Rebels to the Pebble is a group of Dillingham youth, ages 12-19, who have been working to oppose the Pebble Mine in the Bristol Bay for a couple of years. We started as a class project and then they transformed to an after school club then merged with the Dillingham LAYC, the Leadership and Assets Youth Coalition, a group of students who try to make a positive difference in their community. The rebels also became a branch of AYEA, Alaska Youth for Environmental Action, to learn about other environmental issues and to build communication with youth across the state. Our overarching goals are to educate ourselves and others about the mine, to promote environmental justice, to promote Native Alaskan rights, and to build cultural knowledge, skills and appreciation in our community.
We decided to write to Josten’s because several other class ring companies, including Balfour as a part of Commemorative Brands, signed the Bristol Bay Protection Pledge, which pledges to never buy gold from the Pebble Mine. Josten’s is the number one seller of rings to the nation, so the Rebels wanted to ask them to sign the pledge so we would then know which ring retailers to encourage student councils to order their rings from within the state and across the country.
We wrote to Josten’s, they said they would get back to us, and when they did, they stated that they would sign the Bristol Bay Pledge. That was thrilling for us because now the major ring companies will not buy “dirty gold.” We plan to write to the top 10 ring vendors to see if we can get some more signers. But with Josten’s commitment and Balfour, we don’t have to expend our manpower on this aspect of our cause by writing to all the high schools in the country- because Josten’s and Balfour did the right thing when asked. We can concentrate on the countless other ways we need to help stop the mine and promote environmental justice.
It is very important to show appreciation to these companies that have signed the Bristol Bay Protection Pledge and you can thank them by going here. You can also personally sign a pledge that you will not buy dirty gold. We should all write to Native corporations, legislators, the governor, and the President because as soon as people realize that opposition crosses socioeconomic, political party, geographic, and ethnic boundaries, that is when and how this mine will be stopped.
*Written by the Rebels to the Pebble. Check out their website: www.rebelpebble.com
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