Friend — In case you missed it, over the weekend, The Alaska Center, Native Peoples Action, and Alaska-based Indigenous activist Sophie Swope unveiled a new video projected on a 9,000 pound ice sculpture of a salmon jumping out of water in front of Earth Conservation Corps' Monique Johnson Anacostia River Center in Washington, DC. You read that right: a 9,000 pound ice sculpture in the middle of DC. It was powerful.



The event, which took place in advance of Indigenous Peoples Day, is a message to Congress to share how Indigenous Alaskans are impacted by climate injustice and how the richness of Indigenous knowledge can help lead our path forward.

Check out the video here, and read more about the event and its significance from our friends at The Alaska Center below.

Thank you!
Maggie

Dear friend,

On this Indigenous Peoples' Day and every day, it is imperative that we see the opportunities that are possible for our economy, our climate and our communities as informed by Indigenous knowledge and led by the vision and needs of Alaska Native communities. As federal, state and local policy moves forward, it must be under the lens of climate justice and climate justice requires that Indigenous voices are at the decision making table.

This weekend we were honored to help create an art installation in Washington DC that highlighted the impacts of climate change and also the path forward to a more sustainable Alaska. This path forward requires investment in a clean energy future through the infrastructure package now at the Senate. But more importantly, it requires that federal leadership listens to the traditional knowledge of the Indigenous people who have stewarded these lands for 10,000 years.

Please check out this powerful event made in collaboration with Native People's Action, Task Force, League of Conservation Voters, and Earth Conservation Corps. A huge thanks to videographer Chris Ho and the powerful storytellers who were a part of the project, Pat Samson, Andrea Wuya, and Alfred Wallace. And an especially big thank you to Indigenous activist Sophie Swope, of Mamterilleq (AKA Bethel) who organized the interviews in the film and flew to DC to represent her community and Alaskans at the unveiling of the 9000lb ice sculpture and video projection. Her words ring true for all of us:

"Alaska is a land of opportunity for a new way of thinking about our economy and our country's future. Indigenous knowledge can be at the foundation of new technologies.
We are ready for the investment in our future, are you?
Let's create a new culture of protecting our earth, who in turn protects us.
Let's look to the 10 thousand years of Indigenous stewardship of these lands and listen and learn from it. Let's align new clean energy technologies with traditional knowledge.
Let's invest in our people and our climate future with clean energy.
Let's listen to those most impacted by the climate crisis and pollution who have for too long, not had a seat at the table.
There is a world of opportunity here now, we just need our leaders to take bold steps forward and pass legislation that will support our future and address environmental injustice. The time is NOW.
Alaskans, Indigenous People and all of us deserve to thrive not just survive."

See photos from the event HERE!

And please watch and share our video "Inextricably linked to this land: Our Home. Our future. Our Alaska"

In support and solidarity with our Indigenous partners today and every day,

Leah Moss
Communications Director
The Alaska Center