Indigenous groups need greater influence in Arctic Council says Inuit org
Indigenous groups on the Arctic Council need greater influence and meaningful participation in the forum, the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) said in a position paper on Monday.
ICC is one of six Arctic Indigenous groups, referred to as permanent participants, that make up the international forum along with the eight circumpolar countries.
Among their six recommendations is greater recognition of Indigenous knowledge in the Council as well as capacity and funding for Inuit research initiatives.
“For ICC, it is important that the Arctic Council continues to evolve in a direction that further enhances the role of Inuit and other Indigenous Peoples and supports our inherent right to self-determination,” ICC Chair Sara Olsvig said in a statement on Saturday.
Work renewal time to rethink forum: ICC
Arctic Council work was put on hold by the seven western states on the forum after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But as Norway took over the rotating two-year chairmanship from Russia in 2023, it’s slowly been working to navigate a way towards resuming work.
Earlier this year, the forum announced the council’s working groups would be resuming virtual meetings.
Olsvig said the resumption of work after the pause is a chance for the Arctic Council to evolve and take the lead in supporting Indigenous self-determination.
“ICC has over the past two years worked collaboratively and pragmatically with Arctic States and other Indigenous Peoples’ Organizations to support the resumption of work,” she said.
“Now it is time to strengthen the way the Arctic Council works, to ensure Indigenous Peoples’ full and effective participation and meaningful engagement throughout the Council’s work.”
ICC’s position paper laid out six recommendations for the Arctic Council:
- Strengthened member country support and accountability to the permanent participants
- Bolstered youth involvement.
- Full recognition of Indigenous Knowledge in working groups
- Move beyond token gestures and ensure meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples in all forum activities
- Ensure there’s a general understanding of why Indigenous Peoples’ involvement in the Arctic Council matters
- Create opportunities, provide resources, and secure funding for research led by Inuit
“With this position paper, ICC wants to support a positive development in the Arctic Council,” Olsvig said.
“The current Norwegian Chairship, as well as the incoming Kingdom of Denmark Chairship hold crucial responsibilities on behalf of all Arctic nations and Peoples to safeguard the Arctic Council as a governance body, and ICC will continue to support these collective efforts.”
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