On the recordApril 10, 2003
do not take the word of a Congressman who visited the North Slope for the last 3 days. Take the words of Herman Aishana, a whaling captain who serves on the Kaktovik City Council and is the former mayor. We have got Members of Congress calling this area a pristine untouched wilderness. His words, No matter how blind, no matter what anyone wants to call it, this country is hardly a wilderness and will never be a wilderness. These people of Kaktovik have developed a relationship of trust of over 20 years with these energy companies. We take their land from them, we give it back to them as a gift. But we do not give them back the resources that they need to sustain themselves to build their economy. Do not lock up the people of Kaktovik. Do not lock them up on a reservation. Give them the resources that they need to sustain themselves.
Said by
Matteo Renzi
Italy Alive
Source
govinfo.gov
