NUUK, GREENLAND - Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada vice-president Kirt Ejesiak says Inuit need to be able to move more freely through Inuit territory, regardless of what country they are in.

Kivalliq Inuit Association president Jose Kusugak sits at the Canadian delegation table at the 2010 Inuit Circumpolar Council General Assembly held in Nuuk, Greenland from June 28 to July 2. - photo courtesy of Kirt Ejesiak

This was one of the issues raised at the Inuit Circumpolar Council's (ICC) 11th general assembly in Nuuk, Greenland from June 28 to July 2. The ICC is an international Indigenous Peoples Organization, which represents approximately 160,000 Inuit living in the Arctic regions of Alaska, Canada, Greenland and Chukotka, Russia.

"This would allow for sharing, cultural exchanges and trading of information," said Ejesiak.

Ejesiak also sits on the executive council for ICC. He said he hopes members work to develop a customs free zone to help ease mobility rights for Arctic peoples.

"We should be able to move freely within countries for educational opportunities," he said, adding this is something Inuit have been asking for since 1977.

Goals of the ICC include strengthening unity amongst Inuit, promoting Inuit rights and interests internationally and ensuring the development of Inuit culture and society for present and future generations. Key topics discussed included health and well being, hunting and food security, governance and economic development.

At the top of the assembly's list of priorities was addressing the importance of resource extraction. Ejesiak said many Inuit in Nunavut and in other Arctic regions are concerned about drilling projects and uranium mining. He said an urgent meeting is going to be organized to tackle these issues.

"We need to collectively come up with a position we can take to industry and to governments," said Ejesiak.

Representatives attending the assembly from Nunavut included Kivalliq Inuit Association president Jose Kusugak, Kitikmeot Inuit Association president Charlie Evalik, Qikiqtani Inuit Association president Okalik Eegeesiak, Iqaluit mayor Elisapee Sheutiapik and Nunavut Premier Eva Aariak.

Aariak had the opportunity to speak to the assembly on June 28.

"We need to complete the map of Canada," said Aariak in an interview on July 6, regarding what she told the assembly. She said that most people in the south think that there is infrastructure all across Canada, but that this is not true.

"We need ports, better roads and our airstrips need improving," said Aariak, adding these are needed in order for the territory to become a driving force in the economy.

Aariak said she also talked about the implementation of language legislation and how the territory is progressing in that regard.

Aariak said for her, another highlight of the assembly was taking in the line-up of extensive cultural programming. This included a performance by Iglulik's Artcirq.

Delegates passed the Nuuk Declaration during the assembly, which outlines the mandates of the ICC for the next four years.

Among the 54 clauses was the call for the need to protect the Arctic environment in case of an oil spill such as the off-shore spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Climate change, Arctic sovereignty, Arctic shipping and health were some of the other topics addressed.

One of the mandates in the declaration was that the Arctic governments treat the Inuit homeland as a whole.

Aariak said as the premier she needs to know what is going on around the circumpolar region as other Arctic countries are dealing with many similar issues. It is through the ICC this is made possible and that best practices can be shared, she said.

"We need to work together," she said.

This vision is shared by Ejesiak ,who said it is good for Inuit from other countries to share their knowledge with each other.

"I think we have a lot to offer the rest of the world in how we discuss and come up with decisions, and the western style of governing is sometimes not the best way to deal with Northern issues," he said.

Ejesiak said the biggest message that came out of the assembly was clear: "We are one people."

The next meeting of the general assembly will be held in 2014. The location has yet to be chosen.

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