As the “people of the land” the Gwich´in peoples have been living in northeast Alaska and in the northern Yukon and Northwest Territories in Canada for more than 20,000 years.^[1] Their life and culture are based on the Porcupine Caribou herd^[2] which is the main source of food, tools, and clothing for the Gwich´in. It is their main priority to protect the Caribou herd, as they depend on them and “anything that endangers the herd also endangers the existence of the Gwich´in”.^[3] In the past and in the future, hunting, fishing and trapping have remained and will remain important both culturally and economically for their people.^[4] The Gwich´in are the northernmost indigenous people and have lived in the region since before the U.S. and Canada existed. In their opinion, therefore, their voice should be taken into consideration in policy-formulation and decision-making processes that concern the North-American Arctic region:^[5] At national governments as well as at the Arctic Council, in which the Gwich'in Council International (GCI) has been a Permanent Participant since 1999.^[6] The Gwich’in People of every community from Arctic Village, Venetie, Fort Yukon, Beaver, Chalkyitsik, Birch Creek, Stevens Village, Circle, and Eagle Village in Alaska; from Old Crow, Fort McPherson, Tsiigehtchic, Aklavik, and Inuvik in Canada share the following positions on tourism, shipping and resource extraction in the Arctic region:

Although communities have regular air service, only a few can be reached by road, such as Fort McPherson and Tsiigehtchic. In accordance with the Gwich´in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement from 1992, they generally endorse further development of the port and road infrastructure as long as particularly the latter do not impact migration patterns of the Porcupine Caribou herd and are planned and implemented in the territory^[7] under Gwich´in supervision after approval of the Gwich´in Tribal Council.

They oppose any form of oil and gas development in the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the area in which the Gwich´in culture is known as the “Sacred Place Where Life Begins.” The Gwich’in Steering Committee, which was formed in 1988 in response to proposals to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge has met ever since, at intervals of every two years, to discuss possible resource development in this area. In the formal Resolution to Protect the Birthplace and Nursery Grounds of the Porcupine Caribou Herd from 2012 they declared officially that the Gwich´in peoples perceive any resource development in caribou calving grounds as “a threat to the very heart of our people.”^[8] As decided in their Annual General Assembly 2013, the Gwich´in also refuse to accept the amended Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act as introduced by the Government of Canada, which would decrease their influence in decisions on land and water management in that area. ^[9]

Tourism contributes to the economy of Gwich´in tribes. Particularly the Tsiigehtchic and Aklavik community and the Teetl´it Zheh Gwich'in have benefited from tourism activities in the past.^[10] As stated in the Memorandum of Understanding for Contracting Within the Gwich´in Settlement Area from 2012, the Gwich´in support an increase of tourism activities in the Arctic as long as this happens in a sustainable manner and as long as Gwich´in tribes and the Gwich´in business community is involved.

Following the Agreement Between the Government of Canada and the Government of The United States of America on the Conservation of the Porcupine Caribou Herd from 1987,^[11] the Gwich´in hold on to their will to cooperate with domestic authorities as long as all further planning of activities that concern tourism, shipping and resource extraction in the North-American Arctic region are presented and discussed at the International Porcupine Caribou Board, in which representatives of Gwich´in tribes are active participants.