Amidst secrecy and the blackout of independent outside news coverage, early Sunday morning three Beechcraft airliners arrived at Barter Island. Aboard these planes, destined to conduct an "open" town meeting: the delegation of "Open the Refuge to Drilling" officials: Secretary of Interior - Gale Norton, Senator Pete Domenici, Secretary of Energy - Samuel Bodman, Senator Thune of South Dakota and Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. The Washington officials stepped off their planes to greet minus 10ºF temperatures and the gathering of Inupiat residents protesting the opening of the 1002 region to drilling.

Strongly opposed to oil development within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the native delegation sought the opportunity to have their voice heard. "We have been silenced for too long. People that have no right to speak for us are voicing support for the drilling", said Kaktovik Inupiat Robert Thompson, in reference to those aligned with for-profit ventures that stand to reap personal windfalls upon the drilling. "We do not support it, we want to be heard", Robert continued, "We are fighting to defend our culture ... our children's, our grandchildren's future is at stake".

"It was Sunday morning ...." quoted the mayor, Lon Sonsalla, expressing the regret that a number of people were at home, asleep, "... this is our day to rest ... we knew they were coming, but not when". No public announcement was ever issued regarding the high level visit. A significant body of Kaktovik's opposition to drilling within the refuge, was unaware of the 8:30 am visit and not in attendance.

In a strikingly similar maneuver, the Washington delegation slipped into and out of Barrow, Alaska, their visit and meeting taking place absent any public participation. "They came and left with us not even knowing that they had arrived", quoted a source.

The Kaktovik meeting took place at the city community center. Several points were made and addressed, specifically of which the issue of offshore drilling was raised. Secretary Norton repeatedly deflected answering the direct question, "If the 1002 is opened, will there be a guarantee that the offshore drilling will not take place". The question referred to Alaska Governor Murkowski's recent comment of the state's intent to go forward with offshore leasing. The residents had been previously assured that if the 1002 were to be opened, the onshore drilling would preclude the offshore exploration from taking place. The citizens of Kaktovik are learning first hand that their representatives from Washington cannot be trusted. Norton went on to explain, even if guarantees were made at this point in time, a new administration, a new Secretary of the Interior: any prior agreement with the natives could be reversed and nullified.

Shortly following the conclusion of the meeting, the Washington delegation was treated to a flight-seeing tour of the 1002 region of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: transportation provided by US Fish and Wildlife Service.

In the brief days that have transpired since the meeting, an even greater disappointment has surfaced as concern on behalf of the opposition delegation. The media that accompanied the delegation has produced no content that reflects the spirit or truth of the opposition voice, "I thought we were supposed to be heard?" said a resident.

Indeed, to the outside world, through the censorship and filtering of the attending media, few if any will ever know the facts and truths that took place on this small island in the Beaufort Sea. Concerning the breaking issue of critical biological reserve within the 1002 region of the refuge, this reporter spoke directly to Fox Media and privately with Dakota Senator Thune. It is doubtful that this or any native opposition will air or otherwise be brought to the public, let alone to the Senate debate.

This number is 100 times greater than the originally stated 2000 acre footprint that oil interests would occupy within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This reporter was confronted directly by Fox media questioning the issue of not letting go of a mere 2,000 acres. It would seem that in this case, in company to the public, the press has been duped as well. But, if press coverage reported facts and actual news, you would already know that the expert geologist that spoke for the pro drilling delegation stated at the Kaktovik meeting, ".. the oil is where it is ..." and that the exploration and drilling would take place where ever necessary. The sound bite of "2000 acres" as the extent of the development footprint, is media designed to defraud the public of their heritage and trust.

HR39 is the proof of intent; 200,000 acres: the drilling interests to gain access to the "1002 Sanctuary" will completely displace the caribou herds from their critical biological reserve. There is no possibility that any language in support of native interests can be anything but completely meaningless in the face of wanton action that will bring an end to the spectacular natural wonder that was the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

I ask of my readers to seek the balance offered by Fox and the other media. Are they forthcoming with the facts and truths of this issue? Or, do you find facts and information that the mainstream has thought to withhold from you?

Where does it end? How long can a democracy be preserved when the guardians and officials empowered to the watch, no longer represent the people to whom they are intrusted to serve?

I for one, do not consider served, the deal of lie, corruption, fraud and special interest.

Arthur C. Smith III

By the way, are you aware that the 1002 Sanctuary is also a critical biological habitat for Polar Bear denning? That oil related winter activity will directly interfere at the most crucial time of the Polar Bear's denning: pregnant females that will give birth?

The issue of Polar Bears in the 1002 Sanctuary will be addressed and presented on this site. It is my hope that by the time you view the footage and details presented, the Sanctuary still exists.