Oil and gas lease sale set for June 5 in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), opening part of the Coastal Plain within Gwich’in homelands to potential development. The Coastal Plain serves as the primary calving grounds of the Porcupine caribou herd and is central to the Gwich’in Nation’s culture, food systems, and way of life. “Any oil and gas company considering these leases should know that doing so would send a clear message—that no place in Alaska is too sacred to drill in a quest for corporate profits,” said Andy Moderow of the Alaska Wilderness League. “We urge companies to take a pass on the Arctic Refuge lease sale and look forward to restoring protections for this landscape in the years to come.” Previous lease sales in the refuge have drawn limited industry interest, according to federal lease records and reporting on past auctions, amid sustained Indigenous opposition and growing financial risk. — Source: The Wilderness League #Land | #ANWR