Research Paper on Alaska
Honor, respect, tradition. Gluttony, greed, self-indulgence. Can America's proud heritage survive in the face of modern comforts and a growing hunger for material goods? Two Alaskan tribes, the Inupiat Eskimos and the Gwich'in Indians, stand at the crossroads, one clinging to their hardworking past, the other forging boldly into the technological future. It is a scene that has been played out over and over again as our nation has grown and matured. Traditions and beliefs are abandoned for possessions and material goods. When our growing nation needed land, we drove the Indians out and killed the buffalo until near extinction. When gold was discovered in California, many dropped everything and rushed to possess it; stealing, murdering, and destroying the environment. One thing is certain. Alaska may be the largest state in the Union, but it certainly is not big enough to hold both the past and the future.
President Dwight Eisenhower began the debate between past and present in Alaska by designating 8.9 million acres of pristine Alaskan wilderness as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The purpose was to protect Alaska's "unique wildlife, wilderness and recreational values" (Swift 4). Twenty years later, President Jimmy Carter expanded the refuge, bringing the size to roughly 19.6 million acres. A seemingly great step for environmental groups, there was one stipulation that came with this increase. Scientist and oil industry specialists were allowed to explore the North Slope coastal plain to determine its oil and gas capabilities and the effects that drilling for oil would have on the area's wildlife. This section, now known as the 1002 Area, has become the center of a heated debate, with materialism at its core, pitting environmentalists against government officials, Canadians against Americans, and most importantly, Alaskans against Alaskans. Is history repeating itself once again here in America? Will the lure of possessions and material goods entice yet another group of Americans to abandon their traditions and beliefs?
__________________________________________________________President Dwight Eisenhower began the debate between past and present in Alaska by designating 8.9 million acres of pristine Alaskan wilderness as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The purpose was to protect Alaska's "unique wildlife, wilderness and recreational values" (Swift 4). Twenty years later, President Jimmy Carter expanded the refuge, bringing the size to roughly 19.6 million acres. A seemingly great step for environmental groups, there was one stipulation that came with this increase. Scientist and oil industry specialists were allowed to explore the North Slope coastal plain to determine its oil and gas capabilities and the effects that drilling for oil would have on the area's wildlife. This section, now known as the 1002 Area, has become the center of a heated debate, with materialism at its core, pitting environmentalists against government officials, Canadians against Americans, and most importantly, Alaskans against Alaskans. Is history repeating itself once again here in America? Will the lure of possessions and material goods entice yet another group of Americans to abandon their traditions and beliefs?
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Prior to 1979, the Gwich'in Indians and the Inupiat Eskimos lived much as their ancestors had. 1979 was a year of unity for the Gwich'in Indians and Inupiat Eskimos. These tribes came together to support a bill that asked the United States government to expand ANWR and protect it from any further development. Both groups had seen what technology and development had done to American society, and they felt that the cons for development far outweighed the pros. But what was already set into motion could not be stopped. Americans were hungry for oil to power their toys. They would not stop until they had Alaskan oil.
There are six Inupiat villages inside the 1002 Area, Nuiqsut being the "only one surrounded by oil and gas exploration and development" (Miller 2). The changes happened slowly as the Inupiat Eskimos received money that they had never had or needed before. Because of development and the cash flow from Alaskan oil industries, the Inupiat are relying less on traditional hunting and fishing for their food, and more on groceries purchased at one of the three local convenience stores. This move away from convention is repeated in the Eskimo homes and community buildings. Traditional wall tents for homes have been replaced by wooden frame houses complete with natural gas, indoor plumbing, and sewage systems. Villages have schools, community centers, grocery stores, and a supply of good jobs for anyone who wanted to work. The Inupiat now embrace the oil industry. It seems that they are improving their lives, but not every Eskimo feels that way. Annie Lampe is an Inupiat who has endured the hardships of living outdoors in the Alaskan wilderness, finding food when hunting was poor, and teaching all of the village's children in a tiny wall tent. Nevertheless, Annie still thinks of "the early days of hauling water and subsistence hunting as the happy ones" (Miller 3).
What has happened to the Inupiat Eskimos is what has been repeated again and again in America, a higher value begins to be placed on possessions and material goods rather than the traditional ideals of our elders and forefathers. As Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary defines it, the Inupiat have become materialistic. They have embraced "a doctrine that the only or the highest values or objectives lie in material well-being and in the furtherance of material progress." It is the same notion reflected across America, a land of super center, strip malls, sixty-four inch televisions, super-sized food servings, and Starbucks coffee. Americans have to have more and bigger possessions. With the introduction of industrialization into the Inupiat culture, they are shedding their traditional roots of simplicity and honor and replacing them with a desire for material possessions and status.
As the desire for more possessions increased in America, the environment suffered. This is playing out also in Alaska. Research conducted in the oil development areas has shown that the caribou herds are sensitive to the noise and pipelines of the oil fields, and that these herds do not reproduce in these areas. Fish are also affected by the development of oil exploration sites. In the Colville River investigators have found "barium, diesel, benzene, xylene, lead, and PCB levels exceeding the human health standard" (Miller 3) The harmful effects of the Alaskan oil industry on the wilderness are similar to the effects that development has wrought in the other 48 contiguous states. Regardless of what developers may say, the ecosystem is not being protected or preserved when people decide they need that second house, better office space, more golf courses and country clubs, or even another coastal resort so they can get away from it all. No one can say that they are preserving the environment by chopping down hundreds of trees to erect a fabulous new house complete with a tennis court, back patio barbeque, and approximately 2.4 square feet of glorious green grass. When houses, skyscrapers, roads, and industrial complexes are built, habitats are destroyed, clean air can seldom be found, and these things can never be restores. This destruction of habitats and the presence of toxic emissions leads to extinction for many species. We destroy the very land that we live on for more "things."
The Gwich'in Indians have also experienced changes with the discovery of oil. Many Gwich'in have no front teeth because they were exposed to soft drinks and candy before they were given toothbrushes. The Gwich'in also now have snowmobiles, electricity, satellite television, a runway, and even a school. But, unlike the Inupiat the Gwich'in people do not want to travel any further down the road of technological advances and material possessions. Joel Tritt, a forty-our year old Gwich'in Indian, explains the sentiments of his people by saying that "It was prophesized by the elders that things would change a great deal for the Gwich'in for a while, but then we'd need to learn the old ways again" (Swift 2). The unity between the Gwich'in Indians and Inupiat Eskimos in support of stopping development within the ANWR is a thing of the past. Just as there are always some Americans that try to remain true to their heritage and keep materialism at bay, the Gwich'in Indians are fighting to do the same. Like the Wall-street analysts that give up the good life for small town living, they fight to preserve simplicity and honor.
___________________________________________________________
Prior to 1979, the Gwich'in Indians and the Inupiat Eskimos lived much as their ancestors had. 1979 was a year of unity for the Gwich'in Indians and Inupiat Eskimos. These tribes came together to support a bill that asked the United States government to expand ANWR and protect it from any further development. Both groups had seen what technology and development had done to American society, and they felt that the cons for development far outweighed the pros. But what was already set into motion could not be stopped. Americans were hungry for oil to power their toys. They would not stop until they had Alaskan oil.
There are six Inupiat villages inside the 1002 Area, Nuiqsut being the "only one surrounded by oil and gas exploration and development" (Miller 2). The changes happened slowly as the Inupiat Eskimos received money that they had never had or needed before. Because of development and the cash flow from Alaskan oil industries, the Inupiat are relying less on traditional hunting and fishing for their food, and more on groceries purchased at one of the three local convenience stores. This move away from convention is repeated in the Eskimo homes and community buildings. Traditional wall tents for homes have been replaced by wooden frame houses complete with natural gas, indoor plumbing, and sewage systems. Villages have schools, community centers, grocery stores, and a supply of good jobs for anyone who wanted to work. The Inupiat now embrace the oil industry. It seems that they are improving their lives, but not every Eskimo feels that way. Annie Lampe is an Inupiat who has endured the hardships of living outdoors in the Alaskan wilderness, finding food when hunting was poor, and teaching all of the village's children in a tiny wall tent. Nevertheless, Annie still thinks of "the early days of hauling water and subsistence hunting as the happy ones" (Miller 3).
What has happened to the Inupiat Eskimos is what has been repeated again and again in America, a higher value begins to be placed on possessions and material goods rather than the traditional ideals of our elders and forefathers. As Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary defines it, the Inupiat have become materialistic. They have embraced "a doctrine that the only or the highest values or objectives lie in material well-being and in the furtherance of material progress." It is the same notion reflected across America, a land of super center, strip malls, sixty-four inch televisions, super-sized food servings, and Starbucks coffee. Americans have to have more and bigger possessions. With the introduction of industrialization into the Inupiat culture, they are shedding their traditional roots of simplicity and honor and replacing them with a desire for material possessions and status.
As the desire for more possessions increased in America, the environment suffered. This is playing out also in Alaska. Research conducted in the oil development areas has shown that the caribou herds are sensitive to the noise and pipelines of the oil fields, and that these herds do not reproduce in these areas. Fish are also affected by the development of oil exploration sites. In the Colville River investigators have found "barium, diesel, benzene, xylene, lead, and PCB levels exceeding the human health standard" (Miller 3) The harmful effects of the Alaskan oil industry on the wilderness are similar to the effects that development has wrought in the other 48 contiguous states. Regardless of what developers may say, the ecosystem is not being protected or preserved when people decide they need that second house, better office space, more golf courses and country clubs, or even another coastal resort so they can get away from it all. No one can say that they are preserving the environment by chopping down hundreds of trees to erect a fabulous new house complete with a tennis court, back patio barbeque, and approximately 2.4 square feet of glorious green grass. When houses, skyscrapers, roads, and industrial complexes are built, habitats are destroyed, clean air can seldom be found, and these things can never be restores. This destruction of habitats and the presence of toxic emissions leads to extinction for many species. We destroy the very land that we live on for more "things."
The Gwich'in Indians have also experienced changes with the discovery of oil. Many Gwich'in have no front teeth because they were exposed to soft drinks and candy before they were given toothbrushes. The Gwich'in also now have snowmobiles, electricity, satellite television, a runway, and even a school. But, unlike the Inupiat the Gwich'in people do not want to travel any further down the road of technological advances and material possessions. Joel Tritt, a forty-our year old Gwich'in Indian, explains the sentiments of his people by saying that "It was prophesized by the elders that things would change a great deal for the Gwich'in for a while, but then we'd need to learn the old ways again" (Swift 2). The unity between the Gwich'in Indians and Inupiat Eskimos in support of stopping development within the ANWR is a thing of the past. Just as there are always some Americans that try to remain true to their heritage and keep materialism at bay, the Gwich'in Indians are fighting to do the same. Like the Wall-street analysts that give up the good life for small town living, they fight to preserve simplicity and honor.
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___________________________________________________________If you need a custom research paper, research proposal, essay, dissertation, thesis paper or term paper on your topic, EffectivePapers.com will write your research papers from scratch. Starting at $12/page you can order custom written papers online. We work with experienced PhD. and Master's freelance writers to help you with writing any academic papers in any subject! High quality and 100% non-plagiarized papers guaranteed!
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