Alaska villagers relocate after climate change destroys their town
TL/DR –
The village of Newtok in Alaska is facing destruction due to erosion and melting permafrost, a consequence of climate change. The residents, mostly Alaska Natives, are in the process of moving to a new location, Mertarvik, making Newtok one of the first Alaska Native villages to undertake a large-scale relocation due to climate change. The relocation process is challenging and expensive, and there are 114 other Alaska Native communities that are also facing infrastructure damage due to climate change, indicating a pressing need for a more effective solution to help these communities secure land for relocation.
Western Alaska Village of Newtok Relocates Amid Erosion, Melting Permafrost
Ashley Tom, a resident of Newtok village in western Alaska, once observed the Ninglick River bank gradually creeping towards her home after major storms swept in from the Bering Sea. Today, Newtok has been nearly destroyed by erosion and melting permafrost, losing about 21 metres of land annually.
In the coming weeks, the remaining 71 residents will relocate to Mertarvik, joining 230 others who began moving in 2019 due to climate change. This makes the village one of the first Alaska Native communities to undergo such large-scale relocation.
Newtok leaders initiated a search for a new townsite over two decades ago, eventually swapping land with the federal government for a location 14km away on Nelson Island. This transition has been slow, leading to a temporary split between Newtok and Mertarvik. Calvin Tom, the tribal administrator, described Newtok as “not a place to live anymore.”
With Alaska warming two to three times faster than the global average, permafrost degradation is damaging infrastructure across the Arctic. About 85% of Alaska’s land area is on permafrost, which is causing further erosion as it thaws. The Yupik people have a term for these erosion threats: “usteq,” meaning “surface caves in.”
Relocation Challenges for Alaska Native Communities
Over 100 Alaska Native communities face infrastructure damage due to erosion, flooding, or permafrost melt, according to a January report from the Alaska Native Health Tribal Consortium. Three options exist for these communities, depending on the threat level: securing protection in the current location, managed retreat, or complete relocation.
However, moving presents its own challenges, including finding a new location, acquiring land, and financing the move. The process can be lengthy and expensive, with Newtok spending decades and around $160 million on its move. There is currently no federal funding for relocation, and only a few of the 60 federal funding sources identified for this purpose have been successfully used.
After five years of separation, Newtok and Mertarvik will finally be reunited. The Newtok school has closed and classes have started in a temporary location in Mertarvik, with a new school building expected to be ready in 2026.
The new village site offers improved health conditions and opportunities for cultural continuity, including subsistence hunting opportunities. Ashley Tom expressed her excitement about the relocation, stating, “I really love this new area, and I just feel whole here.”
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