The nuuk declaration mandated the organization to meaningfully engage children, youth and elders in the work of icc, to promote circumpolar sharing of inuit specific media including television, radio and social media, and to begin an icc archival initiative to aid transnational inuit unity and cooperative inuit policy making. Northern and indigenous governments will not soon relinquish their dependence on resource revenues andor southern capitals, though there are guidelines, such as the circumpolar inuit declaration on sovereignty in the arctic and that on resource development principles in inuit nunaat in 2009, for economic selfsufficiency that redefine state. Icc works to promote inuit rights, safeguard the arctic environment, and protect and promote the inuit way of life. The declaration provides guidance for icc action and advocacy for the next four years. While the international community argues about sovereignty, security, and resource development at the top of the world, the inuit remind us that they are the original inhabitants of this magnificent place and that it is undergoing a dangerous transformation. Since its founding, icc has become one of the most respected international indigenous. Such definitions are especially relevant in the circumpolar arctic, typically understood as the northern regions of the eight states that have territory above the arctic circle. Our ice is vanishing sikuvut nunguliqtuq a history of inuit. Arctic sovereignty is contested, inuit rights are not the hill times. For canada to assert its sovereignty legitimately in the arctic, it must also ensure that inuit are treated as all other canadians are. A circumpolar inuit declaration on sovereignty in the arctic.
All land, internal waters, territorial seas and eezs in the arctic are under the jurisdiction of one of the eight arctic coastal states. The inuit way of defining the parameters for future arctic governance. While recent accounts of the topic place much emphasis on climate change or a new geopolitics of the region, the history of the inuit circumpolar. Circumpolar inuit launch declaration on arctic sovereignty. Wrights book is an academic study that is nonetheless deeply moving. The establishment of the arctic council was considered an important milestone enhancing cooperation in the circumpolar north. Inter and multinational nongovernmental organization ngo to promote and to ensure rights, interests, and the development of inuit culture and languages. The central thread running through this study is that inuit are a maritime people. However, as we worked to gain our rights nationally and internationally, it also became apparent that the original arctic policy needed revisions and updating for the inuit arctic policy is a living and evolving document. Founded in 1977 by the late eben hopson of barrow, alaska, the inuit circumpolar council an organization dedicated to representing approximately 160,000 inuit in alaska, canada, greenland and chukotka russia celebrated 40 years of service in advancing arctic and inuit issues globally in 2017. Our sense of unity is fostered and celebrated by the inuit circumpolar council icc, which represents the.
Inuit live in the vast, circumpolar region of land, sea and ice known as the arctic. The arctic ice is melting at an alarming rate and inuit have become the direct witnesses. As stated in the circumpolar inuit declaration on sovereignty in the arctic, the inextricable linkages between issues of sovereignty and sovereign rights in the arctic and inuit selfdetermination and other rights require states to accept. Rethinking canadianinuit arctic sovereignty in the face. International law regulates this area as with other portions of the earth. Jul 23, 2018 the utqiagvik declaration being signed by members of the inuit circumpolar councils executive council. The federal government should involve the inuit in canadas arctic sovereignty, as supported by provisions in the 1993 nunavut land. For inuit, it is a highway, a hunting ground, and the platform on which life is lived.
Circumpolar inuit reflections on sea ice use and shipping in. Inuit circumpolar council is a nongovernment organization that represents inuit of canada, alaska, chukotka, and greenland. The rapidity of the melting of summer ice in the arctic over the past five years is. The inuit way of defining the parameters for future arctic governance chapter pdf available january 2011. The sea ice never stops ac archive home arctic council. Baffin island are an important component of canadas arctic sovereignty strategy, there is more than one way to skin a cat, says terry fenge, formerly with the inuit circumpolar conference canada.
This quote from the circumpolar inuit declaration on sovereignty in the arctic adopted by the inuit circumpolar council in 2009 underpins the growing awareness of indigenous peoples of promoting new partnerships that does not view indigenous rights to selfdetermination anymore as detached from shaping political relations and economic development. One of canadas priorities in regards to arctic sovereignty should be to protect the inuit people not only because they are experiencing a loss in culture, but the circumpolar inuit declaration on arctic sovereignty also declares that the inuit have rights to the resources and the land upon which they live on. Wildcat has described as a fourth removal attempt of indigenous people, coming on the heels. Appendix 1 inuit circumpolar council, a circumpolar inuit declaration on sovereignty in the.
We depend on the marine and terrestrial plants and animals supported by the coastal zones of the arctic ocean, the tundra and the sea ice. May 07, 2015 a circumpolar inuit declaration on sovereignty in the arctic 4. Circumpolar arctic synonyms, circumpolar arctic pronunciation, circumpolar arctic translation, english dictionary definition of circumpolar arctic. Circumpolar inuit declaration on arctic sovereignty. May 07, 2015 the inuit circumpolar council icc is an international nongovernment organization representing approximately 150,000 inuit of alaska, canada, greenland, and chukotka russia. This book is an accessible and thorough analysis of the current state of play in the central arctic ocean and its five bordering coastal states, an area where the combination of melting seaice and the growing demand for oil and gas has increased international interest in resource exploration, shipping rights and environmental protection. Even though the inuit population of canadas far north is small, they still play a significant role in arctic sovereignty and must be defended in order to sustain their way of life. Our ice is vanishing sikuvut nunguliqtuq mcgillqueens. Jan 22, 2014 i also agree with shelagh grants view that, of the many definitions of sovereignty, few are relevant to the arctic. Add file editdeletemove section 0 redefining sovereignty and selfdetermination through a declaration of sovereignty. Over 10 years ago, the inuit circumpolar council issued a circumpolar inuit declaration on sovereignty in the arctic. The circumpolar inuit declaration on arctic sovereignty emphasizes the unity of inuit as one people across four countries, and also addresses the unique relationships inuit have within each respective state.
Circumpolar arctic definition of circumpolar arctic by the. Member states and regions of the inuit circumpolar council. The nunavut government, in canadas eastern arctic, says it cant undercut black market cannabis sales without a physical retail store. A circumpolar inuit declaration on sovereignty in the arctic we, the inuit of inuit nunaat, declare as follows. Sovereignty in the arctic, and the icc circumpolar declaration on resource. Stylised motif of a frame drum with a handle and a stick. Inuit circumpolar council, author at lawnow magazine. In 2009, the inuit circumpolar council icc published a circumpolar inuit declaration on sovereignty in the arctic, detailing their view and stance on the matter.
Inuit circumpolar council april 2009 a circumpolar inuit declaration on sovereignty in the arctic. Ellkanayuk pointed to iccs 2009 circumpolar inuit declaration on sovereignty in the arctic which states that, besides an inherent right to selfdetermination, inuit have gained rights through international law, land claims and selfgovernment processes. A circumpolar inuit declaration sovereignty in the arctic. Canadian arctic sovereignty essay 1220 words bartleby. We depend on the marine and terrestrial plants and animals supported by the coastal zones of the. Canada, norway, russia, denmark via greenland, iceland, sweden, finland and the united states. Clearly, the canadian arctic is governed by a diversity of structures, stakeholders and rightsholders that come together to access information and make decisions on issues that span. Circumpolar declaration on sovereignty in the arctic. Canadas claim to sovereignty and leadership in the arctic is founded in its partnership with inuit. Inuit circumpolar council condemns us failure to agree to arctic council declaration. Inuit circumpolar council signs guide for arctic action for. In the ottawa declaration, the eight arctic states established the council as a highlevel forum to provide means for promoting cooperation, coordination and interaction among the arctic states including the full. The circumpolar inuit declaration on sovereignty argues, for example, that the. Inuit and canada share northwest passage sovereignty icc.
The inuit in the canadian arctic are engaged in a centuriesold fight to retain their culture and reestablish selfdetermination and genuine sovereignty. Depending on where the southern borders of the arctic are drawn, the total population living in the circumpolar north amounts to between 4 and 10 million people, of which between 400,000 and 1. The organization holds consultative status ii at the united nations. What arctic sovereignty and security mean is changing rapidly due to the intersection of globalization, climate change and a greater acknowledgment of indigenous rights. Beginning with an examination of the geography, biological and physical systems of the subarctic and arctic, it then turns to the aboriginal and contemporary peoples of the region. In developing this declaration, the inuit circumpolar council icc worked with inuit across the circumpolar arctic over the past six months to. Eye on the arctic report the arctic railway among finalists. Rovaniemi, finland the united states has set an unfortunate precedent by refusing to agree to compromise language that would have allowed the arctic council s finnish chairmanship to issue a final declaration.
For immediate release inuit circumpolar council icc circumpolar inuit launch declaration on arctic sovereignty tromso, norway 28 april 2009 inuit leaders from greenland, canada, alaska, and russia today launched a circumpolar inuit declaration on arctic sovereignty. The inuit circumpolar council icc is an indigenous peoples organization ipo, founded in 1977 to promote and celebrate the unity of 180,000 inuit from alaska usa, canada, greenland, and chukotka russia. Icc canada commends government of canada for unclos. As a case in point, one might ask how to correctly assess the legal status of the ilulissat declaration, issued by the arctic ocean coastal states, which byers contrasts in chapter 7. Instead, sovereignty is relocated from bounded state territories to the process of. We rely on free movement, first and foremost, in order to eat, since so much of our diet is derived from hunting. In particular, inuit in the autonomous territory of nunavut are resisting what american indian studies scholar daniel r. The inuit, the state, and the challenge of arctic sovereignty zellen, barry scott on. The circumpolar declaration on sovereignty in the arctic developed by the inuit circumpolar council icc. Circumpolar inuit commit to development of inuit declaration on sovereignty in the arctic 10 november 2008 ottawa, ontario inuit leaders from greenland, alaska, and canada met in kuujjuaq last week and agreed to develop an inuit declaration on sovereignty in the arctic. Introduction to the circumpolar world introduces students to the landscape, peoples and issues of the circumpolar region.
Inuit as circumpolar people indigenous peoples atlas of canada. Eye on the arctic issues affecting circumpolar nations. The arctic and inuit sovereignty allard research commons. The circumpolar inuit declaration on arctic sovereignty is a document that that states the rights, responsibilities and roles that the inuit have regarding arctic. The inuit, the state, and the challenge of arctic sovereignty. From what is outlined above it seems fair to conclude that indigenous peoples in the arctic have a strong legal and institutional basis for promoting their rights in regard to activities related to lands and waters on territories they traditionally occupy. Christie indigeneity and sovereignty in canadas far north 333 cating matters is the fact that the arctic is, essentially, an oceansubject, for example, more to the united nations law of the sea than to the sov. Redefining sovereignty and selfdetermination through a declaration of sovereignty. Circumpolar inuit commit to development of inuit declaration on sovereignty in the arctic. But the seeds of an inuit independence movement are already planted, as reflected in the past springs circumpolar inuit declaration on arctic sovereignty, which stopped short of declaring independence but established a compelling legal, historical, and political context for such a declaration to later emerge. Media and reports inuit circumpolar council canada. Circumpolar inuit launch declaration on arctic sovereignty inuit. Introduction arctic development, in theory and in practice. Try searching on jstor for other items related to this book.
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