Research, Guidance, and Relations

Resolution for Stronger and More Lasting Protection of Tribal Subsistence Resources in the Northern Bering Sea and to Ensure Tribal Self-Determination for Decisions Impacting These Resources

The goals of the Workshop were threefold: (1) to share information gathered through the Arctic Council project with the communities; (2) gain insights that can be shared with the Arctic Council project on best practices emanating from the Gwich’in Settlement Area; and (3) provide an opportunity to build capacity and facilitate discussions amongst those involved in Environmental Impact Assessments.

This report surveys options for Indigenous groups based on three models and case studies from the Canadian experience. This work is intended to assist Indigenous groups throughout the Arctic and beyond in deciding whether and how to establish their own Indigenous-led impact assessment processes over resource development in their homelands.

These fundamental principles on Traditional Knowledge will strengthen the Arctic Council and advance its objectives by supporting the active participation of Permanent Participants. Traditional Knowledge has been formally recognized by the Arctic Council as important to understanding the Arctic in numerous Ministerial Declarations, including the 1996 Ottawa Declaration on the establishment of the Arctic Council.

The Working Together: Towards Relevant Environmental Monitoring & Research in the NWT document was developed by the Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program (CIMP) and the Aurora Research Institute (ARI) as a guide to help the NWT research and monitoring community improve the significance and success of their programs by working more effectively with community partners. 

For the May 2021 workshop, we wanted to hear from all of the Tribal participants about things they think are working and things that are not working with regard to how research is carried out in the Bering Strait region. This includes all types of research - for example, vessel-based research like marine mammal studies or trawl research; tagging of animals; research that involves deploying instruments in the water or air; research that involves interviewing community members or documenting Traditional Knowledge and other community information; and so on.

The Saami Council has worked on Arctic issues since its early days. Seeing an increased national and international focus on the Arctic, the Saami Council has identified a need for an Arctic strategy to guide its work in this important area. This Arctic strategy aims to establish the Saami Council as an active partner for the civil Sámi society, governments, NGOs, IGOs, and others that, through international cooperation, will build a strong and sustainable Sápmi in the Arctic

The 21. Saami conference, represented by the Saami Council member organizations, gathered in Tråante (Trondheim) 9.-11. February 2017 on the occasion of the centennial jubilee of the first national Saami Conference, thank Tråante for our stay and states that: The Saami people have the rights described below; All requirements and positions presented below are in line with current or in any case rapidly developing rules of international law; Commits to work for these rights to be realized, and requires that States inside Sáami do the same.

Over the years, the Inuit Arctic Policy has become the main document for development on many issues in the Arctic and has contributed significantly in numerous ways as the Arctic has changed profoundly since the beginning of this work. Arctic states and others are invited to join with Inuit in the ongoing challenge of building and carrying out a common Arctic vision that is clearly supportive of the Arctic environment and beneficial to humankind.

As declared by the Inuit of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Chukotka on the occasion of the 13th General Assembly of the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) from 16-19 July 2018 in Utqiaagvik, Alaska, and in the context of the Assembly theme: Inuit - The Arctic We Want