Arctic Dispatch | Trimble Gilbert

Right now, the Trump Administration is pushing hard to drill for oil and gas in places that were previously off-limits. One of those places is the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and in June, the administration took another step forward in the process of opening this enormous protected area for drilling. Season 3 of Threshold is actually all about this controversy: it’s called The Refuge, and today, we’re sharing a bit more from one of the most memorable people we spoke to back then. His name is Trimble Gilbert, and he’s a traditional chief and a deeply knowledgeable elder from the Gwich’in community of Arctic Village, just over the Refuge’s southern boundary. Threshold is nonprofit, listener-supported, and independently produced. You can support Threshold by donating today. To stay connected, sign up for our newsletter.Credits: This extra was produced by Sam Moore, with music by Todd Sickafoose and Travis Yost. Amy Martin is our host and executive producer. Resources and Links: Amy’s Substack, Letters to EarthlingsA profile of Trimble Gilbert from the Tanana Chiefs ConferenceHarvard Law School’s effort to track the political football over the Refuge across the past four administrationsTrump’s Executive Order: Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource PotentialMore about the Gwich’in, from the Gwich’in Tribal Council Dept of Heritage in Canada (Check out their “elder of the month” feature). Recent related stories from the Alaska Beacon about the Trump administration canceling its support for the Arctic Report Card and relaxing rules for offshore drilling in Alaska.