Alaska graphite mine pushes forward without tribal consent
A proposed graphite mine on Alaska's Seward Peninsula is advancing toward federal approval despite lacking required consultation with a local Indigenous tribe. The project, backed by the U.S. Department of Defense, aims to secure domestic supplies of the mineral critical for batteries. Tribal leaders from the Native Village of Solomon warn that it threatens their traditional lands and subsistence way of life.
The Graphite One project, developed by the Canadian firm Graphite One Resources, targets a deposit on the Seward Peninsula near Nome, Alaska. The site sits on state-owned land but overlaps with areas traditionally used by the Yup'ik people of the Native Village of Solomon, a federally recognized tribe with about 1,000 members. According to federal law, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Executive Order 13175, agencies must consult with tribes on projects affecting their interests. However, the tribe reports that meaningful engagement has been minimal.
In 2020, the U.S. Department of Defense awarded Graphite One a $37.5 million grant under the Defense Production Act to study the feasibility of mining and processing graphite domestically, reducing reliance on China, which controls over 80% of global supply. The funding supports feasibility studies and a planned processing plant in Washington state. Company officials, including CEO Anthony Huston, have stated that the project is not on tribal lands and that they have consulted with local stakeholders, but Solomon's leaders dispute this. 'We haven't been properly consulted; this is a violation of our rights,' said Clarissa Iron, president of the Native Village of Solomon, in a statement to Grist.
The approval process has accelerated in recent years amid national security concerns over critical minerals. In 2023, the Army Corps of Engineers began environmental reviews, with a draft environmental impact statement expected soon. Tribal advocates fear the mine could disrupt salmon streams and caribou migration routes essential for subsistence hunting and fishing, which provide much of the community's food. The project envisions open-pit mining over 20 years, potentially extracting 175,000 tons of graphite annually.
Broader context includes U.S. efforts to onshore battery supply chains for electric vehicles and renewables. Supporters argue the mine could create 300 jobs and bolster energy security. Yet, Indigenous groups, backed by organizations like the Alaska Inter-Tribal Council, call for halting approvals until full consultation occurs. As of late 2023, the project races toward potential groundbreaking, highlighting tensions between resource development and tribal sovereignty in Alaska.