Vocal Support With an MTV Beat -
Singer's tour publicizes Gwich'in ANWR fight
The crowd moved in as Robby Romero began to sing at a reception for him sponsored by Tanana Chiefs Conference. The scream of recognition came as Romero began the chorus of Heartbeat," a song made famous by a television show called "Heartbeat Alaska."
"There's a heartbeat louder than thunder," Romero sang as he strummed his acoustic guitar, adorned by a single eagle feather. "Revolution is in the air," he softly sang.
Romero is touring Alaskan Villages along with a film crew, to support the Gwich'in Athabascans and their fight against oil development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Romero was accompanied by Dune Lankard, an Eyak spokesman from Corvova, and Sarah James, a spokeswoman for the Gwich'in Steering Committee. Lankard told the crowd he gave up his fishing career in 1989 the day the Exxon Valdez spilled crude oil into Prince William Sound. The spill coated miles of coastal beaches with sticky black crude, killing fish, wildlife, and birds and halting commercial and subsistence fishing. The tour observed the 13th anniversary of that day Sunday with an Anchorage concert.
"Exxon has not lived up to its promises, have not cleaned up their mess and have not paid up their debt." Lankard said. "So why should we ever think about handing over the keys to the Arctic Refuge?"
Sarah James said their fight was about subsistence."We have the right to have healthy Caribou on our table." James said. The group will leave for Arctic Village and Venetie this week.

— Diana Campbell / Fairbanks Daily News