*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
Date: January 20, 2025
Contact: voiceofthearctic@marathonstrategies.com
A statement from Nagruk Harcharek, President of the Voice of Arctic Iñupiat (VOICE) on President
Trump’s executive order supporting resource development in Alaska. VOICE is a nonprofit organization established in 2015 by the region’s collective elected Iñupiat leadership and is dedicated to preserving and advancing North Slope Iñupiat cultural and economic selfdetermination. Its members include local governments, Alaska Native Corporations, federally-recognized tribes, and tribal non-profits across the North Slope of Alaska.
“Today’s executive order takes a promising step towards reversing the damage of the previous administration’s policies that threatened our Iñupiaq way of life and stifled Alaska’s resources.
“For years, the North Slope Iñupiat have been denied our rightful seat at the table during the federal policymaking process. Moving forward, this new administration can succeed where its predecessors failed by taking a more inclusive approach that prioritizes respect for the North Slope Iñupiat’s economy, communities, culture, and self-determination. Today’s executive order demonstrates that the new administration is already listening to Indigenous voices regarding the importance of resource development to our region.
“We are ready to work collaboratively with the Trump-Vance administration to build lasting, durable policy solutions that ensure our people’s economic prosperity and way of life. After years of struggling to assert our right to self-determination, today’s executive order can be a step to unleashing our right to self-determination.”
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