In unity there is strength
Our Voice. Our Vision.
Sivuniqput (Our Mission)
VOICE is dedicated to preserving and advancing the cultural and economic self-determination of the North Slope Iñupiat.
Vision of the VOICE:
We are the unified Voice of the Arctic Iñupiat. We are the people of the Arctic Slope. We join together to speak as one on issues that affect our well being. Our Voice will be heard and represent our views on issues related to the cultural and economic sustainability of our communities. We are empowered by our collective representation to address the needs of our people.
VOICE Staff advocate for the self-determination of the North Slope Iñupiat on behalf of and beside our North Slope Elected Leadership when directed by the VOICE Board of Directors.
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About:
Voice of the Arctic Iñupiat was formed in 2015 as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation, creating a communication network amongst North Slope communities to establish a unified voice for our region and people. Today, our twenty-two member organizations work together to ensure that our collective voice is heard and respected – locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.
Address and participate in legislation, regulations and government programs to protect Iñupiat culture
Address and participate in legislation, regulations and government programs to protect Iñupiat culture
Purpose of the VOICE:
Voice of the Arctic Iñupiat (VOICE) is dedicated to promoting the social welfare of the Iñupiat people of the Arctic Slope by advocating for their interests in state, federal, and international forums, fostering culturally responsible economic development, and protecting the lands, waters, and subsistence resources vital to our heritage. As a knowledge hub, VOICE facilitates information exchange with governmental and non-governmental entities, ensuring Iñupiat stewardship and sustainable growth while advancing our cultural and economic self-determination.
Address and participate in legislation, regulations and government programs to protect Iñupiat culture
Address and participate in legislation, regulations and government programs to protect Iñupiat culture
Voice of the Arctic Iñupiat (VOICE) is a 501(c)(4) largely funded by the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC) and grants from the North Slope Borough (NSB). The generosity of ASRC, NSB and other members ensures that membership is not determined by an organization’s ability to pay dues. By eliminating the financial burden of membership dues, VOICE ensures that our region’s entities always have a voice at the table.
“We are stronger together, protecting our way of life for future generations.”
- Harry Brower Jr. Former Mayor of the North Slope Borough
North Slope History Timeline:
Our Iñupiat Inhabitation
For approximately 10,000 years, we, the Iñupiat, have lived on and cared for the lands of the North Slope of Alaska. Our deep cultural and subsistence ties to this place continue to guide our identity and our fight for self-determination.
Treaty of Cession
On October 18, 1867, the United States signed the Treaty of Cession with Russia, buying Alaska for $7.2 million without ever acknowledging our Iñupiat land rights. This transfer ignored us completely and set the stage for our long struggle to reclaim control over our homeland.
Organic Act
On May 17, 1884, Congress passed the Organic Act, creating a civil government for Alaska as a district. It completely disregarded our Iñupiat land rights, establishing a pattern of outside control that we have resisted ever since.
Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 4 (NPR-A) Created
On February 25, 1923, President Harding set aside 23 million acres of our North Slope lands as Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 4 for the U.S. Navy’s emergency oil needs—without ever consulting us. This taking of our land only strengthened our determination to protect what is ours.
Alaska Statehood Act
On January 3, 1959, Alaska became the 49th state, creating a state government, defining representation in Washington, D.C., and giving the state the right to select over 103 million acres of land—land that included our homelands. The act said any land that might belong to us would stay under federal control, ignoring our claims and pushing us to fight harder for recognition of our rights.
Project Chariot
In 1959, the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission proposed Project Chariot, planning to blast a harbor near Point Hope with nuclear bombs on our land, showing no regard for us or our communities. We rose up in strong opposition—our Point Hope leaders, backed by science like the “Lichens Report” and our voice in the Tundra Times—until the plan was canceled in 1962. This was one of our early victories in defending our homeland.
Arctic National Wildlife Range (ANWR) Created
On December 6, 1960, the Secretary of the Interior created the 8.9-million-acre Arctic National Wildlife Range, surrounding and including our community of Kaktovik. It landlocked us, cutting off year-round access to our traditional hunting grounds and Native allotments, all without our input.
Inupiat Paitot (Duck In)
The Migratory Waterfowl Act of 1918 outlawed waterfowl hunting in between the months of May and September, the only time the birds are on the North Slope. In spring 1961, we, the Iñupiat people of Utqiaġvik, stood together in the “Duck In,” openly hunting migratory birds in defiance of federal regulations that threatened our traditional food ways. Our unified action forced the government to drop all charges by late 1961, proving the strength of our collective voice.
Tundra Times Founded
We launched the Tundra Times on October 1, 1962, with Howard Rock as editor—our first statewide Alaska Native newspaper. Born partly from our fight against Project Chariot, it became our powerful tool to speak up for our land claims and self-governance.
Arctic Slope Native Association (ASNA) Formed
In 1965, led by Charles “Etok” Edwardsen Jr., we formed the Arctic Slope Native Association (ASNA) to protect our lands. We filed a massive land claim (58 million acres), starting the movement that would lead to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971.
Federal Land Freeze
In December 1966, our ASNA lawsuit forced Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall to freeze all federal land transfers to the State of Alaska until our claims were addressed. This land freeze was a direct result of our legal fight and became a key step toward the passage of ANCSA.
Prudhoe Bay Oil Discovery
Commercial oil was discovered on our North Slope at Prudhoe Bay in early 1968. We used this moment to press even harder for settlement of our land claims, insisting that any development respect our rights and control over our homeland.
Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope (ICAS) Incorporated
We established the Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope (ICAS) in 1971 as our federally recognized tribal government under the Indian Reorganization Act, representing our eight North Slope villages and strengthening our self-governance and cultural preservation.
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA)
President Nixon signed ANCSA on December 18, 1971, extinguishing our Native land title and creating 12 regional corporations and over 200 village corporations across Alaska, granting 44 million acres and nearly $1 billion. We, through ASNA, were the only region to vote “NO” at the Alaska Federation of Natives conference and lobbied Nixon to veto the bill, believing it was not a fair or just settlement. Despite our opposition, the act passed.
Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC) Incorporated
Under ANCSA’s mandate, we incorporated the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC) in 1972 to represent our Iñupiat shareholders and manage our lands and resources for economic self-determination.
North Slope Borough Created
In July 1972, we voted to create the North Slope Borough, led by Eben Hopson—the first Iñupiat-led municipal government in Alaska. This gave us local control over taxation of infrastructure, planning, and services on our land despite lawsuits filed by the state of Alaska and industry. One author calls the founding of the Borough “the largest peaceful redistribution of wealth in the history of mankind”.
North Slope Borough School District Created
We formed the North Slope Borough School District in 1972 to deliver education that honors our Iñupiat language, history, and values, empowering our young people and keeping our culture strong.
North Slope Village Corporations Incorporated
Under ANCSA, we incorporated our eight village corporations in 1973: Anaktuvuk Pass (Nunamiut Corporation), Atqasuk (Atqasuk Corporation), Barrow/Utqiaġvik (Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation), Kaktovik (Kaktovik Iñupiat Corporation), Nuiqsut (Kuukpik Corporation), Point Hope (Tikigaq Corporation), Point Lay (Cully Corporation), and Wainwright (Olgoonik Corporation). These corporations advance our local economic self-determination.
Inupiat University of the Arctic Founded
National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A) Renamed
In 1976, the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act transferred the reserve to the Bureau of Land Management and renamed it the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A). Covering ~23 million acres and including four of our communities, it remains central to our ongoing advocacy for control over our lands.
Subsistence Whaling Moratorium
The International Whaling Commission imposed a moratorium on bowhead whale hunting in 1977, threatening our food security and cultural practices with inaccurate science. We fought back strongly to protect our way of life.
Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission (AEWC) Created
We created the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission (AEWC) in 1977 to defend our subsistence whaling rights, unite our whaling captains, work with scientists, and secure sustainable quotas.
Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) Founded
Led by Eben Hopson, we founded the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) in June 1977 in Barrow, bringing together Inuit from Alaska, Canada, and Greenland to protect our subsistence rights and assert our sovereignty on the world stage.
North Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Created
We established the North Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management in 1979—the only local government in Alaska with authority to manage wildlife—combining our traditional knowledge with science to ensure sustainable subsistence harvests for our people.
Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA)
Signed on December 2, 1980, in the final days of the Carter Administration, ANILCA turned our Arctic National Wildlife Range into a Refuge, expanded it to ~18 million acres, and set aside the 1.5-million-acre Coastal Plain (1002 area) for possible oil and gas work. It also created Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve (7.5 million acres) and Noatak National Preserve (6.5 million acres), landlocking our villages of Kaktovik and Anaktuvuk Pass and restricting our access to traditional areas.
ANWR Expansion
During the 1980s, ANWR grew by another 1.5 million acres, reaching ~19.5 million acres total. This further limited our access to traditional lands and strengthened our ongoing advocacy for subsistence rights.
North Slope Higher Education Center Founded
We created the North Slope Higher Education Center in 1986 in partnership with the University of Alaska Fairbanks, laying the groundwork for Iḷisaġvik College and advancing education that honors our Iñupiat ways.
Arctic Slope Native Association (ASNA) Reactivated
We reactivated ASNA in 1991, with support from ASRC and the North Slope Borough, to take control of our health and social services and strengthen our self-determination in caring for our people.
Arctic Sivunmun Iḷisaġvik College Renamed
We renamed the North Slope Higher Education Center to Arctic Sivunmun Iḷisaġvik College in 1991, transforming it into a community college rooted in our Iñupiat culture and values.
Iḷisaġvik College Corporation Established
We established the Iḷisaġvik College Corporation in 1995 as an independent, nonprofit entity governed by our own Board of Trustees, solidifying Iñupiat-led higher education for our future generations.
NPR-A Integrated Activity Plan
In 2013, under the Obama Administration, the BLM finalized an Integrated Activity Plan for NPR-A that placed special protections on over 13 million of our 23 million acres, closing them to oil and gas leasing and affecting our economic opportunity.
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, signed in 2017, required the BLM to hold two lease sales in our ANWR Coastal Plain (1002 area), opening part of our land to oil and gas development with support from the community of Kaktovik and the VOICE Board of Directors.
NPR-A IAP Update
In 2020, under the Trump Administration, the BLM updated the NPR-A Integrated Activity Plan to better consider our North Slope communities’ interests and future infrastructure needs, seeking a balance that respects our priorities.
ANWR Lease Sale and Moratorium
On January 6, 2021, the first lease sale in the ANWR 1002 area resulted in nine leases, seven bought by AIDEA. On January 21, President Biden paused all federal oil and gas leasing. In June, the Biden Administration suspended operations on ANWR leases and in November, AIDEA, the State of Alaska, and three of our North Slope entities sued the Department of the Interior over the suspension.
NPR-A IAP Reversion
In 2022, under the Biden Administration, the BLM announced plans to return to the 2013 Obama-era NPR-A plan, prioritizing environmental protections over the North Slope Iñupiat and our self-determination.
NPR-A Withdrawal and ANWR Lease Cancellation
In August 2023, a U.S. District Court upheld the Biden Administration’s moratorium on our ANWR leases, dismissing the lawsuit brought by AIDEA, the State of Alaska, and our North Slope entities. In September, the Department of the Interior withdrew 13 million acres of NPR-A for special protections and canceled all ANWR Coastal Plain leases, limiting our economic opportunity while we continue to fight for balance and self-determination.
About:
Voice of the Arctic Iñupiat was formed in 2015 as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation, creating a communication network amongst Arctic Slope communities to establish a unified voice for our region and people.
About: Voice
History
Our Unity, Our Self-Determination
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Our Mission:
Sivuniqput
VOICE is dedicated to preserving and advancing the cultural and economic self-determination of the North Slope Iñupiat.
VOICE in the News:
Nipivut Tusaayugaani
VOICE amplifies North Slope voices by sharing our diverse stories with the media, told directly by those who call it home. Explore their stories:
Our History:
Aullaġniisaaġniqput
For centuries, the Iñupiat of the North Slope have survived in harmony with the Arctic. From the Barrow Duck-In, Project Chariot advocacy to the formation of the Arctic Slope Native Association that led to the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, Our communities have fought for self-determination.
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Educational Resources:
Iḷitchivsaaġutiksrat
Explore Iñupiat culture, history, and language through our resources.
Community Spotlight:
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Fun Fact About Point Lay
5 Days
Mar - Oct
Easy
Keflavík Airport
Flexible
Fun Fact About Point Lay
5 Days
Mar - Oct
Easy
Keflavík Airport
Flexible
Our Mission: Isumaptiktun
The VOICE of the Arctic Iñupiat unites the 8 communities of Alaska’s North Slope to preserve and advance our economic and cultural self-determination. Through Unity, we advocate for our rights, protect our lands, and build a sustainable future for generations to come.
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