On the southern boundary of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the Gwich’in Indians of Arctic Village, Alaska, rely on the hunting of porcupine caribou for much of their diet. But with the threat of the refuge being used for oil extraction, the Gwich’in fear the caribou population could be affected, which would, in turn, put their entire lifestyle at risk.

Oil on Ice examines this battle over oil development within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, exposing the risks of oil extraction in this extreme environment. It is a classic struggle in a stunning place, featuring the dramatic wildlife that adapted to this environment and the cultures of the Gwich’in Indians and Inupiat Eskimos that rely on the wildlife for their subsistence.

This project will also examine the effects that improved fuel efficiency standards for vehicles and development of alternative sources of energy will have on this nation’s oil consumption. The issue of oil extraction from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge brings to a sharp focus the broader debate over energy conservation vs. unbridled consumption. It also dramatizes the choice between technologies based on fossil fuels and those that draw upon renewable, efficient, and non-polluting energy resources.