGENOUS LEADERSHIP | GWICH’IN STEERING COMMITTEE

FOR MCPHERSON, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES AND ACROSS THE GWICH’IN NATION

2026 BALLOT FINALIST | NOMINATED BY ALASKA WILDERNESS LEAGUE

This Indigenous-led initiative strengthens long-term protection of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by establishing a Gwich'in Youth Advocacy Council, engaging tourism operators as conservation partners, and amplifying Indigenous voices through storytelling and media. By connecting cultural stewardship, conservation advocacy, and the tourism industry, the project helps safeguard one of North America's last intact wilderness landscapes and the Porcupine Caribou Herd that depends on it.

 The Issue:

For decades, the Porcupine Caribou Herd's calving grounds in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge have faced ongoing threats from oil and gas development, while climate change is further disrupting migration patterns through increased wildfires. The application identifies industrial development as the primary threat to one of the Arctic's most important ecosystems and to the Gwich'in people's culture, livelihoods, and way of life. The project addresses this by strengthening Indigenous-led governance and advocacy through the Gwich'in Nation Gathering, youth leadership, and partnerships that mobilize support to protect the Refuge and its wildlife from future development.

What are Measurable Outcomes Expected from the Funding of this Project?

  • A Gwich'in Youth Advocacy Council is established with at least 10 members, all participating in documented advocacy actions within 12 months.

  • At least three Alaska- or Canada-based tourism or guiding operators formally commit to supporting Arctic Refuge protection.

  • A post-Gathering media and storytelling campaign produces at least three media placements or published content pieces reaching conservation and tourism audiences.

 What Would a Successful Project Result In?

A permanent Gwich'in Youth Advocacy Council is leading conservation efforts, tourism operators have formally committed to supporting Arctic Refuge protection, and Indigenous-led storytelling has expanded public awareness and support for protecting the Porcupine Caribou Herd and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.