Alaska Natives and residents of North Slope Borough communities met with Trump administration officials, including Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, in Utqiagvik to discuss concerns about energy development. They expressed gratitude to former President Donald Trump for protecting their ancestral homelands from environmental groups and supporting oil and gas development, which brings jobs and resources, contrasting his approach with that of the Biden administration.
'Homeland would've been stolen': AK Natives sound off on Biden energy bans as Trump officials tour tundra
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Alaska Natives and residents of North Slope Borough communities met with Trump administration officials, including Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, in Utqiagvik to discuss concerns about energy development. They expressed gratitude to former President Donald Trump for protecting their ancestral homelands from environmental groups and supporting oil and gas development, which brings jobs and resources, contrasting his approach with that of the Biden administration.
Trending- 1 1960s: Prudhoe Bay Discovery Well opened.
- 2 Unspecified "Day 1" (of Trump's presidency): President Trump told the Fish and Wildlife Department to deny environmental groups' requests regarding ANWR.
- 3 Last week (implied June 2-8, 2025): Gov. Mike Dunleavy headlined a global sustainable energy conference in Anchorage.
- 4 This week (implied June 2-8, 2025): Trump officials (Burgum, Wright, Zeldin) joined Gov. Dunleavy and local residents in Utqiagvik for a multi-day visit.
- Continued debate over energy development in Alaska
- Potential shift in federal policy if Trump returns to office
- Increased engagement between federal officials and local communities in Alaska
What: Alaska Natives and residents of North Slope Borough communities are discussing energy development and expressing support for former President Donald Trump's policies, while criticizing the Biden administration's energy bans.
When: This week (multi-day visit), Day 1 (Trump's action), last week (Dunleavy at conference), 1960s (Prudhoe Bay Discovery Well).
Where: Utqiagvik (formerly Barrow), Kaktovik (within Arctic National Wildlife Refuge - ANWR), North Slope Borough, Arctic Ocean, Prudhoe Bay, Anchorage, Washington (D.C.), Lower 48 (US).
Why: Alaska Natives support energy development on their ancestral lands for jobs and resources, feeling that environmental groups and federal officials from the Lower 48 have tried to block it. They credit Trump with protecting their lands and promoting development, fearing the Biden administration would “steal” their homeland through regulation.
How: Trump administration officials (Burgum, Wright, Zeldin) and Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy toured the region and held discussions with local residents.