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Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Takeaways from AP's report on Alaska Natives' response to oil and mining proposals
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — President Donald Trump's administration and its allies have pushed aggressively for drilling, mining and logging in Alaska. This has intensified long-standing debate over extraction projects in the nation's largest state, particularly within Alaska Native communities. Some view such projects as key to jobs and economic development. Others see them posing environmental risks as they've already faced severe fishing restrictions on the state's longest rivers due to a collapse in the salmon population. Scientists are unsure of the causes of the salmon collapse — which possibly include warming waters and commercial fishing — but opponents of extraction say its possible impacts could be similar in terms of endangering subsistence traditions and food sources. They say this risks, in turn, damaging their sacred connections to the land and to cultural traditions tied to fishing and hunting. How has the administration pushed for extraction projects? Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office in January seeking to 'maximize the development and production of the natural resources' in the state. Congress, in its recent budget bill, authorized an unprecedented four new sales of oil and gas leases in the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northeast Alaska. It also authorized more sales in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska in the northern part of the state. Extraction proposals take years to become reality, if ever. Previous lease sales have generated limited interest, and the extent of oil reserves in the Arctic refuge remains uncertain. Members of Trump's Cabinet visited Alaska in June. They called for doubling the amount of oil coursing through its vast pipeline system and building a massive natural gas pipeline as its 'big, beautiful twin.' The administration is also boosting the proposed Ambler Mining District Industrial Access Project, which would include construction of a 200-mile road in wilderness areas and open the way for more mines. Private corporations are pursuing projects, some in collaboration with Alaska Native corporations — which sometimes are in conflict with their Indigenous shareholders — and landowners. One is an oil exploration project in the Yukon Flats. Another is a proposed major gold mine in southwestern Alaska, which would require a massive dam to contain millions of tons of chemical and mineral waste. Project proponents say the dam will be safely built, incorporating the surrounding geology and state-of-the-art design. Trump's policy shifts came even as he removed one of the most prominent Alaska Native names from the official map. He returned the federal name of 'Mount McKinley' to the largest mountain in Alaska and North America. For all their disputes over extraction, Native and Alaska political leaders were largely united in wanting to keep its traditional Athabascan name of Denali, which translates to 'the high one.' What are the views of Alaska Natives favoring such projects? They say the projects can be done safely and bring much-needed jobs and economic development. They say this enables Native communities to fund services while retaining their subsistence hunting, fishing and other cultural traditions. 'We find that balance,' said PJ Simon, first chief of the Allakaket Tribal Council. 'We don't want handouts by the federal government. We want to stand on our own two feet.' Regional and local Native-run corporations, with the mandate of pursuing economic development for the benefit of Native shareholders, are actively involved in extraction proposals. In some cases, they own land and mineral rights in areas eyed for drilling or mining. What about Alaska Natives opposing such projects? They fear large-scale drilling and mining will overwhelm their ancient subsistence traditions. They say any short-term profits will precede a long-term legacy of environmental impacts to rivers, tundra and hunting grounds. 'Our people have been stewards of this land for millennia, and we've taken that relationship seriously because we have to sustain our resources,' said Gloria Simeon of Bethel, a small regional hub in southwestern Alaska, and a member of the environmental advocacy group Mother Kuskokwim Tribal Coalition. Already, tribes are struggling with severe fishing restrictions on their longest rivers, the Yukon and Kuskokwim, because of a collapse in salmon populations, which they have relied on for generations. The salmon collapse has been blamed on such factors as commercial overfishing and climate change. But many fear that extractive industries will create similar and permanent damage to caribou, salmon and other traditional food sources. 'We're already dealing with salmon problems,' said Chief Brian Ridley of the Tanana Chiefs Conference, a Fairbanks-based coalition of Athabascan tribes across Interior Alaska that oppose proposed drilling projects and the Ambler road project. 'The concern is if we start going down this path anywhere along the Yukon or any of the rivers and there's a spill, would that completely eliminate all the salmon stocks?' He said it's not just theoretical. A mine disaster in Canada last year caused a massive release of cyanide-laced debris, which caused fears that contamination might spread. Such a mining accident in the Yukon watershed could 'really take all the gains that we've gotten of trying to get the fish stocks back and really put us back to zero,' Ridley said. Why are subsistence hunting and fishing so important? Alaska Native people have relied for generations on hunting and fishing to survive the brutal winters — and in modern times, as a healthier alternative to expensive groceries. Fish camps and caribou hunts are closely interwoven with cultural traditions, where elders transmit skills and stories to younger generations. 'Protecting the river and the land and the Earth is part of the partnership and the relationship that we have as caregivers,' said Simeon. Who are Alaska Natives? Alaska Natives consist of diverse cultural and language groups in the state, among them the Aleut, Athabascan, Iñupiat, Tlingit and Yup'ik. They widely share a history in the region dating back thousands of years. They also share cultural and spiritual traditions, including those closely associated with subsistence hunting, and a belief in a sacred connection to the land, water and wildlife. Specific practices vary, and many follow both traditional and Christian practices. More than 1 in 5 Alaskans identify as Alaska Native or American Indian alone or in combination with another racial group, the highest ratio of any state, according to 2020 U.S. Census figures. The 1971 Alaska Claims Settlement Act, which resolved long-standing land claims with the federal government, resulted in establishment of regional and local for-profit corporations run by Native leaders for the benefit of Native shareholders. In some cases, such corporations are involved in extraction projects that tribal coalitions from the same area oppose. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Borneo Post
03-08-2025
- Borneo Post
Sg Kajah Land Committee again cries foul over alleged logging on NCR land
A photo allegedly showing several longhouse chiefs accompanying logging company representatives to the field on July 14. — Photo from Kujat Dudang KANOWIT (Aug 4): The Sungai Kajah Land Committee (SKLC) again raised concerns over ongoing logging activities allegedly taking place on gazetted Native Customary Rights (NCR) land under their stewardship despite repeated complaints lodged with the relevant authorities. Its chairman Kujat Dudang said the activity, which began in mid-2021, was being carried out under the guise of a Licence for Planted Forests (LPF) issued over Block 1 Lot 8 of the Sepali Land District. 'The issuance and continuation of this LPF clearly contravenes Section 65(3) of the Sarawak Forestry Ordinance and Section 5(3) of the Sarawak Land Code (1958), both of which prohibit commercial activities on gazetted NCR land without proper consultation and consent,' Kujat said in a statement yesterday. He explained that the land in question was surveyed and recognised under Section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code (Amendment) 2018 prior to the LPF's issuance. 'Despite this, the Forest Department Sarawak (FDS) approved the LPF licence, raising serious legal, ethical, and governance concerns,' he added. Kujat also claimed that although multiple police reports had been lodged, no enforcement action had been taken to date. In addition, SKLC has submitted a complaint to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), backed by photographs and witness testimonies. The complaint alleged that certain longhouse chiefs were receiving monthly allowances and commission-based payments from the licence holder to influence villagers into allowing logging on NCR land. 'This blatant conflict of interest undermines community leadership and deceives landowners into giving consent under false pretences,' Kujat said. He stressed that the continued extraction of timber has caused environmental degradation, including deforestation, water pollution, and biodiversity loss — posing threats to the ecosystem, food security, and cultural heritage of the Iban community in Sungai Kajah. In a statement on April 21, the FDS said it was 'awaiting confirmation of NCR land status' on the matter. However, Kujat pointed out that this contradicted an earlier statement from the state Land and Survey Department (LSD), which stated that LPF licenses should not be issued over gazetted NCR land. 'In light of these issues, the SKLC is calling for immediate action from the FDS to revoke the LPF license issued over the gazetted NCR land, LSD to publicly reaffirm the Section 6 NCR status and enforce its protection, MACC and the Royal Malaysia Police to investigate corruption allegations involving the licencee and implicated longhouse chiefs, the federal Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability to uphold environmental laws and indigenous land rights and the Premier of Sarawak's Office to ensure that development does not override legally recognised customary rights,' he said. Kujat emphasised that the people of Sungai Kajah were not against development but urged that it be carried out transparently and lawfully. 'The government must not allow large corporations to continue exploiting our forests with impunity, nor should grassroots voices be ignored.' Photographic evidence allegedly showing several longhouse chiefs accompanying logging company representatives to the field on July 14 has been submitted as part of the MACC complaint. The individuals involved are reportedly under investigation, according to SKLC. 'This is not just a protest. It is a plea for justice and a call for the rule of law to be upheld,' Kujat concluded.
Nikkei Asia
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Nikkei Asia
Seven standout Singapore cocktail bars
Drinks like the Nutmeg & Clove, left, Red Revival, center, and Pho-Resh showcase the diversity and ingenuity of Singapore's cocktail scene. (Source photos by Nutmeg & Clove, Jigger & Pony, Native) ARUNDHATI HAZRA SINGAPORE -- With a bar scene that regularly ranks among the world's best, Singapore has earned its reputation as the cocktail capital of Asia. In 2024, it stood shoulder to shoulder with London and New York, each tying for the most spots on the World's 50 Best Bars list produced annually by the U.K. publisher William Reed.
Irish Independent
30-07-2025
- Irish Independent
The interiors edit: Join the quiet Irish luxury revolution
This new wave of Irish luxury interiors is a marriage of contrasts – where old meets new, and rural craftsmanship finds a place in modern design language. Designers like Róisín Lafferty are reaching back to the country's deep well of artisanal knowledge – handwoven tweeds, linen, pottery, and woodworking – and reinterpreting these elements through a contemporary lens. The result is spaces that feel grounded yet refined, current yet timeless. 'Luxury in the case of taste and style is subjective, however luxury as an experience now has so many variances than before,' says Lafferty, who recently completed the design for the new Montenotte Woodland Experience in Cork – sophisticated cabins with the focus on modern Irish heritage. 'There is a place for the pristine experience with formality and precision, but what I am more and more drawn to is the place of quiet luxury. The opposite to stuffy and formal, the soft, quiet, considered, tactile, sensory experiences that are often hidden in plain sight.' Stone floors echo traditional farmhouses but are now warmed by underfloor heating and softened with wool rugs in gentle greys and peat tones. Handcrafted furniture, often made from native Irish woods like oak or ash, is pared-back in form but rich in finish. The look isn't showy, it's considered, with an emphasis on quality, heritage, and understated beauty. Tonally, spaces tend to be moody with pops of accent colours in tweeds, linens and marbles drawn from Ireland's natural palette of misty greens, granite greys, bog browns and sky blues – a connection to place that gives Irish interiors a sense of calm and belonging. In the last few years, a glut of new hotel offerings – Within The Village, Native, Breac House, Inis Meáin Suites among them – are championing this interiors style and experience with a focus on service, homegrown crafts and vernacular design which honours place and heritage, and homeowners are following suit. It's the gently treated raw materials, clay vessels thrown in small rural workshops, handwoven tweed cushions, each one slightly different, and wooden furniture that tells stories through its knots and grain. Modet is a small Irish studio in Kinsale, Co Cork, that makes sleek, contemporary furniture high on style, aesthetics and functionality, an example of the shift from traditional Irish furniture to pieces which reflect modern spaces. There is a real focus on material integrity and artisanal skill which reflects a deeper cultural shift: a desire to slow down, live intentionally, and find beauty in the humble and the real, yet rooted in contemporary design. Traditional woollen mills like Foxford, Mourne Textiles, Cushendale and McNutt of Donegal, once seen as heritage institutions rooted in the past, are now at the forefront of a modern design movement blending time-honoured craftsmanship with contemporary style. A growing number of small Irish retailers, The Irish Design Shop, I Am of Ireland, Stable of Ireland and new arrival Clan among them, are championing the movement, serving as vital platforms for local artisans and curating collections in a considered and beautiful way. In Emma Penruddock's beautifully restored farmhouse-cum-gallery space in Wexford, you can browse and buy pottery by David Holden and bowls by Cora Cummins, art by Dominique Crowley and Gemma Geraghty along with primitive famine furniture and modern pieces by Eileen Gray. Hannah O'Reilly's charming new shop in Kilrush, Co Clare, is beautifully curated with pieces from budding artisans including ceramics by Vinh Truong and Kevin O'Callaghan and vernacular style furniture by Brian McMahon. Dublin's Irish Design Shop has become known for its collaborations with Irish makers and creatives, including artist Jo Howard who specialises in textile landscapes, John Hanly throws and ceramics by Adam Frew. 'For a small island, Ireland is home to an extraordinary depth of creative talent that's deeply rooted in tradition, yet always evolving,' says O'Reilly. 'It feels like a particularly exciting moment in Irish design.'
Business Insider
29-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Ika Launches Mainnet to Enable Native Cross-Chain Asset Control on Sui Blockchain
Ika, the pioneering blockchain infrastructure provider, has officially launched its mainnet, marking a significant milestone in blockchain interoperability. The launch introduces the first-ever zero-trust multiparty computation (MPC) network capable of native cross-chain asset control directly from smart contracts on the Sui blockchain. Ika's protocol allows Sui-based smart contracts to securely and seamlessly manage native assets across many blockchains, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and modern L1s and L2s, without relying on bridges, token wrapping, or trusted third parties. This breakthrough eliminates common risks associated with cross-chain solutions, such as vulnerabilities inherent in bridging protocols or wrapped tokens, fundamentally transforming blockchain interoperability. At the heart of Ika's innovation is the introduction of dWallets, a decentralized, programmable, and transferable signing mechanism. dWallets enable both the user and the Ika network to collaboratively sign transactions, while enforcing logic governed by smart contracts. This empowers developers and institutions to build and operate securely across various blockchains with native asset control. The technological core of Ika is its novel 2PC-MPC cryptography protocol, previously thought impractical for decentralized environments due to latency, scalability, and security constraints. Ika has overcome these hurdles, delivering sub-second latency and linear scalability, without compromising on decentralization, delivering a network that can be supported by hundreds of operators globally. Each operation includes cryptographic safeguards that require explicit user participation, supporting a zero-trust security framework. The network's native token, IKA, plays a critical role by securing the infrastructure through a decentralized, permissionless proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. IKA tokens are integral for transaction fees, spam prevention, rewarding reliable operators, and network governance. Several leading blockchain projects on Sui are already utilizing Ika's mainnet, demonstrating the protocol's versatility and robustness: Native is enhancing Bitcoin liquidity through native lending and DeFi services. Human Tech delivers "Wallet-as-a-Protocol" solutions, seamlessly managing cross-chain assets. Rhei Finance offers institutional-grade zero-trust multi-chain DeFi services. Aeon advances decentralized custody solutions optimized for AI-driven financial management. Nativerse pioneers Bitcoin-backed stablecoins without synthetic or wrapped intermediaries. Ekko integrates AI chatbots with decentralized security via MPC technology. Legacy Link facilitates secure digital asset inheritance through streamlined estate management. Full Sail introduces an advanced Automated Market Maker (AMM) leveraging Ika's interoperability. "Today marks the start of a new era in blockchain interoperability," said Ika Co-Founder Omer Sadika. "Our mainnet launch is not just a technological milestone, but a paradigm shift, bringing native Zero-Trust interoperability to Sui , and unlocking unprecedented possibilities for developers, institutions, and individual users alike." With Ika now live, blockchain projects, financial institutions, and developers can deploy multi-chain applications on Sui, operate as network participants, or engage with the Ika network. For further information, users can visit or follow Ika on X.
