The World

Native Alaskans & Offshore Drilling

As Royal Dutch Shell awaits approval to move forward with an exploratory oil project off the coast of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, many Native Alaskans, including the Inupiat, are concerned about the risks of drilling in Arctic waters.

The Oil Spill Commission said despite pervasive problems in the oil and gas industry, efforts to move forward on offshore drilling in Arctic waters should not be prevented. But many native Alaskans fear that an oil spill the magnitude of the BP Gulf blowout, will not only damage the region’s fragile environment, but also their traditional way of life. Molly Loomis visited an Inupiat village and has our report.