Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories June 6, 2002 Delegates from the four Inuit regions met this week in Tuktuyaktuk, NT for the Annual General Meeting of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference (Canada). Mr. Duane Smith from Inuvik was elected President of ICC Canada and Ms. Violet Ford becomes the Vice-President, International Affairs and Council Member. Mr. Smith brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position after holding the position of Vice-President for the last four years. Mr. Smith resides in Inuvik, with his family where he is the Chair of the Inuvialuit Game Council. Ms. Ford, a lawyer was raised in Labrador and was the former Research Director at ICC Canada. Ms. Ford currently resides in Ottawa where she is pursuing a Doctor of Laws (LL.D) from the University of Lapland, in Rovaniemi, Finland.
This is an important year for Inuit as ICC Canada prepares to host delegations from Greenland, Alaska and Chukotka at the ICC General Assembly in Kuujjuaq, Nunavik August 11-16, 2002. The General Assembly held every four years allows Inuit from the four countries to provide direction for the organization. The draft Kuujjuaq declaration was presented to the Canadian delegation in Tuktuyaktuk and will be debated and finalized at the Assembly in Kuujjuaq this August. Issues included in the declaration range from language rights, trade, militarization of the Arctic and sovereignty issues to wildlife management, human health, contaminants and climate change. Ms. Sheila Watt-Cloutier’s nomination for President of ICC International was unanimously endorsed by the Canadian delegates and if elected in Kuujjuaq, will provide an exciting opportunity over the next four years for continuing the impressive record of Inuit achievements internationally.
Inuit perspectives on international activities and presence in International meetings are needed now more than ever as the Arctic becomes recognized as an indicator of global health and as international decisions on renewable resource management and trade continue to move in directions not supportive of enshrined harvesting rights and traditional Inuit subsistence practices.
ICC Canada remains committed to ensuring that the Inuit voice is heard around the globe.
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For further information:
Corinne Gray
ICC Canada
Tel: (613) 563-2642