Proceedings magazine is a communication tool for the Coast Guard's Marine Safety & Security Council. Each quarterly magazine focuses on a specific theme of interest to the marine industry.
Issue link: https://uscgproceedings.epubxp.com/i/149372
Arctic Opportunities The Arctic Evolution of the last frontier. byMR.NILS ANDREASSEN Executive Director Institute of the North A young man from Kotzebue, Alaska, did not have strong cultural connections growing up. Coming from a remote area "North of the 48," he reminisces about the days he frst learned how to hunt for whales — once a traditional subsistence activity for the people of his village. He remembers helping a captain haul his boat onto a patch of sea ice to repair a hole. The young man removed the contents of the boat and started to walk away. Suddenly, he heard the captain call out to him and ask where he was going. The man replied by saying he did not know how to patch a boat. The whaling captain brought him back and assured him it was okay not to know. "We do," he said. That simple answer illustrated a culture of sharing, life-long learning, and teamwork. 14 Proceedings Summer 2013 The State of Alaska Alaska'sstate motto,"North tothe Future"wasa sourceofpioneeringpridefornearlyacentury.From goldminerstofshermenandmodern-daydevelopers, allwhotraveledtoAlaskamadethejourneybecause ofitsabundanceofvastriches,energyresources,and forthepromiseofabetterfuture.Today,explorers looktotheArcticandrecognizewhatwasoncean aspirationisnowsimplereality.However,nothingis simpleabouttheArctic. Alastingfrontiertakesadvantageofthegreatwealth andotheropportunitiesfoundintheArcticby: • maximizingextractiveandrenewableenergy,and addressinggreatenergypoverty; • providingaresponsiveinfrastructure,supportingsocialandeconomicdevelopmentaswellas anincreasinglybusymaritimeenvironment; • recognizingtheneedsofthecommunity; • respondingtoresourcedevelopment; • encouraginglocalworkforcedevelopment,competitiveresourcerents,andlocalandsub-national revenuesharing; • celebratingthecommonalityfoundinNorthern culturesaswellasdifferentiationinsocial,political,andeconomicframeworksthatsupportthe Arcticindigenouspeoples. Muchofthedialogueintoday'sArcticdealswiththe conceptofwhois"atthetable."TheArcticCouncil isuniqueinthatithasformallyincludedthevoices www.uscg.mil/proceedings