As the last of extra chairs hastily distributed to accommodate the unexpectedly large turnout were filled, a projector screen glowed at the front of the room. Over 60 people gathered at Old St Joes to hear an update from Graphite One, a company building a mine to the north of Nome near the Imuruk Basin.
Native American tribes say the Defense Department is awarding grants to mining companies exploring critical mineral projects without consultation despite
Graphite is a critical ingredient in the batteries needed to power America’s electric vehicle revolution. But every ounce of it is imported. A proposed mine in a remote part of Alaska would change that. But some of the people who live nearby fear it will endanger their way of life.
Tesla needs graphite. Alaska has plenty. But mining it raises fears in nearby villages. kyuk.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from kyuk.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
While opinions in the nearby Alaska Native villages of Brevig Mission and Teller are mixed, there are significant pockets of opposition, particularly among the area’s tribal leaders.