...we want to catch up with you this month. |
Summer in Alaska goes by fast. We know things fill up quickly, and we hope you'll make time to join us at our events this month. We know you're busy, so we'll keep this newsletter brief. See you soon! |
Join us for a Solstice Picnic at Northern Center |
Come meet up with Northern Center staff, board, and friends! Bring your own beverages and a side dish, and we will provide main dish and lawn games. This is a free event for all Northern Center supporters. Bring your friends and renew your membership at the door! Please RSVP to events@northern.org so we know how much food to order.
Date: June 23, 2023 Time: 6-8pm
Location: Northern Center Backyard, 830 College Rd. Please do not attend the picnic if you are sick or have come in contact with a positive COVID case in the past week. Masks are optional, vaccinations are recommended.
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Remembering Averill Thayer |
Long-time friend of the Northern Center, Averill Thayer, passed away in Fairbanks on May 26th. We asked Fran Mauer to share a few words about Averill's contributions to conservation in Arctic Alaska.
Fran shared, "Ave's noble character and great experience as a pilot and officer in the Fish and Wildlife Service served as an exemplary model for many of us who worked with him. As the first manager of the Arctic National Wildlife Range (later to become "Refuge"), Ave understood the importance of protecting it in its original condition. The Refuge remains wild and free to this day largely because of his careful leadership at the beginning. The strong support for the Arctic Refuge by citizens throughout the country and beyond that we know today, was nurtured from the beginning by this remarkable but low-key person, Averill Thayer."
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Grant Mine Comment Period Extended |
The comment period for the public to weigh in on the Grant Mine Restricted Use Authorization has been extended by DNR to June 20th, 2023. An informational session will be hosted in-person at the Fairbanks DNR office (3700 Airport Way) and online via Microsoft Teams from 6-8pm, Tuesday, June 13th.
For more information and to hear community members’ concerns about this site closure, contact Save Our Domes at info@saveourdomes.org
Comments and questions can be sent to Alyssa Millard, alyssa.millard@alaska.gov by June 20th. More information, including Microsoft Teams meeting links, can be found here. |
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This week, the FNSB Borough Assembly Finance Committee approved an air quality monitoring contract. Air quality modeling and monitoring are a necessity to help bring the borough into compliance.
Ongoing work to prevent oil extraction in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge continues, with the Gwich'in Steering Committee appealing directly to insurance companies who might insure drilling projects in the refuge. Last week, members of the steering committee and youth council traveled to Hartford, CT to make their voices heard at the Travelers general shareholder meeting.
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The Chevak Native Village has joined the federal lawsuit against Donlin Gold. They request more scrutiny of the massive mine complex including the open pit mine itself, plus the substantial infrastructure required to maintain the mine, such as barges, power plants, dams, and a 300+ mile natural gas pipeline from Cook Inlet to the site. Citing inadequate consultation, the tribe says that Donlin has been moving forward despite regional discomfort and questions about the project. Impacts to salmon, rainbow smelt, and other subsistence resources, plus human health impacts from the mine and lack of insight on spills and dam failure are all reasons cited for regional opposition to the project. Chevak joins 5 other local villages in the lawsuit.
Summer volunteers wanted! We could use some Fairbanks helpers for a bi-weekly work day (Thursdays from 3:00-5:00 pm) to help clean out our basement, haul trash and recycling, and maintain our garden. If interested, please contact lois@northern.org. Are you getting the environmental news, action opportunities, and community you need? Please take a few minutes to fill out
this survey and share your feedback with us. Thank you to all who have responded so far! -
Do you have a No Road to Ambler sweatshirt or tee shirt? We'd love to see where you're wearing it. Send a photo of yourself in your No Road to Ambler sweatshirt to katie@northern.org and include a sentence or two about why you oppose this road. We're hoping to share images from all over Alaska in the coming months, and would love to include our Northern Center supporters. Don't have a sweatshirt yet? Get one here.
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The Northern Alaska Environmental Center is a nonprofit and depends on the contributions of its members and supporters. You can donate any time by going to
northern.org/donate. Thank you for continuing to make our advocacy possible! |
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| TODAY: Poungawai – A Digital River
Join visiting Māori guest lecturers Cecilia Kumeroa (Whanganui Universal College of Learning) and Vincent ‘Billy’ van Uitregt (Victoria University of Wellington) on Thursday, June 8, 2023, 4:00 - 5:00 PM at the Murie Auditorium, University of Alaska Fairbanks Troth Yeddha' Campus for a screening of Poungawai – A Digital River, a film about Māori design and digital technology giving voice to water through art.
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| TODAY: Rally for awareness for the gutted climate action and awareness plan (CAAP).
Join a rally to raise awareness about the gutted CAAP and urge the FNSB Assembly to either amend or restore the draft full plan. TODAY, Thursday, June 8 at 5:30 pm at the FNSB Borough Administration Center (907 Terminal Street). If you plan to join, please fill out the RSVP form at https://forms.gle/HdutTus9Ye5shbaW8.
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| June 11: Design Alaska Wild Arts Walk
This Sunday, from 12-4pm at Creamer’s Field, join the Design Alaska Wild Arts Walk with over 30 local artists. $5 admission. Proceeds go to support Friends of Creamer’s Field year-round Educational Programs and our wonderful local artists. Want to help with the event? Volunteer here! |
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| June 22: Adventure Borealis Great Northwest Peat Ponds Tour at 7:00 PM
Join us for the first excursion of our new program! We will spend about two hours enjoying the evening light and plentiful birdlife that gather and nest at this hidden gem in the boreal forest adjacent to Creamer’s Field. No experience necessary! We will be birding from good trails, but access can be muddy through the bog. Register for free here.
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| June 22: Save our Domes Community Meeting
Join Save Our Domes for a community informational meeting at Goldstream Sports on Thursday, June 22, 2023 from 6-8pm. Learn about current exploration in the Fairbanks area and how you can get involved in protecting your neighborhood and beloved recreation areas from mine development. Information, music, snacks, & beverages provided. |
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| June 24: Midnight Sun Festival in Fairbanks
We'll be tabling at the annual Midnight Sun Festival. Stop by and say hello while we celebrate the twelve hours of fun. More info about this year's festival can be found here. |
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MISSION The Northern Alaska Environmental Center promotes conservation of the environment and sustainable resource stewardship in Interior and Arctic Alaska through education and advocacy. |
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