It doesn’t take long spending time with dogs, bears, birds and bees to know they communicate. Some animals even manipulate. Only human animals uniquely share knowledge, wisdom, tall tales and lies through stories. The writer Margaret Atwood describes the origin of storytelling as the coupling of language with concepts of the past, present, and future to help people learn about what happened before—to teach people things to avoid having to learn by trial and error every time.… Read More

A report released this month shows that the number of documented spills between 1995 and 2020 at the five major operational hardrock mines in Alaska far exceeded those estimated in permit applications and environmental reports.… Read More

This week the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced its next steps and deadlines regarding the Clean Water Act 404(c) process that could lead to protections for the Bristol Bay way and the salmon at the center of it. You can take action now to urge EPA to finish the job before next year’s salmon season.… Read More

For years, Alaskans have made it clear that trading salmon for copper and gold is a bad deal that they’re unwilling to make. And for good reason: Bristol Bay fishery is having another record-setting year, with over 65.5 million sockeye salmon returning to Bristol Bay.… Read More

The U.S. Army Corps denied a permit for the proposed Pebble mine in late November 2020, pointing to the failure of Pebble’s mitigation plan to address the severe degradation and destruction that would be caused by the project. No mitigation … Read More

Good news! Today the Army Corps denied a Clean Water Act permit for the proposed Pebble mine. This is a great win for Bristol Bay, and a testament to the efforts of all the Alaskans fighting for clean water, healthy … Read More

Like a lot of you, I feel a sense of chaos and overwhelm more than usual these days. The feeling can make it hard to remember everything in the last three years that has challenged our ability as human beings to make the world just and livable for everyone. But it’s important to remember everything–all the pieces, and how they fit together in driving toward long-term outcomes.… Read More

We’re proud and thrilled that two of our senior staff attorneys have been with us for 10-years now. Brook Brisson, who focuses on Arctic work, celebrated her 10-year anniversary in July, and Katie Strong, who works on public lands and wildlife issues, will celebrate her 10-year in September. Here, they reflect on their decade with Trustees. … Read More

Greed drives the Pebble project, and the pandemic hasn’t changed that. Pebble’s “business as always” approach to hunkering down includes scrounging for cash, trying to buy local support, and sending out PR this week touting its close and fruitful relationship … Read More