Jul 14, 2011 the ilulissat declaration made in 2007 essentially stated that arctic nations including canada would not have any armed conflict over the area but work out sovereignty issues legally. Over 10 years ago, the inuit circumpolar council issued a circumpolar inuit declaration on sovereignty in. Honnelands edited book, handbook of the politics of the arctic to be. A few years later, in inukjuak, i learned that sfu is the inuit texting acronym for snowmobile fucked up, and that poos is the acronym for passed out on snowmobile. The inuit, the state, and the challenge of arctic sovereignty. Oct 11, 2016 the inuit in the canadian arctic are engaged in a centuriesold fight to retain their culture and reestablish selfdetermination and genuine sovereignty. The inuit people are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the arctic regions of greenland, canada, and the united states.
Thank you for the introduction and my sincere appreciation for the opportunity to participate in this workshop. On thin ice explores the relationship between the inuit and the modern state in the vast but lightly populated north american arctic. Instead, sovereignty is relocated from bounded state territories to the process of. Arctic sovereignty videos and latest news articles. 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. Climate change and rising oil prices have thrust the arctic to the top of the foreign policy agenda and raised difficult issues of sovereignty, security and environmental protection. The inuit in the canadian arctic are engaged in a centuriesold fight to retain their culture and reestablish selfdetermination and genuine sovereignty. The arctic ice is melting at an alarming rate and inuit have become the direct witnesses. Inuit leader demands input on arctic sovereignty the canadian president of the inuit circumpolar council says hes worried canadian and u. Inuit declaration 2009 a circumpolar inuit declaration on sovereignty in the arctic, adopted by the inuit circumpolar council. Inuit rights to the arctic ocean ice challenges the sovereign claims of five arctic coastal states as well as other states trying gain access to the resources in the arctic ocean. The circumpolar declaration on sovereignty in the arctic developed by the inuit circumpolar council icc.
I also agree with shelagh grants view that, of the many definitions of sovereignty, few are relevant to the arctic. In particular, inuit in the autonomous territory of nunavut are resisting what american indian studies scholar daniel r. Also of consolation to canada is that despite the physical effects of climate change on the arctic, it does not affect canadas sovereignty claims to the. The arctic is a place of unfound possibilities and potential opportunities, to the point that five countries have laid claim to much of the region. The data can be used to define the boundaries of the continental shelf in the arctic ocean and will part of the canadas case to the united. Learn about the inuit, discussing their history, dress, survival skills, society, and more. The inuit languages are classified in the eskimoaleut family. Icc will also promote the inuit declaration on sovereignty in the arctic, protect and promote inuit rights and way of life. The 2009 circumpolar inuit declaration of sovereignty in the arctic is a radical document for international relations because it presents an alternate theory of sovereignty, which fundamentally violates the norms of sovereignty exclusivity and equality. A circumpolar inuit declaration on sovereignty in the arctic 2009 arctic waters pollution prevention act 1970 european union conclusions on arctic issues 2009 ilulissat declaration, may 28, 2008. An exercise of sovereignty as an arctic state and founding member of the arctic council, 8 canada will be involved in the global dispute regarding territorial claims and the rights and responsibilities of states in the arctic region. Inuit identity and sovereignty are conceived by the icc. The ilulissat declaration made in 2007 essentially stated that arctic nations including canada would not have any armed conflict over the area but work out sovereignty issues legally.
Inuit leaders to work on arctic rights declaration cbc news. 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. Jun 17, 2010 two new books, both of which draw on some of this scholarship, give us a stark sense of the discrepancy between canadas huge arctic geography and ottawas comparatively tiny involvement in the north. Our sense of unity is fostered and celebrated by the inuit circumpolar council icc, which represents the inuit of denmark. Circumpolar inuit launch declaration on arctic sovereignty. The arctic and inuit sovereignty article pdf available in south atlantic quarterly 1102 april 2011 with 76 reads how we measure reads. Finally, the chukchi people, still earlier, descended from the third major migration from siberia. If canada is to assert their sovereignty in the arctic.
Resource development and arctic sovereignty 4 appendix b. 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 state of canadas arctic sovereignty and security is detailed in this video produced by michael mitchell as a component of his ma in conflict analysis and management studies at royal roads. Circumpolar inuit declaration on arctic sovereignty. But, in the high arctic, inuit were forced to abandon their hunting and whaling sites as bowhead whales disappeared from canada and greenland. Hutchins, which has been examining the rights of inuit in the arctic ocean and canadas arctic sovereignty. In the united states, the term eskimo was commonly used to describe inuit, and other arctic peoples, because it includes both of. 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.
An introduction to inuit rights and arctic sovereignty. All land, internal waters, territorial seas and eezs in the arctic are under the jurisdiction of one of the eight arctic coastal states. During the cold war, arctic security was inseparable from national security, nuclear deterrence and the bipolar rivalry between the american and soviet superpowers. Between the right to self determination and a new concept of sovereignty. Inuit live in the vast, circumpolar region of land, sea and ice known as the arctic. May 28, 2008 the ilulissat declaration arctic ocean conference, ilulissat, greenland, 27 29 may 2008 at the invitation of the danish minister for foreign affairs and the premier of greenland, representatives of the five coastal states bordering on the arctic ocean canada, denmark, norway, the russian federation and the united states of america met at the political level on 28 may 2008 in. The arctic and inuit sovereignty allard research commons.
Inuit circumpolar council acclaims new leader nunatsiaq news. Claims to tribal sovereignty in the arctic, titled on thin ice. United nations declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples undrip, all of which are relevant to sovereignty and sovereign rights in the arctic. This paper compares four maps produced by the canadian government and inuit tapiriit kanatami, the indigenous peoples organisation representing inuit living in the four recognised inuit regions inuit nunangat of canada. International law regulates this area as with other portions of the earth. A circumpolar inuit declaration on sovereignty in the arctic 303. Between the right to selfdetermination and a new concept of sovereignty. Canada, norway, russia, denmark via greenland, iceland, sweden, finland and the. Aug 30, 2019 arctic sovereignty is a key part of canadas history and future 40 per cent of the countrys landmass is in its three northern territories, and the country has 162,000 kilometers km of arctic coastline. The bedrock of canadas status as an arctic nation is the history of use and occupation of arctic lands and waters by inuit for thousands of years. Inuit circumpolar council april 2009 a circumpolar inuit declaration on sovereignty in the arctic. The inuit declaration on sovereignty in the arctic. Read the inuit declaration on sovereignty in the arctic. Resource development and arctic sovereignty timeline 1800s the most valuable resources found in the arctic at this time were whales, fish, furs and the ivory tusks of narwhals and walrus.
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. American indian series allows readers to experience what makes each american indian people distinctive and exceptional. As the arctic opens up to exploration and economic development, a new stage in colonization looms. Mary simon, president of inuit tapiriit kanatami, the national inuit organization, conducted a canadawide tour late in 2007 to engage and inform canadians on arctic sovereignty and to gain public support for inuit involvement in this issue. This morning, i want to revisit the first chapter of my book, polar imperative. They had split from the related aleut group about 4000 years ago and from northeastern siberian migrants.
In the context of the cold war, canada sent inuit families to the far north in the high arctic relocation, partly to establish territoriality. Legal documents pdf published version download 228kb. The hardcover of the our ice is vanishing sikuvut nunguliqtuq. The arctic consists of land, internal waters, territorial seas, exclusive economic zones eezs and high seas above the arctic circle 66 degrees 33 minutes north latitude.
These inuit had to subsist on a much poorer diet, and lost access to the essential raw materials for their tools and architecture which they had previously derived from whaling. This essay builds toward a vision of arctic nationstates meeting with the inuit to work out how they might together come to an understanding of how decisions about the future of the arctic may be appropriately made. Cold comfort in arctic sovereignty ottawa life magazine. The canadian monarch, queen elizabeth ii, accompanied by the duke of edinburgh, prince charles, and princess anne, undertook in 1970 a tour of northern canada.
A circumpolar inuit declaration on sovereignty in the arctic 2009 arctic waters pollution prevention act 1970 european union conclusions on arctic issues 2009 ilulissat declaration, may 28. The geographical extent of inuit land and resource use in the arctic has. Inuit declaration on sovereignty and arctic domestic policy in. It chronicles the aspiration of the inuit to participate in. Who owns the arctic ilulissat declaration, may 28, 2008. 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.
Canadian arctic sovereignty essay 1220 words bartleby. There are many inuit communities along the nwp that should not be discounted by the size of their population. The inuit, the state, and the challenge of arctic sovereignty by barry scott zellen author. Two new books, both of which draw on some of this scholarship, give us a stark sense of the discrepancy between canadas huge arctic geography and.
The first article in the declaration states that the inuit living in the arctic depend heavily upon the natural resources that obtain from the land and sea circumpolar. The inuit, the state and author books cirque journal a circumpolar inuit declaration on sovereignty in the arctic. The itk position is profoundly basic and clear inuit are the strongest sovereignty card canada has, but it doesnt use it effectively. How do the inuit in canada and internationally define their homeland, and what is.
The rapidity of the melting of summer ice in the arctic over the past five years is. The traditional view of arctic security focuses on military defence, especially the protection of national borders and the assertion of state sovereignty over arctic land and water. Over 10 years ago, the inuit circumpolar council issued a circumpolar inuit declaration on sovereignty in the arctic. May 07, 2015 robin campbell is a lawyer with hutchins legal inc. For immediate release inuit circumpolar council icc circumpolar inuit launch declaration on arctic sovereig nty tromso, norway 28 april 2009 inuit leaders from greenland, canada, alaska, and russia today launched a circumpolar inuit declaration on arctic sovereignty. 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.
Canada, norway, russia, denmark via greenland, iceland, sweden, finland and the united states. Try searching on jstor for other items related to this book. In fact, these disputes are serious enough that politicians have advocated for increased military presence to enforce their sovereignty in the arctic. Appendix 1 inuit circumpolar council, a circumpolar inuit declaration on sovereignty in the. Pdf indigeneity and sovereignty in canadas far north. The people who live in these areas, which the state considers to be outside the canadian arctic, are marginalised within arctic public policy in terms of access to federal funds, determination of land use, and a sense of social belonging to the canadian arctic. Inuit leader demands input on arctic sovereignty cbc news. Inuit view on canadas arctic sovereignty arctic journal. Arctic sovereignty is contested, inuit rights are not the hill times. Formerly an editor at the educational publisher weekly reader, michael burgan has been a freelance writer for 17 years. On 7 november, international inuit day, we expressed unity in our concerns over arctic sovereignty. Inuit nunaat as an emerging region in area studies. An inuit leader says the federal government needs to actively engage the people of the canadian north on the issue of arctic sovereignty and security.
In 2008, mary simon, the national president of inuit tapiriit kanatami, canadas national inuit organization, embarked on a crosscanada speaking tour to explain to canadians that. Wildcat has described as a fourth removal attempt of indigenous people, coming on the heels. The cultural struggle faced by the inuits is presented as they work to survive in the modern world while still trying to preserve. 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. The arctic is indeed part of our history, as the prime minister noted, and a robust understanding of previous sovereignty and security thinking, policy, and practices should inform our assessment of policy options, probable future scenarios, and the feasibility of proposed courses of action. For inuit, it is a highway, a hunting ground, and the platform on which life is lived. The sea ice never stops ac archive home arctic council. Jan 22, 2014 i also agree with shelagh grants view that, of the many definitions of sovereignty, few are relevant to the arctic. A circumpolar inuit declaration on sovereignty in the arctic 2009 arctic waters pollution prevention act 1970 european union conclusions on arctic. The circumpolar inuit declaration on arctic sovereignty is a document that that states the rights, responsibilities and roles that the inuit have regarding arctic sovereignty. A circumpolar inuit declaration on sovereignty in the arctic 1.
Unspecified 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. Our analysis is based on publicly available maps, documents, and records and extends the rich existing literature examining the history of definitions of the canadian north. Improved access for shipping and resource development is leading to new international rules on safety, pollution prevention and emergency response. There is far more to the world of the inuits than cold temperatures and snow. Inuit are the descendants of what anthropologists call the thule culture, who emerged from western alaska, after crossing the land bridge from asia also called beringia, around ce and spread eastwards across the arctic. He has written more than 250 books for children and young adults, specializing in u. Readers explore inuit history from the first arctic dwellers to the present.
By not working with inuit, canada is missing an opportunity to strengthen its rights in the arctic ocean, as inuit historical use and occupancy of the arctic is a strong argument for canadas sovereignty in the region. Inuit are the descendants of what anthropologists call the thule people, who emerged from western alaska around ce. Inuit representatives concerned about arctic sovereignty and other issues affecting the north plan to draft a declaration on the rights of arctic peoples that they will present to the united nations. American history paperback kevin cunningham, peter benoit on. For canada to assert its sovereignty legitimately in the arctic, it must also ensure that inuit are treated as all other canadians are. 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. Wrights book is an academic study that is nonetheless deeply moving, clearly. Canadian arctic sovereignty the canadian encyclopedia. A circumpolar inuit declaration on sovereignty in the arctic. Robin is part of the hutchins legal team, led by peter w.
The inuit, the state, and the challenge of arctic sovereignty zellen, barry scott on. Wildcat has described as a fourth removal attempt of indigenous. In this book, readers discover the incredible ways these people have learned to thrive in their harsh climate. Circumpolar declaration on sovereignty in the arctic inuit tapiriit. 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. Our ice is vanishing sikuvut nunguliqtuq mcgillqueens.
117 1586 1464 394 254 1302 665 344 1349 1500 798 124 854 530 1189 288 136 424 1133 788 598 173 210 1094 759 1431 955 56 1521 318 661 787 1468 945 1354 455 649 18