U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum teams up with Alaska Governor Dunleavy and Senator Sullivan to literally sell out Alaskans
Alaskans stand firm in opposition of the Ambler Road in Coldfoot, Alaska. May 16, 2026.
Native Movement Statement - May 16, 2026
Coldfoot, AK. – Alaskans have spoken repeatedly in opposition to the proposed Ambler Road, a 211-mile long road that would devastate intact ecosystems and destroy rural communities’ livelihoods of hunting and fishing. Yet, Alaska Governor Dunleavy and Senator Sullivan, backed by their new federal friends, are pushing for corporate welfare as they throw Alaska’s public lands and public dollars into a losing deal.
“The Evansville Tribe and 87 other tribal governments have repeated our unified and collective opposition to the proposed Ambler Road over and over. I will state our position again. The Evansville Tribe is 100% against this proposed road to ruin. We know our traditional lifestyle will likely be destroyed severely impacting our watersheds, fisheries habitat and subsistence and cultural resources.” - Evansville Tribal Chief Frank Thompson
Tribes and Native Corporations throughout the region have opposed the Ambler Road. Alaskans from every corner of the state have stood at public hearings to voice their opposition to this road and the horrible state economic plan this would enable. The proposed Ambler road won’t benefit Alaskans, instead it is a road for sending profits to international corporate interests while maiming Alaska lands and waters.
“The Alatna Village Council opposes the proposed Ambler Road and we are clear that the road will offer very few jobs and bring too many trespassers and result in a great deal of pressure on our subsistence resources. We are also concerned about the contamination of our wetlands that sustain our ecosystem and food we rely on.” - Alatna Tribal Chief Jerry Sam
When Alaska’s elected leadership does not listen to Tribes or even their own constituents, it’s time to elect new leadership. This is why every one of us needs to show up for the 2026 elections and vote for leadership that actually listens to Alaskans.
“This is corporate fascism; when our government officials suppress the call of their constituents to fill the pockets of corporate greed while ignoring democracy, what else can you call it? Alaskans must stand up once again to stop this road to resources and this act of government sponsored terrorism.” - Enei Begaye, Executive Director of Native Movement.
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