Alaskan Village Battles Climate Change: Newtok’s Historic Relocation to Mertarvik

Climate Change Forces Alaskan Village to Relocate

In the remote Alaskan village of Newtok, childhood memories are being washed away by the relentless forces of climate change. Ashley Tom, a lifelong resident, recalls a time when the land seemed stable and secure. Now, erosion and melting permafrost are rapidly reshaping the landscape, forcing the community to undertake a challenging relocation to higher ground.

Newtok’s village leaders have been working tirelessly to find a new home for their people. After years of negotiation, they secured a land swap with the federal government, acquiring a site on nearby Nelson Island. This new location, named Mertarvik, offers hope for the community’s future. However, the relocation process has been slow, leaving Newtok a split village with residents divided between the old and new sites.

The situation in Newtok is dire. Erosion continues to eat away at the shoreline, power outages are frequent, and abandoned homes stand as silent witnesses to the ongoing exodus. This scenario is not unique to Newtok; it’s a stark illustration of the broader impact of climate change on Alaska and other Arctic regions.

Alaska is warming at a rate more than twice the global average, leading to widespread infrastructure damage and forcing the relocation of Indigenous communities. Permafrost degradation is causing buildings to sink and roads to buckle. The Yupik people have a term for this phenomenon: “usteq,” which encompasses erosion, flooding, and thawing permafrost.

The challenges of relocation are immense. Dozens of Alaska Native communities face similar infrastructure damage, and their options are limited: protection, managed retreat, or complete relocation. Finding suitable new land is difficult, and the process of land swaps can take decades. Financial hurdles are significant, with federal funding for relocation often falling short.

However, recent legislation offers a glimmer of hope. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act may provide much-needed resources for communities like Newtok.

As Mertarvik grows, residents look forward to reunification and improved living conditions. The new site boasts a school, grocery stores, and a church. Health improvements are already noticeable, and future plans include piped water and sewer systems. Despite the upheaval, the community is determined to preserve its culture and traditions, including the important beluga hunt and other subsistence activities.

Ashley Tom remains optimistic about the future in Mertarvik. As Newtok’s story unfolds, it serves as a powerful reminder of the human cost of climate change and the resilience of communities striving to maintain their cultural continuity in the face of environmental upheaval.