For hundreds of generations, the Gwich’in people of Alaska and northern Canada have depended on the caribou that migrate through the Arctic Refuge. With their traditional culture now threatened by oil extraction and climate change, two Gwich’in women are continuing a decades-long fight to protect their land and future. The Arctic Refuge is an important symbol of the wild, and a cornerstone of the hope and peace of mind that can only be found in connecting with nature. It is a truly special home to lands and wildlife vital for the subsistence way of life of Alaska Native communities; and it serves a vital role as a remaining link with the unspoiled natural world and a source of hope for future generations, even for those who may never set foot there. The Gwich'in people have thrived in villages along the migration path of the Porcupine Caribou Herd since time immemorial, and consider the Coastal Plain where calves are born sacred.
Patagonia and the Alaska Wilderness League are standing in solidarity with the Gwich’in people to protect the Arctic Refuge from drilling. Join us by signing the Care2 petition asking Congress to designate the coastal plain of the refuge as Wilderness: care2.com/arctic

Patagonia, through our membership in 1% For The Planet®, provides cash grants and in-kind services to thousands of community-based groups working to create positive change for the planet in their own backyards. patagonia.com/grants