The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) Yukon, the Gwich’in steering committee and other environmental allies are in a celebratory mood.

They are welcoming Wednesday’s announcement of the cancellation of remaining oil and gas leases in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).

The U.S. government announced, along with a supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS), that the last remaining leases held along the coastal plains in the Arctic Refuge will be cancelled.

These leases, held by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA), were attained during what CPAWS called “the unlawful and rushed sale in January 2021” in the waning days of Donald Trump’s administration.

ANWR’s coastal plains are the calving grounds for the Porcupine caribou herd, which migrates through Alaska, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories.

The announcement is a crucial step toward protecting their well-being and the Gwich’in way of life, CPAWS said.

“We are happy to see that the remaining leases held by AIDEA were cancelled (Wednesday),” said Randi Newton, CPAWS Yukon’s conservation manager.

“This confirms what we’ve known since the beginning: the 2021 lease sale was unlawful and rushed. Cancelling these leases shows care for the climate, caribou, and the communities who rely on them.

“This is a big win for the Arctic Refuge, the Porcupine caribou herd, the Gwich’in, and all Canadians.”

For decades, the Gwich’in have been advocates for protecting the caribou and their calving grounds.

“We want to express our gratitude to the Gwich’in steering committee and Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation for their leadership and congratulate them on achieving this step towards permanent protection of these sacred lands,” CPAWS said.

“Over the next few weeks, we will be taking a deep dive into the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement and encourage Yukoners to submit their comments.

“This SEIS comes as part of an order from Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland, and an executive order from President Joe Biden to address the shortcomings of the previous administration’s environmental review.”

The Gwich’in steering committee said Wednesday it’s “grateful to President Biden and Secretary of the Interior Haaland for their decision.

“Cancellation of these leases is a step to rectify attempted violence against our people, the animals and sacred land.

“The leases were economically infeasible, threatened the Porcupine caribou herd and the Gwich’in way of life, and, if developed, would have added to the already-deteriorating climate in the Arctic and the world over.”

Alaska natives and concerned groups from all over the state were excluded from AIDEA’s process of making economic and development decisions that affect everyone, the steering committee noted.

“AIDEA now can focus on its mission to diversify Alaska’s economy through transparent and meaningful public engagement with all Alaskans, inclusive of our desire to protect our traditional ways of life for future generations.”

AIDEA held the last remaining leases in ANWR after all other bidders walked away from their leases in 2022.

“We thank the Biden administration and the U.S. Department of the Interior for taking this step towards protecting the coastal plain and the Porcupine caribou herd, but we know that our sacred land is only temporarily safe from oil and gas development,” the committee said.

“Our concern now is the SEIS process and the mandated second lease sale in 2024.

“We will always stand strong in unity, in strength and in prayer to protect the Porcupine caribou herd, the Arctic Refuge and the Gwich’in way of life.”