The Arctic is changing rapidly. Not too long ago, scientists were saying it would take until the end of the century before the pole was ice-free in summertime. Now, some experts say that will probably happen in just a few decades.The rapid disappearance of the Arctic sea ice has profound consequences for Alaska and the rest of the far north, especially when it comes to development.
This summer is already set to be the busiest in Alaskan Arctic history, with Shell Oil expected to drill in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas and increased shipping traffic transiting the Northern Sea Route. Is Alaska ready for development in the Arctic? What kind of policies do we have in place to ensure the people of the state benefit?
Pennelope Goforth lived in Unalaska during the 1980s, and during the time, she fished, she worked as a photographer, and she founded The Aleutian Eagle newspaper – a weekly that would later turn into The Dutch Harbor Fisherman.
Though it’s been over 20 years since she left the island for Anchorage, she still spends a lot of time thinking about the Aleutians and its history. Recently, she made an important discovery of six logbooks written by Alaska Commercial Company agents stationed in the Aleutian Islands, and the ledgers give us greater insight into what life was like in the region during the 19th century.
