Inuit Tribe Town Hall Meeting, Essay Example

Friends and esteemed tribal members, we gather here today to discuss a topic that is very near and dear to our hearts.  Beside the difficult issues that we must encounter on a national level, the land that is being discussed also holds sacred importance to us for our Inuit Tribe history and culture.  It is not with ease that I have come to the decision to represent the Lawyers and Lobbyists to suggest that we agree to allow United States and Alaskan citizens the right to drill for oil found on our land.  We understand that the land has very important value to every one of us and to allow drilling on the land does not come without a cost.  However, we must consider whether the benefits outweigh the costs when considering this matter.

First of all, our land is not being disgraced in any manner by allowing drilling for oil.  The only disgrace would be not to take advantage of the financial benefit and overall international economic value that the oil on our land has throughout the world.  For those of you who would suggest that drilling on the Inuit land desecrates the sacred bond that we as a people have with the land, I would argue that the land provides for us.  We give to the land just as the land gives to us.  Through a positive correlation between maintaining a strong spiritual bond with our land, the land has been gracious enough to provide us with a strong commodity – oil – that we can use to give back to the Inuit people and provide every one of our elderly kinsman and children the proper life and resources that they deserve.  If we are able to achieve this goal through the graciousness of oil, we will be able to look back on this decision with a grateful heart and give thanks to our land for providing during a great time of need.

Secondly, our tribe as well as other native tribes throughout the United States and the rest of Alaska are being closely analyzed, criticized and scrutinized for every argument and flaw in our decision-making.  This decision will not only benefit our precious Inuit people, but it will also be a gift to the rest of the country and our brothers and sisters throughout the world who need oil to maintain a high level of living.  We live in a world where cars need to operate, trucks need to deliver goods, and farm equipment is a necessity to ensure crops are harvested on time and without delay.  Oil is an inherent necessity in today’s global economy – this is a fact that we cannot hide from.  As we continue to debate the issue, millions of people throughout the world are waiting and watching as we struggle with this decision.  We should never be swayed or moved completely by a foreign audience of the Inuit Tribe, but we should consider the value that positive thinking and gratitude will mean to our people for generations to come.  The United States is still a young nation, and it is a nation that works to remember its history.  If we appear in a positive light today, our children and their children will also reap the benefits of this decision in the future.

People, I beg you to consider that our land has provided us with a gift.  The fact that we are here today discussing and debating this issue is proof in itself that we value our natural provider and continue to hold our Inuit land sacred.  Allowing drilling will help provide financial, economic and health benefits to our children and our present generations in ways that we cannot completely fathom.  I trust that through this body, we will continue to elaborate on the issue and ultimately come to a solid conclusion that to allow drilling on our land will provide generous positive benefits for all the Inuit Tribe people.