I don't think the Native’s hunting have anything to do with this. It is the basis of the defense and supported by the local native government. See the article above for comments from Mayor Edward Itta of the North Slope Borough.
The Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission has also been part of the legal filings to stop the exploration.
Eskimos shouldn't be able to stop drilling.Call me a racist if you wish but I say..."no way!".
I *do* believe,however,that if the Eskimos can prove that they've been harmed in any noteworthy way they should be justly compensated.After all,I'm not a *total* racist.