Everyone thinks they know more than the locals and the experts.  
The Vuntut Gwichin have done an admirable job of managing the Porcupine Caribou herd over many hundreds of years, in the face of many recent challenges. The herd is a major local food source. They know what they are talking about.
The herd's calving grounds deserve protection and this is a major reason for both the wildlife refuge and Canada's adjacent national parks. 
Although seismic cut lines are not an issue in this tundra region, there are two other critical considerations.  First is that exploration and development creates access to any idiot in a pickup truck and a quad. This has always been the most important consideration, based on extensive experience with both the Dalton and Dempster highways. Also, even a small spill in this ecologically sensitive permafrost area would cause long term damage.  
The 1002 area is known to contain oil & gas but the risks of development are too serious to ignore.