Beach, a representative from the Gwich'in tribe in Northern Alaska, was sweating visibly as she spoke to students about the significance of the land and the caribou have to her people. However, she braved the heat to raise awareness for sacred lands on the coastal plain in northern Alaska. She spoke out against oil companies who already have access to 95 percent of Alaska's coastal plain and who are trying to open up the 5 percent currently set aside as a wildlife refuge, with the help of Alaska's own senators.
Beach wants to preserve the area, without ever having been there, and never planning to visit.
Her goal, as well as the Maryland Public Interest Research Group's goal, is to have the Alaskan Arctic Wildlife Refuge designated as a wilderness refuge, which would make it untouchable to anyone. MaryPIRG is a student-run environmental advocacy group. The coastal plain is grazing territory for thousands of caribou, the lifeblood of the traditional native people there, who use them for food and clothing. When the caribou go there to graze and breed, the Gwich'in leave them alone so they can replenish themselves. There are bills in the House of Representatives and the Senate to grant the 20 million acres, roughly the size of South Carolina, that status.