Circumpolar Inuit Hold 14th ICC General Assembly –
New Chair Elected: Sara Olsvig
2022 Declaration Adopted
July 21, 2022 – Virtual Meeting – Inuit delegates from Alaska (USA), Greenland, Canada, and Chukotka (Russia) concluded a successful 14th Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) General Assembly (GA) today. The theme of “Inuit – Strength and Peace” was chosen to reflect the strength Inuit have even throughout a global coronavirus pandemic. The GA Patron was the Premier of Kalaallit Nunaat, Múte Bourup Egede.
Outgoing ICC Chair Dalee Sambo Dorough stated, “In light of the present geostrategic issues that are increasingly impacting the Arctic region, we have chosen to emphasize the strength of our people and our constant objective to ensure the integrity and peaceful use of our homelands and traditional territory in perpetuity.”
The GA focused on reporting of activities, and the adoption of the 2022 Declaration. Over the course of three days the 66 Inuit delegates heard presentations on: Future on International Partnerships; International Indigenous Human Rights and International Partnerships; Food Security; Families and Youth; Health and Wellness; Education and Language; and Indigenous Knowledge.
The Chair of the international organization was transferred to Greenland for the next four-year term. Sara Olsvig was unanimously elected as the new Chair, taking over from Alaska’s Dr. Dalee Sambo Dorough.
“The Inuit Circumpolar Council have right from the beginning – since its founding meetings in 1977 – been clear on its mandate to advocate for our homeland to be peaceful, for our states to work with us on developing democratic processes and for partnerships to build and enhance our possibilities as a people – to maintain and develop our unity,” said newly elected ICC Chair Sara Olsvig. “We know the Arctic – it is our home – and we know that Inuit Nunaat is a place for cooperation, for dialogue, and for diplomatic solutions. That is how our organization – the Inuit Circumpolar Council – was created, and that is how we will continue to work.”
Following the conclusion of the General Assembly the ICC Executive Council met with its newly elected members from respective countries, and international Chair. The Executive Council is composed of the following members:
Chair: Sara Olsvig (Greenland)
Alaska: Vice-Chair: Marie Greene; Member: Nicole Kanayurak Wojciechowski
Canada: Vice-Chair: Lisa Koperqualuk; Member: Herb Nakimayak
Chukotka: Vice-Chair: Irina Mishina; Member: Zinaida Chernousova
Greenland: Vice-Chair: Kupik V. Kleist; Member: Nuka Kleeman
As this 14th GA was a virtual meeting due to the pandemic it was agreed that an in-person event will take place in July 2023 in Ilulissat, Kalaallit Nunaat. The 15th ICC General Assembly will be held in Canada in 2026.
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Contact:
Eilene Adams Kupik V. Kleist Melodie Lavallée
ICC (Alaska) ICC (Greenland) ICC (Canada)
eilene@iccalaska.org kvk@ggnuuk.gl Mlavallee@inuitcircumpolar.com