[banyanroot]

The truth regarding the Gwich’ins opposition to drilling ANWR has nothing to do with the sacred Porcupine Caribou herds, which have steadily increased since the Prudhoe Bay drilling began. The Gwich'ins authorized drilling on their own lands but unfortunately for them, no oil was found. More to the point, the Gwich'ins are jealously angry that the Inupiats will profit more if ANWR is drilled because it would be on Inupiat soil. So, as suggested in this thread - YES, the Gwich'in are siding with the ASSEs (Armchair Self-righteous Social Engineers) for a bigger piece of the pie!

[KC Burke]

Now that you have recounted the specifics better than I was able to recall them, I'll chime in and state that your summary jibes with what I recall as well. Thanks.

[WellsFargo94]

Agree!

however the herds do have a natural propensity to fluctuate. Drilling has had no adverse effect, but nature has. Go figure! Nature doing it's job as it has for millions of years.

I also read that the Gwichin were financially benefitting by the environmentalists. Also, a friend of mine who flies in to work with the Gwichin people of Vinitie made a comment that they had voted to not participate in Native Affairs (not sure of all the details - but probably so that they didn't have to share in the wealth of the oil with Native Affairs - which turned out to be mute point) but that as a result of there not having made sound financial decisions for their future, the people where really suffering in areas of education, health care, etc.