Chasing Winter, Katie Orlinsky
“Climate change is an urgent crisis that will affect everyone on the planet, and for millions of people it already has. Nowhere is this clearer than the Alaskan Arctic. Scientists call Alaska “ground zero” for climate change, and this past July was the hottest month on historical record. But climate change in Alaska means more then just warmer weather; it means devastating wildfires, intense storms, vanishing sea ice, retreating glaciers, thawing permafrost, and diminishing natural habitats affecting both animal species and the people who depend on them. For Alaska’s indigenous people, especially those living in rural areas, climate change threatens to bring the end to their way of life. Hunting, fishing and foraging for food, known as “subsistence,” is the anchor of culture and economy for Alaska’s many indigenous groups, some of which are so fragile that only a handful of living elders still speak their native languages.“ | Alexia Foundation
