Ten procent of all profits of the forthcoming book 'Resources and the Land' (due to come out end 2007, beginning 2008) will go to carefully selected projects in Alaska that promote native knowledge and sustainable development.

Sarah Kuptana Sachs
Harbour (AICA report 2004)

"Sila (the weather, the climate, our consciousness) has changed alrigth. It's really late falltime now, and really fast and early springtime. Long ago, summers were short, but not anymore...".

 

Mission

 

'Big Thaw' has one a straightforward mission: to explore native (Inupiaq) responses to climate change in Alaska, more specifically around the Bering Strait and in the North Slope. First we will highlight the facts of climate change and see with our own eyes the seas, shores, forests and tundra in this part of the arctic. We will talk with scientists and natives alike to grasp the severity of climate change and the impact it has upon daily life of inhabitants of the region. Then we will study and experience their responses, not only cultural and economical but also spiritual. If and whenever possible, preliminary solutions are presented.

The mission is part of a multi-year, ongoing project of Tseard Zoethout to raise awareness of the causes and consequences of the melting of the arctic. After all, wasn't it the famous architect and eco-entrepreneur William McDonough who said 'for sustainability there are only two things important: stories of people and the environment'? Both are worth preserving, our social structure and our surroundings. Especially when cultures, like the one of the Inupiaq, are under stress and in danger of disappearing.

The first stage of the mission is a series of cover stories and features for printed media (newspapers, periodicals, press agencies and magazines). More about can be found at Stories .

The second stage of the mission is to write and compose an English written (coffee table) book, based upon those features but highly extended and more poetical with a lot of beautiful photos to highlight climate change in this part of the Arctic. The book will be called (working title) 'Resources and the Land: native views on arctic climate change in Alaska'.

Main theme of this book is the dilemma between resources - how far they can be exploited? - and the land - holy and eternal. Ten procent of all profits of the book will go to carefully selected projects that promote native knowledge and sustainable development in the Arctic. Three of ten chapters are already finished. UK and VS Publishers and literary agents are kindly invited to contact the author.

Sheila Watt-Cloutier
ex-president Inuit Circumpolar Conference

"Imagine if 300 scientists agreed on a projection that the way of life of our entire people was condemned to disappear in less than 100 years because of actions of others!
What would you do?