Interior Secretary Sally Jewell will make her first trip to Alaska this week and will meet with residents of a Native village.

Jewell will be in the village of King Cove on Friday. Residents there are seeking federal approval for a road that would connect their community to an airport on the other side of the bay.

The road is controversial because it would cut through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge. But villagers say it's a matter of life and death.

Assistant Secretary Kevin Washburn, the head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, visited the village in June. He is leading a consultation effort to learn more about the need for the road.

Jewell's visit also includes a stop at the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. She will spend the night there over the weekend, according to a media advisory.

Jewell will remain in Alaska through Tuesday, September 3.

Get the Story:
Media Advisory: Secretary Jewell to Travel to Alaska (DOI 8/27)
Cabinet members tackle controversies in Alaska (The Washington Post 8/27)
Interior Secretary Jewell to spend a night in ANWR (Alaska Dispatch 8/27)

Get the Story:
Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich: Save lives with a road from King Cove to Cold Bay (The Anchorage Daily News 8/26)

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Bruce Babbitt: Jewell must deny road for Alaska Native village (5/3)
Sally Jewell spent weeks learning about Interior Department (4/30)
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BIA takes role on controversial road for Alaska Native village (03/22)