By MAYOR JOSIAH AULLAQSRUAQ PATKOTAK, NORTH SLOPE BOROUGH
On May 28, the leader of the Native Village of Kaktovik received a letter from Merben Cebrian, the federal refuge manager for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). In this letter, Cebrian explained that, based on requests from the Native Village of Venetie and Arctic Village, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering designating a portion of ANWR — specifically 1.5 million acres — as sacred grounds for the Gwich’in under Executive Order 13007.
As mayor of the North Slope Borough and a proud member of the Iñupiaq people, I feel compelled to address this affront to our people’s ancestral lands.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s attempt to designate land as religious grounds for the Gwich’in people, land that has never been part of their historical territory, is not only misguided but an affront to the sovereignty and history of the Iñupiaq.
For thousands of years, the Iñupiaq people have lived, thrived and stewarded these lands. Our deep connection to the land and its resources is woven into the very fabric of our identity. Yet, today, we find ourselves at the crossroads of a dangerous and paternalistic attempt by the federal government to undermine our rights and history.
This is not a simple misunderstanding; it is a naked and transparent effort to advance a political agenda at the expense of our people.
Let me be clear: The land in question is not, and has never been, Gwich’in territory. If there is a claim that their ancestors are buried here, that is a result of territorial wars that occurred in a bygone era; and victors aren’t buried.
The historical territory of the Gwich’in is 150-200 miles away from the land in question. This is the same distance as that between New York and Washington, D.C. – or between Anchorage and Homer. The suggestion of designating these lands as sacred grounds for a people with no historical claim is more than just factually wrong — it’s a blatant misuse of authority. The Department of Interior has no business advancing such an egregious overreach.
Using the Gwich’in as a proxy, this federal administration, together with extreme environmentalists, is attempting to reconfigure our land rights under the guise of environmental stewardship, once again trying to brush aside the Iñupiaq people; as my Aaka says, “Shame on you.”
This is not about the protection of sacred sites; it is about control. It is about a federal government that thinks it knows better than the people who have lived on and cared for these lands since time immemorial. The Iñupiaq have always been the best stewards of our land. We understand its rhythms, its challenges, and its gifts in a way that no outside entity, or peoples, ever could. To have our history and our rights dismissed by bureaucrats thousands of miles away is unacceptable.
The Iñupiat people have fought for our land and our way of life for millennia, and we will not stand by as the federal government attempts to erase our history and rewrite it to suit their own ends.
You want local buy-in for your proposal on the eve of the presidential election?
Well, you don’t have it: neither from the North Slope Borough nor from the only people who live in ANWR’s 1002 area, the people of Kaktovik.
We respect the Gwich’in and their right to manage their lands far to the south of us. In return, we expect the same respect for our land, rights and history — non-negotiable principles long recognized by Congress through the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. We stand firm in defending them.
The Iñupiat are not mere inhabitants of this land; we are its guardians. In this case, we guard against this federal administration’s actions, which are a stark reminder of the ongoing struggles Indigenous peoples face around the country simply asking not to be ignored.
The federal government must understand that any attempt to undermine our sovereignty will be met with fierce resistance. We will not allow our lands to be co-opted for purposes that serve neither our people nor our future.
Josiah Aullaqsruaq Patkotak is the mayor of the North Slope Borough and a former member of the Alaska House of Representatives.
So tell me again why do we need a federal government lording over us?
Everything they touch turns to ash.
I have a question for the residents of Venetie and Arctic Village, do you get and cash a PFD check, also are you using petroleum products to heat your homes and power generators to the purpose of electricity? Well, if the answer is yes, your all hypocrites.
The feds are pulling a fast one again.
Federal government Get out of Alaska.
We can’t trust our own government so be aware of any fed action as it’s not for the people but for the politicians and their elite rich friends.
Representative Peltola! Where are you?
Hello!
You are looking for Mary? ….she is hiding under Nancy Pelosi’s desk.
We’re from the government. We’re here to help. Just not you.
Bravo.
Well said from an honorable leader of the North Slope and Alaska.
This post is the most cogent, eloquently expressed, and factual declaration in response to direct federal over reach, and the odious use by nilagmiut or white outside “environmentalist” lawyers of many AK Native entities as proxies that I’ve read in many years.
It is factual, on point and not a waste of time to read like the gibberish our current Alaska political leaders are infamous for.
Josiah would be an excellent candidate for Governor, Senator or Representative for our state.
Quyanna
The Democraps in the U.S Fish & Wildlife in the lower 48 Just pissed of the Alaska Natives Is that what I’m reading?
I’ll say one thing. He knows how to make his position very clear in writing.
Here! Here! Well stated Mr. Patkotak!
Well said, Josiah! Don’t let the Feds steal the land. Don’t let them treat you and your people the way they treated mine (Lower 48 Native here). I will stand by you and your people.
As the late Senator Ted Stevens told me once, the Gwich’in are nothing but troublemakers and puppets of the radical left environmental movement. They don’t want Inupiak developing their North Slope lands and furthering oil exploration. The Gwich’in have been brainwashed by Democrats. The Inupiak are guided by common sense economics and are very happy to participate in 21st Century endeavors, including sound development of our natural resources. Alaska is not a museum for tourists. We have the right to stand up to whoever would try and prevent us from moving forward. And we will.
👏👏👏👏
Welcome to the world of Mary Peltola. She’s backing the Federal takeover of every single river in rural Alaska. She was paid to push for the takeover of State Rivers by the US Fish and Wildlife as head of the Kuskokwmin River Advisory Group, headquartered in Bethel.
Screw the Feds. They want to do radical crap, like put King Salmon on the endangered species list so they can use that as an excuse to take over every river in Alaska that has Kings in it.
They came to Quinhagak and tried to take over our river. I called Senator Sullivan’s office and they listened in to the public hearing. …. They left, haven’t heard back, but suspect that they are preparing to pull a Jimmy Carter and execute a signature takeover on the West Coast too.
If I haven’t mentioned this through the years, I detest Federal oversight of anything….
Vote conservative 😁.
P. S. Peanut Farmer politicians suck too.
Stand strong Patkotak! Alaskans can see the manipulation. Shame on the Gwichin people for going along with this attempted gov’t steal. Since when is Fish and Wildlife in charge of native lands like this? New to me.
Since it was a National Wildlife Refuge. Understand?
The answer is since JIMMY CARTER signed ANILCA.
Another DEMOCRAT who thought the FEDS could manage lands better than Alaskans.
Either way, the Wildlife refuge does not belong to the GWITCHIN
Their land is also within ANWR. Do you realize how big the refuge is?
Ike designated the Arctic National Wildlife Range in 1960, on his way out of office. Carter made it bigger and mostly wilderness, I doubt either of them knew much about the people who live there.
NB3 for a grand slam!
Tookalook, the gwich’in aren’t brainwashed but they are well paid puppets just like Mary peltola.
That’s what Senator Stevens said during Committee Hearings in the Senate. Stevens said, “don’t listen to these people (Gwitch’ins)!”
Ive always thought of the Gwich’in as Yukon & NW Territory natives.
Gwichʼin peoples and Anglican missionaries came west with the Hudson’s Bay Company in the middle of the 19th century. At least some of them can lay claim to residing west of the 141st parallel when the United States established its dominion over the area.
“under Emergency Order 13007”.
Exactly WHAT is your “emergency”?
Or is this just another abuse of an “emergency” protocol by tyrants to usurp authority, to bypass State and local Democratic authority and indigenous sovereignty?
Their Emergency is that their time is running out. Only 20 days left!
Vote YES to get rid of Ranked Choice voting. Yes on 2. Don’t be confused by the dark money ads suggesting it is a good thing. Vote to get rid of it by voting YES on 2. Keep the power mongers away. YES on 2.
The Gwitch’in and the feds should know better. A Gwitch’in, Thelma Wallace, wrote a book that clearly showed that land north of the Brooks Range divide is NOT Gwitch’in land. ‘https://www.amazon.com/Bird-Girl-Man-Who-Followed/dp/0060977280
I assume you mean Velma Wallis.
I hope someday I get to meet this fine gentleman!
In 2005, as the President/CEO of the Alaska Native Health Board (ANHB) I wrote a resolution to support the opening of ANWR.
The Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments had just became a member of ANHB.
Unanimously ANHB supported the resolution, including CATG.
In addition, I travelled to Fort Yukon for the International Gathering of Gwitch’iin.
I did not go there knowing I would be speaking- but since other leaders did not show up I was exalted to the microphone on that riverbank on that day.
I already had a resolution supporting the opening of ANWR. But tradition and respect beyond systems and western agencies compelled me to be there.
I thought I’d be listening.
I did not know that I was being broadcast on the radio when I did speak.
Midway into my rant that no one was going to ever take care of any of us and that is why we need to take care of ourselves and recognize opportunities to create our seat at the table, did someone mention I was on the radio.
To which I laughed nervously and said, “well I doubt I will have this job when I leave here so I might as well tell you everything I think”.
At that time Fort Yukon had all kinds of supplies delivered and rusting around the community for water and sewer projects. There was no dust control.
The Gwit’chiin were well versed in sacrificing for subsistence rights – while filling up their 4-wheelers, boats, and homes with fuel.
But the ‘interest groups’ use them as spokesmen – flying them around for moments of posterity in the sun and when they return home alone – what did the interest groups do to actually elevate the day-to-day quality of life?
It’s easy to fly in – extract a storyline, appreciate and perhaps even empathize- but ultimately whose purpose is being met?
Meanwhile- actual infrastructure for basic living gets back logged and slow-rolled.
Later…
I heard a Fort Yukon man testify in Washington DC and say that energy development should not come to pass by stepping on the necks of his people.
I thought to myself-caribou are migratory animals, and traditionally that is why our tribes have also been migratory.
Our ancestors, our culture, our traditions, our celebrations, our ceremonies, were not based on being a sedentary society.
And I know this.
I also know this by having worked on the North Slope myself.
The wildlife cannot be disturbed on the North Slope. I had to come to a composition in my truck and wait for a goose, a fox, caribou or whatever the animal was to move along in its own time.
I could not honk or disturb it in any way.
Caribou love roads, for the record. They also enjoy the shade of a man camp in the summer.
I’ve witnessed this first-hand.
So I think that people may have become sedentary and unwilling to follow the herds and ancestral ways of knowing and being.
Hence, the victors are not buried.
Don Young’s wife, Lu, was Gwich’in. Lu was born and raised in Fort Yukon. Lu was a stalwarth believer in oil development and getting Alaska to develop its resources so the state would be less dependent on federal money.
Sure wish we had this guy for FNSB mayor.
Myself too. Just about anybody is better than Luke Hopkin’s kid.
Murkowski is at it again for the Democrats.
Josiah is a very exceptional individual who has spent his entire life living and learning from all elders of his community and the entire North Slope.
He comes from a wonderful and self educated family of hunters and subsistence gatherers with a very extensive knowledge of the land and the sea.
You cannot be near him without noticing his presence. When he speaks it is all about everyone he represents.
He is the most respected young person guiding his people based on strong healthy values.
His entire family is amazing.
Good for him! Someone has to stand up against the bureaucratic tyranny that is the federal government, because that behemoth is attempting to impoverish us all!
Why do we pay taxes to this corrupt, self-serving, deceitful, ungodly entity we call a government. What could they do to us, that they haven’t already tried, if we all stopped pay our taxes? They can’t kick us out of our country, they’re only good at bringing in illegal immigrants unlawfully, so we need to stop their money flow period! Stop paying for their garbage, take back our country, before it’s too late!!
They have plans already to bomb their own people and create chaos in our towns and states with their illegal gangs/thugs that they flew into our country for this very purpose. Wake the F#*k up people, they are in way too deep and desperate people will do dangerous things. God is sovereign not man!
Exactly the type of leadership ALASKA needs!!
The feral government engaging in more division and overreach.
Mr. Patkotak, thank you! Your leadership is exactly what Alaska needs.
It is hilarious in this day and age to read a comment that is an oxymoron, about the PFD and Alaska resources being used by Alaska Natives in villages. As if Alaskans should live as years gone by.
Let’s think about this, Alaska Resources and the PFD if never developed or created majority of the people living here would be gone!
For that guy, he can crawl under a rock from where he came. As for the many that have moved to Alaska, enjoying resources and the PFD as well as Alaskan Natives understand the history! As for a few, ignorance shines.
Well done, Josiah!
Was Josiah Aullaqsruaq Patkotak played because what just happened is how the Great White Father takes and holds on to power?
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Divide Americans, dangle the promise of endless money to force cultural diversity into cultural conflict, set Peoples hard against each other, so they don’t see what their comfortably distant GWF is really doing to them?
.
Is the GWF playing this game because he worries about what may happen to his power if Iñupiat and Gwich’in unite, tell Merben Cebrian how things are, and will be, in their corner of Alaska
.
… plus what will happen to his power if the movement catches on, unites all Alaska Native folk, even includes one or two non-Native Alaskans who share a similar lack of affection for his regime?
.
Recall how Tecumseh brought Peoples together, maybe it’s time for Josiah Aullaqsruaq Patkotak to do the same, no?
Fantastic letter Josiah. Stand strong. The only job the Feds have is protecting us at our borders and you can see how swell they are at that. The individual states know what they need and how to accomplish it. Every federal agency needs shut down. All (federal lands) need turned over to the individual states.
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