ICC Holds First In-Person International Inuit Gathering following Global Pandemic

July 10, 2023 – Nuuk, Greenland – The Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) will hold its first in-person international gathering of Inuit leaders in five years in Ilulissat, Greenland, from July 17-19.

ICC normally holds a General Assembly every four years. Due to the pandemic, the 2022 General Assembly was held as a hybrid meeting. This year’s gathering is being called be a Delegates Meeting – an opportunity to reflect on ICC’s progress, take note of recent developments, further develop ICC work plans, as well as celebrate our unity and culture.

“We are looking forward to hosting the Inuit delegates travelling to Ilulissat next week,” said ICC Chair Sara Olsvig. “ICC Greenland and the municipality of Avannaata Kommunia have been planning this for many years, and unfortunately the pandemic delayed the in-person event. Gathering as Inuit contributes to the original vision of unity across our Inuit homeland – Inuit Nunaat. We gain strength
from meeting each other, from both our discussions and sharing our culture. Our fellow Inuit from Chukotka will be with us online, as they will not be able to travel from Russia at this time, due to the war in Ukraine.”

The continuing COVID-19 pandemic led to ICC holding its 14th assembly virtually last year. The three-day ICC Delegates meeting will focus on five priority themes: 1) Internal ICC Governance Structure 2) Marine Governance 3) Hunting and Food Security 4) Infrastructure Deficit, and 5) International Decade on Indigenous Languages.

Major ICC gatherings are always a combination of ceremony, discussion, debate, traditions, and business during the day, combined with a proud celebration of Inuit culture in the evenings. They are powerful gatherings of Inuit leaders and onlookers spanning generations – from children and youth to elders.

Since 1977, Inuit have held unifying political, economic, health and wellbeing and social discussions. Many important parts of the original ICC vision have been accomplished, including ICC’s UN status is ECOSOC Special Consultative Status. ICC also contributed to the formation of the Arctic Council in 1996.

“Continuing the vision of our founders, we are bringing our voice to the international arena in many important areas – human rights, climate change, contaminants, international shipping, wildlife, and health. Guided by the ICC 2022 General Assembly Declaration, which serves as our mandate throughout this four-year term, the gathering in Ilulissat will provide an important venue to further discuss
our priorities and advocacy,” said Olsvig.

The ICC Delegates Meeting will be followed by an historic 50th anniversary Arctic Peoples’ Conference hosted by ICC and the Saami Council with the participation of several other Arctic Indigenous Peoples, July 20-21, also in Ilulissat.

The purpose of the Arctic Peoples’ Conference is to celebrate the cooperation, successes and achievements of Arctic Indigenous Peoples, while taking stock of the current situation, and discussing visions for the next 50 years.

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