Alpine
is an oil field operated by
Phillips Alaska Inc. This oil field is eight miles north of Nuiqsut and is
the field in which Kuukpik Corp. has a claim. It was the first oil field
with native ownership. See also Nuiqsut and Kuukpik Corp.
Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act
passed in Congress in 1980. Under this act, the size of the Alaska National
Wildlife Range more than doubled from 8.9 million acres to 19 million
acres. This act also changed the name from “Range” to a “Refuge.”
Alaska Native Claims Settlement
established in 1971 the Kaktovik Inuiat Corporation’s ownership of 69,000
acres along the coast within ANWR.
Alaskan Natives
consist of both Eskimos and Indians and represent about 16% of Alaska’s
residents. The Eskimos exist in two groups: the Inupiaq and the Yup’ik.
The Yup’ik are to the west and the Inupiaq are in the north. The Indians
consist of the Athabscans in central Alaska and the Aleut, Alutiiq, Eyak,
Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian in the south. The Gwich’in are part of the
Athabascans. See also Inupiaq and Gwich’in.
ANWR
(AN-warh)
stands for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Originally founded
as the Arctic National Wildlefe Range in 1960, it became a 19 million acre
Refuge in 1980. Within ANWR is 1.5 million acres of coastal plains
known as the 1002 area. Currently the area is closed to oil
developers, but it is a topic of much discussion. Conservationists
want the area declared as Wilderness to ensure its continued preservation
while developers what permission to explore for oil which they believe
exists in large quantities there. ANWR contains the greatest
biodiversity of any arctic region and is home to hundredss of different
species, including 180 bird species, 45 mammalian species, and 36 species of
fish. It is a very specialized climate and most organisms that live
there are highly sensitive. See also 1002, ANILCA, and Porcupine Caribou.
Learn more with ANWR statistics.
Arctic Village
is a Gwich’in village located by the south border of ANWR. In 1988, the
Gwich’in Indians held a traditional gathering to discuss their official view
and plan of action. They decided and now stand unified against
development. See also Gwich’in.
Deadhorse
is the town just to the south of Prudhoe Bay. It marks the end of the
Dalton Highway. Its purpose for existence is to serve as a supply hub for
the oil fields on the North Slope.
Exxon Valdez
is the name of the ship that spilled 11 million gallons of crude oil into
Prince William Sound in 1989. The ecosystem is still recovering.
Gwich’in
Indians
are native to Alaska. Living around the southern area of the refuge, they
are the northernmost Indians there and are considered part of the
Athabascans. Living a traditional, subsistent life, they call the coastal
plains “Vadzaih Googii Vi Dehk’it Gwanlii,” or The Sacred Place Where Life
Begins. Still living a traditional, subsistent life, they rely on the
Caribou for survival. In fact, they consider the Caribou to be sacred.
According to the Gwich’in Creation story, “…the Gwich’in came from the
caribou, when there was a separation of humans from the animals…From that
time on…the Gwich’in would retain a part of the caribou heart and the
caribou would retain a part of the Gwich’in heart…What befalls the caribou
befalls the Gwich’in.” They are unified in their opposition to
development. See also Arctic Village and Alaskan Natives.
Inupiat
Eskimos (or Inupiaq)
are the northernmost group of Eskimos in Alaska. Living in coastal regions,
they were traditionally hunters of the bowhead whale, polar bear, walrus,
and seal. Though they still rely on subsistence, some are becoming involved
in the oil industry, like the Eskimos of Nuiqsut. Most Inupiaq are for oil
development. See also Kaktovik, Nuiqsut, and Alaskan Natives.
Itqilippaa
is the name for “Old Nuiqsut,” before it was abandoned. See also Nuiqsut.
Kaktovik
is an Inupiat Eskimo village within the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge.
Specifically, it is within the 1002 area. This town’s corporation owns a
small tip of the 1002 area and it was on their land that the only
exploratory well in ANWR was ever drilled (the KIC well). Hoping to see the
benefits that Nuiqsut has seen, some are for development. However, this
feeling is not unanimous. Already receiving royalties from other oil
fields, the city of Kaktovik has gained better houses, street lights, a big
school with a swimming pool, a health clinic, a community hall, a power
plant, and a public transit van. See also Kaktovik Inupiat
Corp., KIC Well, and Inupiaq.
Kaktovik
Inuiat Corporation (KIC)
is the name of the native corporation of Kaktovik. They own 94,000 acres
entirely contained within the 1002 area. They authorized an exploratory
drill on the eastern tip of their lands, known as the KIC well. Being the
only drill site ever within ANWR, the drill site is infamous, especially
since the results are secret. See also Kaktovik.
KIC#1 Well
(“Kick Well”)
is the name given to the one and only oil well to be drilled in ANWR. It
got its name from the Kaktovik Inuiat Corporation since it was on their land
and by their authority that it was drilled. Going a depth of 15, 193 ft
(roughly 3 miles), the 1985 well cost $40 million dollars. Chevron and BP
leased the land from KIC to do the drilling. The results of the drill are
kept highly secret. In fact, Cheveron won a law suit in 1991 to keep KIC#1’s
confidentiality. See also Kaktovik Inupiaq Corp.
and Kaktovik.
Kuukpik Corp.
is the Nuiqsut village corporation. They receive revenue from the oil
drilled from their lands as well as receive property taxes from oil fields.
They hold contracts to provide many services at Alpine, including
engineering, construction, security, catering, and transportation. See also
Nuiqsut.
National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska
is an oil reserve in northwest Alaska. It was created in 1923 by President
Harding. Originally called the Naval Petroleum Reserve, it was meant to be
an emergency supply of oil for the navy. After the US Geological Survey
completed exploration and testing of the area, control of its 24.2 million
acres was given over to the Department of Interior in 1976. It is right
next door to Nuiqsut and was opened for public development in 1980. The
government managed the land by selling leases and collecting royalties of
which half went directly to the State of Alaska. With the 1980 leases long
expired, the government reopened the reserve in 1999, selling $105 million
worth of leases.
North Slope
is the northern most county in Alaska and is the area where almost all of
Alaska’s oil development is, including Prudhoe Bay. Often, the term ‘North
Slope’ refers specifically to all the areas of oil development in the
north. Its easternmost end holds part of the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge.
Nuiqsut
is a village of Inupiat Eskimos with a current population of about 500
people. Originally called Itqilippaa, it was abandoned in the late 1940’s
when its people moved away in order to enroll their children in school as
was required by state law. However, the town was resettled in 1973. The
first building to be built was a school. Kuukpik Corp.—a native corporation
of Nuiqsut—owned land on which oil was discovered in the mid 1990’s. This
was the first time that natives had a claim to oil. Now the town is rapidly
growing and benefiting from the oil industry. Besides the revenue that
Kuukpik Corp. receives, the oil industry brings with it high paying jobs, a
free supply of natural gas, college scholarships, and funding for community
buildings like a school, firehouse, and community center. Most people in
Nuiqsut are for oil development. See also Alpine, Kuukpik Corp,
and Inupiaq.
Porcupine Caribou Herd
is the name of the caribou herd whose calving grounds are right in the
middle of the disputed area of ANWR. Acting as a major area of concern for
conservationists, the caribou are frequently cited as a reason not to open
up ANWR for development. Being the largest free-roaming herd of caribou, it
consists of 123,000 animals. With their calving and nursery grounds right
where developers want to drill, many believe their safety to be in jeopardy.
President Eisenhower
established the Arctic National Wildlife Range (later named a Refuge) in
1960 under the Alaska Lands Act, setting aside 8.9 million acres for conservation.
Prudhoe Bay
is a region of oil development that lies right in the middle between ANWR
and NPRA. It is the largest oil producing site in the arctic,
accounting for 20% of America’s domestic oil production. Learn more
with Prudhoe Bay Statistics.
Northern Yukon National Park
is the name of the park area in Canada that is adjacent the ANWR.
Valdez
See Exxon Valdez.
1002 Area (Ten-oh-two)
is the name of the 1.5 million acres of coastal plains within ANWR. This
area is about what all the ruckus is. This is where oil developers what to
be allowed to drill. It is called this because it was under Section 1002 of
the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act that gave it its status of undetermined. Under the
act, the 1002 area was set aside for further analysis before its ultimate
fate would be decided. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates 3 to 16 billion
barrels of oil are under the surface here. The debate is ongoing and
although oil drilling is currently not allowed, conservation is not
guaranteed. It is also the calving grounds for the Porcupine caribou herd.
See also ANWR,
ANILCA and Porcupine
Caribou.
