Sampling whale meat at an Inuit festival

Indigenous Inuit living on the edge of the Arctic Ocean fear new oil drilling could destroy their unique way of life, but many Alaskans believe the Arctic's energy reserves could be economically and politically important.

The BBC's Rajesh Mirchandani visited the Arctic town of Barrow during the traditional spring whale-hunting festival of Naluqatak.

Twice a year, Inuit communities like the one in Barrow hunt whale.

It is legal and not commercial, and tolerated by many environmental groups as being an intrinsic part of subsistence culture.

Rajesh Mirchandani sampled some of the food on offer at the festival held to celebrate the catch.