Photographer Kiliii Yüyan illuminates the hidden stories of polar regions, wilderness, and Indigenous communities. Informed by ancestry that is both Nanai/Hèzhé (Siberian Native) and Chinese-American, he explores the human relationship to the natural world from different cultural perspectives.

Kiliii has produced many stories on Arctic communities, including a multi-year National Geographic project on the subsistence culture of the Alaskan Iñupiaq, as well as stories on the Russian Chukchi and Greenland’s Iñuit community. He is currently at work on a global project covering Indigenous-led conservation. His public talks inspire others about photography, Indigenous perspectives, and wilderness around the globe.

Kiliii is based out of Seattle, but can be found across the circumpolar Arctic much of the year.

Michael Wald has been leading wilderness trips since 1991, helping others understand and enjoy wild-lands from Alaska to Labrador to the Antarctic in all seasons. In addition to guiding, Michael has worked on research projects across arctic Alaska and taught science and outdoor education courses. His skills as a guide and naturalist bring many accolades to Arctic Wild.

In the winter Michael does the scheduling, booking, and logistics for Arctic Wild from the relative warmth of Haines, Alaska, where he and his wife Sally are raising their two growing boys.

When not exploring forest, ocean, or tundra he can be found working on a variety of Alaska conservation projects. He doesn’t like to sit still, but if you email him about a trip in the Arctic, he’ll write you right back!

Eric Jorgensen has seen the power of the law help make fundamental change happen across the state. He has spent over 30 years working at Earthjustice, with the last 15 devoted to the Arctic. He sees enforcing the laws as a critical part of the fight to end oil development and bring about a new vision for sustaining the Arctic.

One of the transformative experiences of Eric’s life took place on a long journey down a remote river in the Western Arctic, surrounded by thousands of migrating caribou, golden grizzly bears, solitary wolves, stoic musk ox, swift peregrine falcons and beautiful landscapes; he returned once again inspired and committed to the work of Earthjustice.

Eric is thankful to live and work in Alaska and protect its future, and pleased to share a bit of his life’s work with you.

Erik Grafe focuses much of his work on the Arctic, working with conservation and Alaska Native groups to fend off attempts by oil companies and the federal government to open new lands to oil and gas operations in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, the Western Arctic, and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The Arctic is one of the most obvious places on Earth to say ‘no’ to Big Oil and heed climate science that tells us we need to move rapidly away from fossil power, not expand it.

What Erik loves best about living in the far north is that it is a place of constant change, particularly in the quality and quantity of the light and the comings and goings of birds and caribou and whales and salmon. Whether you visit in person or not, he hopes you’ll advocate for this place, its people, and wildlife.

Rebecca Bowe is the Communications Strategist for Earthjustice’s Northwest and Alaska regional offices. Prior to Earthjustice, she spent 11 years working as a professional journalist, including at KQED News and the San Francisco Bay Guardian, and continues to do occasional freelance reporting on environmental justice issues.

Since stepping into her current role, Rebecca has had the good fortune of traveling to Alaska on multiple occasions for meetings with the Alaska team. In 2018, she produced a short film in virtual reality, called Too Wild to Drill, to inspire people to oppose oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. She is delighted to share the power of this VR film with you.

Rebecca lives in Portland, Oregon and has ventured out to public lands as often as possible since the pandemic began.

Britt’Nee Kivliqtaruq Brower is a strong proponent of Iñupiat values and their relevance in our modern age. She advocates the revitalization of the language, arts, storytelling, and traditions of her Iñupiat culture, and brings this passion to her artwork. Her work explores the visual representation of the Iñupiat culture through qupak designs, which are recognized as the geometric motifs on the trims of regalia. Her work in prints and children’s coloring books incorporates traditional qupak motifs and adds a modern twist to honor traditional elements of her culture. All of her artwork is made with intentions to teach about the Iñupiat culture, to help with cultural identity and cultural recognition for passing down indigenous knowledge and traditional skills to the future generation of culture bearers.

Klara Maisch is an artist, instructor, and guide who grew up in Fairbanks, Alaska — a place located on the traditional lands of the Dena people of the lower Tenana River. Through her experiences living in Alaska and guiding for Arctic Wild, navigating vast natural landforms has trained her to closely observe her surroundings that has, in turn, translated into her work. The backbone of her artistic process relies on information gathered in the field. Through this firsthand approach, Klara can respond to changes that occur within an environment over a period of time, empowering her to grasp the underlying structures of complex places.