The Arctic Council

Northern Public Affairs Volume 2, Issue 1 September 2013 ᓈᓚᑲᐃᓐᓇᖁᔨᔾᔪᑎ ᐅᓕᒪᐅᑎᒥᒃ ᑐᓂᓯᓯᒪᓕᕐᓂᖅ Sweden hands over the gavel TEPPO TAURIAINEN Saami expectations for Canada’s Chairmanship GUNN-BRITT RETTER Compromise at Kiruna TERRY FENGE THE Arctic The challenge of Indigenous participation JIM GAMBLE COUNCIL Yukon & the Arctic Council CURRIE DIXON Canada takes the lead Securing the Arctic? As the Council’s influence grows, we ask what Canada’s Chairmanship WILFRID Greaves means for Northerners, Indigenous peoples, & the environment. Sustainable development in Norway’s High North EDWARD ALLEN reflects on Calder’s 40th anniversary MONA ELISABETH BRØTHER An interview with JOHN ENGLISH about his new book Ice and Water: Politics, Peoples, and the Arctic Council Giant Mine: Reviewing the review board THOMAS ANGUTI JOHNSTON on hearing Inuit youth: KEVIN O’REILLY Uqausiqsaqarama. Ippigijavut makkuktuujutigut puiguqtauqungitavut. Canada $9.99 northernpublicaffairs.ca “I strongly feel, however, that it is time to make sure that science is directly relevant and is for the benefit of Northerners. We must make sure that we apply the findings of that research in concrete, practical ways, that will help the well-being and prosperity of the people living in the Arctic.” — The Hon. Leona Aglukkaq speaking at the Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting in Kiruna, Sweden, May 15, 2013. Northern Public Affairs September 2013 FEATURES LETTER FROM THE EDITORS Arctic Council rising 4 OVERHEARD Kiruna Declaration 6 FOLIO: KIRUNA 2013 10 LETTER FROM BRITISH COLUMBIA Reflections on the 40th Anniversary 14 of the Calder decision Edward Allen IN CONVERSATION Professor John English 22 ARTICLES ARCTIC COUNCIL ARCTIC COUNCIL Handing over the gavel: 30 Norway and the Arctic: The importance of 52 Reflections on Sweden’s Chairmanship knowledge for sustainable development of the Arctic Council Mona Elisabeth Brøther Teppo Tauriainen Bold steps needed to support Indigenous 55 ᓈᓚᑲᐃᓐᓇᖁᔨᔾᔪᑎ ᐅᓕᒪᐅᑎᒥᒃ 33 participation at the Arctic Council ᑐᓂᓯᓯᒪᓕᕐᓂᖅ : Jim Gamble ᓱᕖᑕᓐᒥᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᒃᓯᕙᐅᑕᕆᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᓂᖃᖅᑐᑦ Canada, circumpolar security, 58 Teppo Tauriainen & the Arctic Council Wilfrid Greaves Saami expectations for the Canadian 37 Chairmanship of the Arctic Council ENVIRONMENT Gunn-Britt Retter Reviewing the review board: Was the Giant 63 Mine environmental assessment a success? Inuit youth have a voice 41 Kevin O’Reilly Thomas Anguti Johnston RESEARCH NOTES Canada & the Kiruna Declaration 43 Five lessons from five weeks in Ulukhatok 68 Terry Fenge Linnaea Jasiuk Yukon & the Arctic Council 48 Hon. Currie Dixon FEATURES LETTER FROM THE EDITORS Arctic Council rising Sheena Kennedy and Jerald Sabin Photo credit: Arctic Council Arctic credit: Photo hen the Arctic Council was founded in 1996, access to resources previously locked under the Arc- Wits focus was the environment. In signing the tic’s now rapidly melting ice, and the world’s ma- Ottawa Declaration, the Arctic States — comprising jor powers have turned their attention towards the Canada, the United States, Iceland, Norway, Swe- Circumpolar North. Since 2011, twelve non-Arc- den, Finland, and Russia — agreed to create a “high tic countries have been admitted to the Council as level forum to provide a means for promoting co- permanent observers, including France, Germany, operation, coordination and interaction…on com- and the United Kingdom. Most recently, economic mon Arctic issues, in particular issues of sustainable superpowers Japan, India, and China were granted development and environmental protection in the observer status. Arctic.” Institutionally, the Arctic Council was much What has emerged is a bold vision for the Coun- more. By having Northern and Indigenous peoples cil’s role in world politics. The Arctic Council is as active participants in the organization, the Coun- now the premier forum for international diploma- cil has become a leader in engaging non-state actors cy and dialogue on issues of importance to Arctic on issues of international importance. peoples and nations. But the Council was not always As interest in the Arctic has grown, however, the so prominent internationally. It was only in 2011 Council has changed. Climate change has opened that a United States Secretary of State, then Hillary new opportunities for oceanic transportation, cut- Rodham Clinton, attended a meeting of the Arctic ting shipping times between Europe, Asia, and Council. Previously, the Arctic Council had hosted beyond. The changing climate has also increased junior ministers or bureaucrats. According to Profes- Arctic Council ministerial meetings at Kiruna, Sweden. (L-R): Erkki Tuomioja (Finland), John Kerry (United States), Leona Aglukkaq (Canada), Carl Bildt (Sweden), Villy Søvndal (Denmark), Espen Barth Eide (Norway), Hermann Örn Ingólfsson (Iceland). sor John English, interviewed in this issue, it may not to addressing climate change and its implications for be long before Arctic heads of government meet to the people of the Arctic remains to be seen. It is no discuss issues of common interest, a reflection on the secret that Canada’s international reputation on cli- increased attention to the Arctic. The Arctic Coun- mate change and the environment has suffered in cil is filling the diplomatic void where no other inter- recent years. The world will now be watching closely national organization has cared, or dared, to go. But as Canada leads the Council. what does this bolder Council mean for Indigenous This issue of Northern Public Affairs brings to- peoples and the environment? gether a wide array of voices on the Arctic Coun- One of the Arctic Council’s defining features has cil. Gunn-Britt Retter, James Gamble, and Thomas been the central role played by Indigenous peoples Anguti Johnston, bring Indigenous and youth per- and communities. Indigenous groups from across the spectives on the Arctic Council. The Honourable Circumpolar North are represented on the Council Currie Dixon writes about Yukon’s place in the cir- as Permanent Participants — a unique institutional cumpolar world and what the Arctic Council means feature seen in few other international organizations. for all Northern Canadians. Ambassador Mona As Canadian Ambassador for Circumpolar Affairs, Elizabeth Brøther (Norway) stresses the importance Inuit leader Mary Simon was instrumental in the of investing in the development of knowledge in and establishment of the Arctic Council, and her vision about the Circumpolar North. Ambassador Teppo along with the others who worked alongside her is Tauriainen (Sweden) reflects on Sweden’s Chair- reflected in the Council’s structure and activities. As manship of the Arctic Council between 2011-2013. the organization grows, recalling these founding mo- Terry Fenge and Wilfrid Greaves comment on the ments will be increasingly important. challenges and opportunities that lay ahead for the In May 2013, Canada took over as Chair of the Council and its work. Arctic Council from Sweden. What is exciting about In closing, we would like to take this opportunity Canada’s turn as Chair is the appointment of the to thank all of our contributors, readers, institutional Honourable Leona Aglukkaq to the position. Minis- partners, staff, and supporters for seeing us through ter Aglukkaq is the first Indigenous chair of the Arc- our first year. This issue marks the beginning of our tic Council — a development Aglukkaq herself says second year, and the second volume of Northern Public signals “a new era” for the organization. The theme Affairs. In 2012, we set out to create space for a new of Canada’s chairmanship is “development for the conversation on issues affecting Northern Canadi- people of the North,” including “responsible Arctic ans, and through your enthusiasm and support, this resource development, safe Arctic shipping and sus- conversation has begun. ◉ tainable circumpolar communities.” These are laud- able goals, although climate change is notably absent Sheena Kennedy is a Founding Editor of Northern Public Af- from the list — an omission made more curious by fairs and a PhD Candidate in the School of Public Policy the recent federal cabinet shuffle. Whether Agluk- and Administration at Carleton University. Jerald Sabin is a kaq’s dual role as Minister of the Environment at Founding Editor of Northern Public Affairs at a PhD Can- home and Minister to the Arctic Council will usher didate in the Department of Political Science at the University in a new era with respect to Canada’s commitment of Toronto. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! Three issues for $28 (plus GST/HST where applicable) First issue mails Volume 2, Issue 2. Subscribe online at www.northernpublicaffairs.ca. OVERHEARD Kiruna Declaration This past May, Canada assumed the Chairmanship of the Arctic Council at a ministerial meeting in Kiruna, Sweden. Members of the Arctic Council signed the following Declaration. Improving economic and social conditions Recognize the central role of business in the development of the Arctic, and decide to increase coopera- tion and interaction with the business community to advance sustainable development in the Arctic, Welcome the Arctic Council’s work on corpo- rate social responsibility and sustainable business, and encourage enterprises operating in the Arctic to respect international guidelines and principles, Recognize that Arctic economic endeavors are e, the Ministers representing the eight Arctic integral to sustainable development for peoples and W States, joined by the representatives of the six communities in the region,

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