Alaska Natives seek restrictions on drilling

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November 11, 2009 05:08 PM EST | AP


WASHINGTON — A group of women from Alaska's North Slope and the Canadian Arctic are in Washington this week to lobby the Obama administration and members of Congress about oil and gas development in Alaska.

The women oppose drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and on offshore sites in Alaska.

Sarah James, an Arctic Village resident and spokeswoman for the Gwich'in Nation, said northern people are among the first to be experiencing the devastation of global warming.

James called herself "the other Sarah" from Alaska and said that prominent drilling supporters such as former Gov. Sarah Palin do not speak for Alaska Natives.

James said she had an answer to Palin's famous cry of "drill, baby, drill": "Chill, baby, chill."