Brethren produce video about threat to Alaska National Wildlife Refuge.

In August, Brent Carlson and Ed Groff, members of Peace Church of the Brethren in Portland, Ore., participated in a New Community Project Learning Tour to Alaska. As part of that experience Groff, who works professionally in video production, has produced an hour-long video about the situation of the Gwich'in native American group, "The Gwich'in--A Matter of Survival." New Community Project is a Church of the Brethren-related faith-based nonprofit working at ecological and human justice concerns.

Gwich'in land and lifestyle are in jeopardy, Groff said, as oil companies and some in the US government want to drill for oil in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge--birthing grounds of the Porcupine Caribou Herd. "Known as the 'Caribou People,'" Groff said, the Gwich'in "live off the land. Nearly 75 percent of their diet comes from caribou, moose, and fish."

Upon leaving Alaska, Carlson and Groff planned visits to their senators in Oregon and Washington to advocate for the refuge. Groff is offering to send a 13-minute version of the video to a network of people who also will contact their congressmen. "Most people in Congress have never been to Alaska National Wildlife Refuge," he commented, "Congress also needs to know that the possibility of oil drilling also affects nearly 8,000 Gwich'in who are dependent on the caribou migrations."

"This shortened video is ideal for congregations to use as part of a study dealing with God's creation/environment," Groff added. The 13-minute video features interviews with Charley Swaney and Fannie Gemmill of Arctic Village, a community of the Gwich'in, and Brethren musician Shawn Kirchner's song, "Augury of Innocence/Song (Seeing the World Through a Grain of Sand)." It may be requested from Groff Video Productions at groffprod1@msn.com.

Source: 12/17/2004 Newsline
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