International Relations & Indigenous Diplomacies in the ArcticFor the wonderful educators at the

92nd National Council for the Social Studies Annual ConferenceConsulate General of Canada, Seattle – 15 November 2012

by Nadine C. Fabbi, Canadian Studies Center, Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington

Lost in the Storm, 2001Napachie Pootoogook

Arctic Council Members, Nuuk, Greenland, May 2011

1. Arctic Council (nation-states & indigenous organizations)2. Inuit Circumpolar Council (recent political activity)3. Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (domestic Inuit political voice)

Analysis (policy, territory, customary law)

Arctic Circle - parallel of latitude – approx. 66˚1/6th of earth’s surface4 million people / 400,000 indigenous(almost 7 million Washington State; 4.5 million B.C.)

map image from The Vanishing Arctic, by Bryan and Cherry Alexander, 1996.

Arctic Council, 1996Murmansk Speech, 1987

1. Russia2. Canada3. United States4. Denmark (Greenland)5. Norway6. Finland7. Sweden8. Iceland

Cartographer / Designer, Philippe Rekacewicz, 2005

Permanent Participants

International Indigenous Organizations

1. Saami Council2. Inuit Circumpolar Council3. Russian Association of

Indigenous Peoples of the North

4. Aleut International Association

5. Gwich’in Council International

6. Arctic Athabascan Council

Cartographer / Designer, Philippe Rekacewicz, 2005

Cartographer / Designer, Philippe Rekacewicz, 2005

9,000

18,000

40,000

155,000

70,000

250,000

Permanent Participants

Over 500,000

International Indigenous Organizations

1. Saami Council, 19562. Inuit Circumpolar Council,

19773. Russian Association of

Indigenous Peoples of the North, 1990

4. Aleut International Association, 1998

5. Gwich’in Council International, 1999

6. Arctic Athabascan Council, 2000

Cartographer / Designer, Philippe Rekacewicz, 2005

map image from The Vanishing Arctic, by Bryan and Cherry Alexander, 1996.

Arctic Council, 1996Council Members

1. Russia2. Canada3. United States4. Denmark (Greenland)5. Norway6. Finland7. Sweden8. Iceland

Permanent Observers1. France2. Germany3. Netherlands4. Poland 5. Spain6. United Kingdom

Currently ApplyingChinaItalyJapanSouth KoreaSingaporeIndia

European Union, 2009

Brazil

European Union (2009)- 27 member states- three Arctic- Denmark, Sweden, Finland- Iceland

The Arctic Council… was formed to promote co-operation and co-ordination and interaction in regards to member states in the Arctic. What [the] European Union is trying to do is not those.

Eva Aariak, Premier of Nunavut

Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health

Permanent Observers1. France2. Germany3. Netherlands4. Poland 5. Spain6. United Kingdom

Permanent Observers – Intergovernmental Organizations (9)International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent SocietiesInternational Union for the Conservation of NatureNordic Council of MinistersNordic Environment Finance CorporationNorth Atlantic Marine Mammal CommissionStanding Committee of the Parliamentarians of the Arctic RegionUnited Nations Economic Commission for EuropeUnited Nations Development ProgramUnited Nations Environment Program Permanent Observers – Non-Governmental Organizations (11)Advisory Committee on Protection of the SeasArctic Circumpolar GatewayAssociation of World Reindeer HerdersCircumpolar Conservation UnionInternational Arctic Science CommitteeInternational Arctic Social Sciences AssociationInternational Union for Circumpolar HealthInternational Work Group for Indigenous AffairsNorthern ForumUniversity of the ArcticWorld Wide Fund for Nature-Global Arctic Program

UNIVERSITY OF THE ARCTIC

2001

Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment

Permanent Secretariat, 2013

Fram CentreNorwegian Polar Institute Tromsø, Norway

Nuuk, Greenland, 2011 – policy-shaping to policy making

Inuit Circumpolar Council- influence on shipping policy- influence on politics of climate change- contribution to international foreign policy

Inuit(s)

Inuk

(Qallunaat)

From The Vanishing Arctic, by Bryan and Cherry Alexander, 1996 – “Ituko frosted up”

Inuit – 150,000

Greenland (55,000)

Alaska (50,000)

Canada (45,000)

Russia (2,000)

Inuit Circumpolar Council, 1977

Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment

Mandate- opportunities and threats to the Arctic marine and coastal environments

Arctic Council &International Arctic Science Committee, 2004

Sheila Watt-Cloutier, President Inuit Circumpolar Council, 2002-06

Kuujjuak, Nunavik, Québec

10 December 1948

- first major legal challenge to nation-state sovereignty

- 7 December 2005, Inter-American Commission for Human Rights- charges US for human rights abuses, ¼ greenhouse 5% population- violation of the cultural and environmental rights of Inuit as guaranteed in Declaration (1948)

Sheila Watt-Cloutier

This was the first international legal action on climate change.The Inuit effectively transformed the politics of climate change.The Inuit put a human face on climate change.

© 2005-08, Geology.com, produced by Brad Cole

Canada 2000/2010

Finland 2010

Norway 2006/2009

Russia 2008

U.S. 1994/2009

Denmark 2008

Iceland 2011 Sweden 2011

© 2005-08, Geology.com, produced by Brad Cole

Canada 2000/2010

Finland 2010

Norway 2006/2009

Russia 2008

U.S. 1994/2009

Denmark 2008

Iceland 2011 Sweden 2011

ICC, 2009ICC, 2011

“Sovereignty … used to refer to the absolute and independent authority of a community or nation … Sovereignty is a contested concept, however … old ideas of sovereignty are breaking down as different governance models, such as the European Union, evolve.” Article 2.1

“Many international law principles and standards in relation to indigenous peoples are rooted in the strong conviction that the development and preservation of human cultural diversity is both a responsibility and a benefit for all humanity. The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples acknowledges that indigenous peoples have the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their language, traditional knowledge and cultural heritage and expressions.” Article 10.1

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami- land claims- new map, new name- application new concept territory domestic/international policy

35,000,0001,200,000

45,000

Inuit Land Use & Occupancy Project, 1976

1993

2005

1975

1984

Inuit Nunaat, 2005Inuit Nunangat, 2009

Canada’s Northern Strategy: Our North, Our Heritage, Our Future26 July 2009

New concepts of territory

“Inuit find it unacceptable that a map labeled 'Canada's North' on pages six and

seven leaves out all the Inuit communities in Nunavik (Northern Quebec) - where I live - as well as those in Nunatsiavut (Northern

Labrador).”

Mary Simon, PresidentInuit Tapiriit Kanatami

Inuit Nunaat, 2005Inuit Nunangat, 2009

Northwest Passage

Thank you! Merci! Nakurmiik!