Climate change forces indigenous Alaskans to relocate

Summary

The Yup'ik people of Newtok, Alaska, are facing a climate crisis that is forcing them to relocate. Rising sea levels, stronger storms, and melting permafrost are eroding their land, with 25 meters disappearing each year. The village is slowly sinking, prompting a relocation plan to higher ground, 15 kilometers away. Despite challenges in securing funding, Newtok is progressing, with the move expected to complete in two years. The emotional toll on the people is evident, especially for those like Albertina Charles, who, while excited for the new start, feels a deep sorrow leaving the land she has known all her life.

Takeaways

• 🌊 The Yup'ik people have historically relied on the Ninglick River for sustenance and survival in Alaska's harsh winters.
• 🏚️ Climate change is causing significant land loss, with approximately 25 meters eroding each year in the Yup'ik village of Newtok.
• 🌪️ Increasingly severe storms and melting permafrost are threatening the community's existence and infrastructure.
• 🏠 The village of Newtok, home to 350 people, is in the process of relocating to higher ground due to environmental threats.
• ⏳ Newtok was proactive in recognizing the dangers of climate change as early as the 1990s and has been planning for relocation for decades.
• 🌋 The new village will be constructed 15 kilometers away on solid volcanic rock and will be named Murtaghvaq, meaning 'getting water from the spring' in the Yup'ik language.
• 👷 The relocation project aims to preserve community cohesion, ensuring that the new village remains close to traditional hunting grounds.
• 💰 The total cost of the relocation project is around 100 million dollars, with funding challenges due to outdated disaster relief laws.
• 🤝 Other communities facing similar threats are looking for ways to secure funding for their own relocations.
• 📚 Albertina Charles, a local teacher, is among the first to relocate, expressing both excitement and sadness about leaving her childhood home.

Q & A

What challenges are the Yupik people facing in Newtok, Alaska?

The Yupik people in Newtok, Alaska, are facing challenges from sea-level rise, stronger storms, and melting permafrost, which threaten their land and homes.

How much land is eroding each year in Newtok?

Approximately 25 meters of land crumbles away each year in Newtok due to climate change impacts.

What does the village of Newtok plan to do in response to these challenges?

The village of Newtok plans to relocate to higher ground, constructing a new village 15 kilometers away, called Murtagh vaq, which means 'getting water from the spring' in the Yupik language.

What is the estimated cost of the relocation project for Newtok?

The entire relocation project for Newtok is estimated to cost around 100 million dollars.

What has hindered financial support for the relocation of Newtok?

Financial support has been hindered because existing laws were not written to address the slow catastrophe of climate change, only sudden natural disasters.

What sentiments does Albertina Charles express about leaving Newtok?

Albertina Charles expresses a bittersweet feeling about leaving Newtok, stating that she loves the place and has grown up there, but acknowledges the necessity of moving due to the changing climate.

What infrastructure will be included in the new village of Murtagh vaq?

The new village will include houses, roads, a power plant, a clinic, and a school, along with being close to Yupik hunting grounds.

How long has the Tribal Council been aware of the dangers of climate change?

The Tribal Council in Newtok has been aware of the dangers of climate change since at least the 1990s.

What is the significance of the name 'Murtagh vaq' for the new village?

The name 'Murtagh vaq' signifies the importance of water access for the Yupik people, as it translates to 'getting water from the spring.'

Why is the relocation of Newtok considered a pioneering effort?

The relocation of Newtok is considered pioneering because it is one of the first communities in the world to undertake such a significant move due to climate change, setting a precedent for other affected communities.