NIMBY: NOT in my backyard BIMBY: BETTER in my backyard
Alaskan Native village to welcome new drilling in its ‘backyard’ with open arms
Callie Patterson, The Washington Examiner, July 5, 2025
A small Native community in the remote North Slope borough of Alaska has been at the center of debates in Washington, D.C., over bringing “drill, baby, drill” to its backyard — and it isn’t completely against the idea.
More than 3,000 miles northwest of Washington sits the small village of Kaktovik, Alaska. With roots tracing back thousands of years, the Native residents have no intention of leaving and want to see their people and village grow over the years. For most, that can’t happen without more drilling.
The people of Kaktovik
It’s not easy to get to Kaktovik. The village is located on Barter Island, more than 600 miles north of Anchorage, Alaska, and roughly 90 miles west of the Canadian border.
The secluded village of fewer than 300 residents is at the northern tip of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. There is no main road connecting the outpost to the rest of Alaska, and visitors can only access the village by small plane or ship.
Despite its remote location, Kaktovik is far from lacking modern conveniences such as cable television, public electricity, public radio, heated water, a health clinic, and even a trash pickup service. For Mayor Nathan Gordon Jr., the village has the fossil fuel industry to thank.
“Communities across the North Slope have long lacked basic infrastructure other communities in the Lower 48 take for granted — including modern water and sewer systems and resilient telecommunications networks,” Gordon told the Washington Examiner.
Gordon, who was born and raised in Kaktovik, explained that even as recently as 20 years ago, many residents didn’t have flushing toilets.
Kaktovik, like other villages and cities in the North Slope, relies heavily on tax revenue generated by resource development projects such as oil and gas drilling. In fact, more than 95% of North Slope Borough’s budget comes from this revenue.
Native leaders in the region said this has allowed smaller villages to maintain modern sewer systems, build and repair schools, support a local economy, and even lengthen their average life expectancy.
Kaktovik, like other villages and cities in the North Slope, relies heavily on tax revenue generated by resource development projects such as oil and gas drilling. In fact, more than 95% of North Slope Borough’s budget comes from this revenue.
Native leaders in the region said this has allowed smaller villages to maintain modern sewer systems, build and repair schools, support a local economy, and even lengthen their average life expectancy.