Arctic Peoples

by Clive Tesar

Arctic Leaders were given a standing ovation today after bringing their observations of climate change to a public meeting in Little Rock, Arkansas. The event, at the Clinton School of Public Service, was the first of several taking place across the United States in the next week.

The leaders were introduced by a local celebrity, Minnie Jean Brown. Brown was one of the students known as “the little Rock 9″, a group of black students who were the first in the state to defy racial segregation in schools. She recognized the similarity between the rights Arctic Peoples are fighting for, and her own fight for rights years ago.
Read the rest of this entry »

Arctic Leaders are travelling through parts of the United States in late April and early May to bring eyewitness accounts of climate change. The leaders are Olav Mathis Eira, Vice-President of the Saami Council , and Sarah James, representing Gwich’in Council International . They will be joined for part of the trip by Megan Alvanna-Stimpfle, Chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Youth Council.

The leaders will start in Little Rock, Arkansas, and will travel to Minneapolis, Minnesota, Cleveland, Ohio, Washington DC, and San Francisco, California. They will talk to a wide range of people, including university students, Senators, and Sunday schools. The leaders believe it is important to talk to Americans directly, to let them know that the changes now being felt in the Arctic are an early warning to the rest of the world. There is evidence that most Americans are beginning to believe that the climate is changing. The Arctic leaders hope to confirm that belief, and turn it into action. Read the rest of this entry »

by Clive Tesar

Patricia Cochran, International Chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Council is now also the Chair of the Indigenous Peoples’ Secretariat. She was elected to the post at a Board Meeting of IPS held during Arctic Council meetings in Tromso, Norway.

Ms Cochran says that there are many priority issues facing Arctic peoples as she takes office.

“It’s pretty obvious that climate change is a very big issue, contaminants still remain a big issue, looking at oceans management, biodiversity, there’s so many issues on our plate right now. We have to look at our priorities and at what we can do, and do well.”

Read the rest of this entry »