Vuntut Gwitchin, Yukon gov't decry U.S. bill that opens Alaska refuge to drilling

Dana Tizya-Tramm, a councillor with the Vuntut Gwitchin government, says his people are fearful and anxious but also determined to keep up the fight.

"The Gwich'in will never, everstop working towards this area's protection.And mark my words:we will gain traction with the right leadership one of these days, and you will see this area fully protected," he said.

It's not looking good right now, though, for the Gwich'in and others who have beenfighting for years to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in Alaskafromoil and gas drilling. The U.S. tax reform bill that passed this week included a provision to allow for drilling lease sales in parts of the refuge.

In a joint statement on Friday, the VuntutGwitchinand Yukon territorial governments said they were "saddened" by the passage of the bill, saying it "goes against the spirit of the Canada-U.S. Agreement on Porcupine caribou herd conservation."

• Sweeping U.S. tax bill passes House and Senate, now up to White House

• U.S. tax bill would open part of Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling

ANWRis home to the calving grounds of the Porcupine caribouherd, a traditional food source for the Gwich'in.

"These caribou have nursed us through an ice age. We're intrinsically tied, interchangeable we're part of a lateral ecosystem," said Tizya-Tramm.

"If we continue to irresponsibly develop, then what does that say about all of the animals and people across our land? It will be communicating that nothing is safe."

The Yukon government has lobbied U.S. politicians about the issue, and Yukon's MP has also voiced support for the Gwitch'inand protecting ANWR.

Earlier this week, protestors gathered in Fort McPherson, N.W.T., to demonstrate against the opening of ANWR.

• No drilling in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge say Fort McPherson, N.W.T., protestors

'We were making progress'

Tizya-Trammand other Indigenous representativeshave also gone to Washington to lobby, and he says many U.S. politicians have joined their fight, such asDemocratic Sen. Maria Cantwellof Washington.

"We still have at least a year to stop major development, and to do that we need all the reasonable voices," he said.

"We were making progress with President Obama. Unfortunately, President Trump doesn't take a longer view, and doesn't have as calm a politics."

According to the statement from the Yukon and VuntutGwitchingovernments, they will "endeavour to make sure a Canadian voice is heard during the U.S. regulatory process."

The battle over drilling in ANWRgoes back decades, and Tizya-Trammsays that's why he's not throwing in the towelnow.

"This is about the third time now that we've seen this happen where it's come so close," he said.

"It is the people that have always held the powerand when we stand together, we can make anythinga reality."

• PHOTOS |Up close with the migrating Porcupine caribou herd