Today we’re speaking Faith Gemmill, a Pit River/ Wintu and Neets’ aii Gwich’in Athabascan earth defender from Arctic Village, Alaska. She is a campaign organizer for REDOIL (Resisting Environmental Destruction on Indigenous Lands). Faith has worked on behalf of the Gwich’in Nation for over ten years as a representative, public spokesperson and Gwich’in Steering Committee staff to address the potential human health and cultural impacts of proposed oil development in the birthplace and nursery of the Porcupine Caribou Herd in the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Faith continues as a public spokesperson, press and tribal liaison and human rights advocate. Faith is a current field representative of the International Indian Treaty Council (IITC) and has represented the Gwich’in Nation at United Nations. Faith also serves on the advisory board of Honor the Earth and and National Wildlife Federation.

Also joining us is Princess Lucaj. She is the former Executive Director of the Gwich’in Steering Committee and Alaska Director at the Indigenous Leadership Institute. She was a Production Manager with Native Voices at the Autry National Center, a member of the Board of Dancing with the Spirit, and she is an actor, director and activist.

♫ Music on this episode includes "Son of the Sun" by Willie Dunn, "Crazy Enough" by Teahawk (ft. Redhawk Woman), "Silence Returns" by Beau, and "Like a River" by Kate Wolf.

Take Action

Sign the petition: http://www.wearethearctic.org/action/tell-president-and-congress-protect-arctic-refuge