This is one of the most beautiful places in all the world. Whenever I travel anywhere else and come back, I take deep breaths and think to myself, “My God, this state, and this valley especially, is vast and clean and quiet and wild yet.” The wildlife of Alaska speak with a gravitas so powerful I understand why a lady in Klukwan lamented: “We no longer listen to the Bear people, the Tree people, the Raven people.” She has watched as the eulachon and salmon have been “insulted,” and knows it doesn’t take much for them to “never come back.”

And so that leads me to the proposed Constantine Mine. It is like watching a train wreck in slow motion. It will take years to even start up, and then most of the mining jobs won’t even be local. Once they’ve desecrated this valley after a few years of mining, they’ll move on and leave us with a huge mess. And that is assuming nothing toxic from their operations leaks into the Chilkat River. The results of that will be a sterile river for a good 500 years. Native people say we should plan ahead seven generations. 

We need to have mines, but next to our river? Ask yourself why you live here. Seriously. This is one place where we need to make our living sustainably and respect the land.

                         Steve Kroschel