Executive Summary

Due to the contamination of their traditional wild foods with toxic chemicals and microplastics, Alaska Native peoples are some of the most polluted people on Earth and experience epidemic levels of cancer. birth defects, neurological and immune system disorders, and other diseases linked with these chemicals. Their pleas for help have historically been ignored; their evidence, in the form of traditional ecological knowledge, dismissed.

ACAT is Alaska’s only environmental health and justice organization doing research and advocacy. ACAT is Alaska Native led, women-led, and community-focused. ACAT partners with Alaska Native communities to empower them to advocate for and win the systemic changes needed to make progress in protecting community health and holding polluters accountable.

ACAT’s collaborative research, leadership training, and community organizing helps amplify the voices of this group that has met with discrimination and struggles against inequity. We develop collaborations and partnerships to build power.

ACAT and its community partners have made significant progress toward the goal of eliminating toxic exposures, contaminated traditional wild foods, and resulting health disparities. Our goal is to build sufficient momentum and influence on multiple fronts to advance more quickly toward environmental health and justice for Alaska’s first peoples, all who live in the circumpolar Arctic, and the world.

Organizations may provide budget and employee data based on this proposal or the organization as a whole. For more information on this proposal or organization, please email us.