The allure of the Arctic continues to captivate imaginations with its beautiful, if sometimes forbidding, wilderness. Equally captivating to some, beneath these vast landscapes of permafrost and ice, is the economic lure of oil and gas promising economic prosperity and development. However, for the Inuit communities in Canada, Alaska and Greenland, who call this region home, securing the benefits of these resources has not been straightforward.

It has long been a popular assumption that the Inuit universally oppose oil and gas projects. However, this an inaccurate perception fed by a media that oversimplifies complex subjects and portrays dissenting voices as widely accepted viewpoints. Although preferences vary, many Inuit communities have long favored development of the region’s hydrocarbons.

Importance of Oil and Gas for Alaskan Inuit

In 2018, in the town of Utqiagvik, Alaska, the head of one of reportedly the world’s richest indigenous organization, explained the importance of oil and gas development to the region: “You see, our region is dependent upon the economy that oil and gas development brings, said Rex Rock, CEO of Arctic Slope Regional Corp.

Not only are houses in Utqiagvik powered by natural gas, the oil economy funds the city’s municipal expenses and provides the livelihoods of citizens.