Alaska Wilderness League Honors the Legacy of Rep. Raúl Grijalva, Champion for Public Lands 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Date: 3/14/2025 
Contact: Anja Semanco | anja@alaskawild.org | 724-967-2777 

Alaska Wilderness League Honors the Legacy of Rep. Raúl Grijalva, Champion for Public Lands 

Washington, D.C. – Alaska Wilderness League joins the conservation community in mourning the loss of Representative Raúl Grijalva, a steadfast champion for America’s wild places and an unwavering defender of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. 

For decades, Rep. Grijalva was a leading voice in Congress advocating for the protection of public lands, Indigenous rights, and environmental justice. As the former chair and longtime ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee, he fought tirelessly against attempts to open the Arctic Refuge to oil and gas development, recognizing its irreplaceable ecological and cultural significance. His leadership helped elevate the voices of the Gwich’in Nation, Inupiat allies,  and conservation advocates nationwide, ensuring that the Arctic remained a symbol of our nation’s commitment to protecting wild places for future generations. 

“Raúl Grijalva was more than a legislator—he was a moral compass in the fight to protect our most sacred and vulnerable landscapes,” said Kristen Miller, Executive Director of Alaska Wilderness League. “His unwavering dedication to the Arctic Refuge and Indigenous peoples was an inspiration to all of us. We are forever grateful for his leadership and will honor his legacy by continuing the fight he championed so passionately.” 

Rep. Grijalva’s integrity and relentless dedication to conservation will be deeply missed. His legacy lives on in the protected landscapes he championed, the policies he helped shape, and the countless people he inspired to continue the fight. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and all who had the privilege of working alongside him. 

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