Can Oil and Conservation Coexist?
In Can Oil and Conservation Coexist?, host Simon Reeve explores the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in Alaska, where he visits the small coastal Iñupiat community of Kaktovik — the only settlement in this 19-million-acre wilderness. He investigates the heated debate over protecting the refuge vs. oil drilling, as the people explain how oil companies have brought life-changing benefits like running water, modern homes, and longer life expectancy. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The Americas With Simon Reeve, in which Simon Reeve explores the landscapes, cultures, and wildlife of North and South America.
Lesson Express
Q: How does the isolation of Kaktovik within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) affect the community’s relationship with the land and resources around them?
A: Kaktovik’s isolation means the community has historically relied on the natural environment for survival. The relationship with the land is deeply tied to the traditions of the Iñupiat people, and their view on resource extraction is influenced by a balance of using the land’s resources for their needs while also protecting the environment for future generations.
Q: How do the debates about oil drilling in the ANWR reflect broader global issues surrounding natural resources, climate change, and Indigenous rights?
A: The debate in the ANWR is part of the larger global conversation about how to manage natural resources without compromising the environment or the rights and needs of Indigenous populations. It brings attention to the conflicts between economic development, environmental preservation, and respect for the Indigenous communities’ ways of life.
Q: What role does community involvement, like that of the Iñupiat people of Kaktovik, play in discussions about oil drilling in protected areas? How does it change the conversation?
A: The involvement of the Iñupiat people brings a unique perspective to the conversation, as they balance the benefits of oil development with their cultural connection to the land. It shows that Indigenous communities can play an active role in environmental discussions, potentially shifting the conversation toward finding solutions that benefit both people and the environment, rather than having decisions made without their input.