December 1, 2015 – Paris, France – Okalik Eegeesiak, Chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) addressed global Indigenous peoples, world leaders, civil society and special guests and at the opening of the International Indigenous Peoples Pavilion at the UNFCCC COP 21 in Paris. Ms. Eegeesiak and Ms. Aile Javo, President of the Saami Council are the co-chairs of the Arctic Region of the International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Climate Change (IIFCC).
(Africa, Arctic, Asia, North America, Latin American and the Caribbean, the Pacific and Russia and Eastern Europe) and representatives are in Paris to bear witness to the impacts of climate change in our regions and to ensure that the agreement negotiated is robust and effective to reduce global CO2 emissions and hold global climate temperature rise to below 2oC.
Eegeesiak stated, “the health and well-being of Inuit and Saami are inextricably tied to the Arctic environment and in particular the tundra, the marine environment and the snow and ice. Inuit and Saami are deeply concerned about the actual and potential impacts of climate change on their cultural, social and economic health and corresponding human rights. On December 8th we will host Arctic Day and I welcome you all.” Eegeesiak added, “Indigenous peoples remainclosely connected to the land in every region of the globe. We are hunters, fishers, agrarians. We live on the ice, snow,the tundra, on the coastlines, in the forests, mountains, deserts and savanna’s.” Aile Javo, Saami Council Presidentreflected, “Today activities such as reindeer herding, fishing, hunting and gathering remain important livelihoods for the Saami culture. The traditional livelihoods are fundamental for Saami culture and the only way of life for many Saami people. The Arctic, including traditional Saami territories, is facing more rapid and large scale changes than ever before.”
Okalik Eegeesiak delivered her remarks in Inuktitut and thanked all the indigenous peoples that have worked so hard to be in Paris to give voice to those who live each day with the impacts of climate change. Eegeesiak noted that, “Indigenous peoples are here because we share a common concern”. Indigenous peoples are bringing their messages of migration and relocation, crop loss, deforestation, ocean acidification and warming, sea level rise, extreme weather events, sea ice loss and changes in the biosphere — as a result of climate change. Ms. Eegeesiak signaled that indigenous peoples have to be part of the solution, ”Government leaders, indigenous peoples, industry and NGOs must work together from the community level to the heads of state. Climate change does not divide us — it unites us — with a common goal to make certain all peoples can live in their homelands, support their children and leave the world a better place.”
Ms. Eegeesiak is the Head of the ICC Delegation attending the negotiations in Paris and met with the US Secretary of the Interior, Sally Jewell on November 30th, and met with the Canadian Minister of Environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna earlier today, and will meet with the French President, François Hollande on December 2nd. To view the ICC COP 21 Climate Change position paper see www.inuitcircumpolar.com. The International Indigenous Peoples Pavilion made possible through the s or more information on the program at the Indigenous Peoples Pavilion see
http://www.iipfcc.org/cop21/
For more information:
Carole Simon, ICC Canada Cell: 613-293-9728 csimon@inuitcircumpolar.com
Wk: 613-563-2642
___________________________________ Inuit Circumpolar Council – Office of the Chair__________________________________
Indigenous peoples have a particular contribution to make in discussions around climate change and sustainability, given their strong historic, cultural connection and the stewardship role they continue to play in sustainably managing many ofthe world’s biological resources. The IIPFCC is organized by representatives from seven regions from around the globe
at the
UNFCCC COP 21 in Paris is located within the civil society ‘Climate Generations Space’, directly adjacent to the COP 21
“Blue Zone” negotiation space and was
upport from the Governments of Norway and France,
in addition to UNDP. F
75 Albert Street, Suite 1001 ∙ Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1P 5E7 ∙ P: 613.563.2642 ∙ F: 613.565.3089 ∙ www.inuitcircumpolar.com
