Sarah James facts for kids

Sarah Agnes James was born in 1946. She is a Gwich'in activist from Arctic Village, Alaska, USA. She was born in Fort Yukon because that is where the hospital was located. Sarah grew up mostly in Arctic Village, Alaska.

Sarah is a board member of the International Indian Treaty Council. This group works to protect the rights of Indigenous peoples. In 2002, she won the Goldman Environmental Prize. She shared this award with Jonathon Solomon and Norma Kassi. They earned the prize for their hard work to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). They wanted to stop oil drilling plans there. Drilling for oil and gas would harm the Porcupine caribou. These caribou are very important to the Gwich'in way of life. They have been a key part of their culture for thousands of years.

Fighting for the Environment

Sarah James is a strong voice for her people and the environment. She has traveled to many places to share her message.

Speaking Up for Indigenous Rights

In November 1969, Sarah joined a group of Indigenous students. They were led by Mohawk activist Richard Oakes. They took over the former prison island of Alcatraz in San Francisco, California. This was a protest to bring attention to Indigenous rights.

Sharing Her Message Globally

In the 1990s, Sarah visited communities in South America. She went to Brazil, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Guatemala. She spoke up for people who were not being treated fairly. She also appeared on TV shows like CNN. Sarah traveled to Washington, D.C., to talk about the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. She worked to correct wrong ideas spread by oil companies. She spoke strongly about protecting this special place.

Sarah's Connection to the Land

Sarah James believes we should "learn from each other and go forward for the Earth." She is deeply connected to the land in northern Alaska. Her family taught her to protect "Iizhik Gwats’an Gwandaii Goodiit." This means "Sacred Place Where All Life Begins." This land is her teacher and helps her survive.

Protecting the Caribou Herd

Sarah grew up living off the land. She knows how hard it is to live in the cold north. She works hard to protect the traditional ways of life. She especially wants to protect the Porcupine Caribou herd. She defends their calving grounds from oil development. She also fights against the effects of climate change. Sarah travels around the world to teach others. She wants people to understand why it's important to protect the caribou. She also learns from different people. Sarah continues to work from her village. She is dedicated to passing on her ancestors' teachings to younger generations.

Awards and Recognition

Sarah James has received many awards for her important work.

• In 1993, she won the Alston Bannerman Fellowship.
• In 2001, she received the "Leadership for a Changing World" grant. This award honors great leaders who are not widely known.
• In 2002, she was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize. She shared this prize with Jonathon Solomon Sr. and Norma Kassi.
• Also in 2002, she received the National Conservation Land Trust Award.
• In 2004, she earned the "Ecotrust Award for Indigenous Leadership."
• In 2006, she received the Alaska Conservation Foundation "Celia Hunter Award for Outstanding Conservations."