Two members of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Johnson, R-Conn., and Edward Markey, D-Mass, have introduced a bill that would label the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge a ‘wilderness’, which would permanently stop oil exploration and development in the 1.5 million acre region. Though some parts of ANWR are already designated ‘wilderness’, drilling for oil in other areas is a key element of President Bush’s energy plan. ANWR contains most of the calving grounds for the Porcupine caribou herd, of great importance to the subsistence lifestyles of many Gwich’in people and other communities. The Refuge also contains a variety of endangered species.
