The Arctic: Our Last Great Wilderness

Lois Norrgard serves as the National Field Organizer for the Alaska Wilderness League. In this position, she leads strategic grassroots outreach efforts for the organization’s campaigns focused on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska, and the Tongass National Forest.

Lois has dedicated many years to protecting public lands, beginning her work in the late 1990s. Motivated by growing concern over the degradation and loss of natural ecosystems she was witnessing firsthand, she made the pivotal decision to leave her role as a co-owner of a small graphic design business to focus on conservation and biodiversity protection.

Lois will show a short documentary, "THE ARCTIC: Our Last Great Wilderness". This film provides an immersive, inspiring centerpiece for an array of discussions ranging from wildlife conservation to climate action, and from American public lands to Indigenous culture and subsistence. America has had a tumultuous tradition of protecting this treasure for over 50 years. Recently threats have been greater than they have ever been from oil exploration and leasing – come learn about the history, the place and its values, and the ongoing work to protect this national treasure.