Indigenous Peoples’ Organisations

Aleut International Association (AIA) — by Kris Molle — last modified Feb 17, 2009 11:17 AM

The Aleut International Association (AIA) is an Alaska Native not-for-profit corporation. AIA was formed by the Aleutian/Pribilof Islands Association, one of the thirteen regional not-for-profit Alaska Native corporations created through the Alaska Native Settlement Claims Act in 1971, and the Association of the Indigenous Peoples of the North of the Aleut District of the Kamchatka Region of the Russian Federation (AIPNADKR). AIA is governed by a Board of Directors made up of four Alaskan and four Russian Aleuts under the leadership of a president. The AIA was formed to address environmental and cultural concerns of the extended Aleutians whose wellbeing has been connected to the Bering Sea for centuries. Russian and American Aleuts are separated by distances, borders and the International Date Line but united by the great Bering Sea and the North Pacific Ocean. Today, not only does the Aleut community share the resources of the region but its environmental problems as well. The need to understand global processes was an impetus in joining in the work of the international forum where AIA is actively pursuing collaboration with governments, scientists, and other organisations in developing programs and policies that could improve the wellbeing of the Aleut people and their environment. AIA was admitted as a permanent participant of the Arctic Council in 1998 and was granted Special Consultative Status by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations in 2004. In addition, AIA is an accredited Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Global Environment Facility.

Arctic Athabaskan Council (ACC) — by Kris Molle — last modified Feb 17, 2009 11:24 AM

The Arctic Athabaskan Council (AAC) is an international treaty organisation established to represent the interests of United States and Canadian Athabaskan First Nation governments in the Arctic Council, and to foster a greater understanding of the common heritage of all Athabaskan peoples of Arctic North America. The founding members of AAC include four Alaskan Athabaskan communities: Chickaloon Village Traditional Council, Healy Lake Traditional Council (Mendas Cha~Ag), Steven Village Tribal Government, Council, Northway Tribal Council; and three Athabaskan representative bodies from Canada: the Council of Yukon First Nations, representing eleven Yukon First Nations, the Dene Nation, representing 30 First Nations in the Northwest Territories and northern Manitoba, and Métis Nation-Northwest Territories, representing 13 communities in the Northwest Territories. In total, Arctic Athabaskan founding member governments represent approximately 32,000 indigenous peoples of Athabaskan descent residing in Arctic and Sub-Arctic North America. As more member governments from both the United States (Alaska) and Canada join, this number is expected to increase to approximately 40,000. The objective of the Arctic Athabaskan Council (AAC) is to create an international organisation for northern peoples of Athabaskan descent. Its principle purpose is foster greater understanding of the common heritage of all Arctic Athabaskan peoples of Canada and the United States and to represent the Athabaskan peoples of Arctic Canada and the United States as a permanent participant in the Arctic Council.

Gwich’in Council International (GCI) — by Kris Molle — last modified Feb 17, 2009 11:33 AM

The Gwich'in Council International (GCI) was established as a non-profit organisation in 1999 by the Gwich'in Tribal Council in Inuvik, NWT, to ensure all regions of the Gwich'in Nation in the Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Alaska are represented at the Arctic Council, as well as to play an active and significant role in the development of policies that relate to the Circumpolar Arctic. The founding members of GCI includes six Alaskan Gwich'in communities (Arctic Village, Chalkyitsik, Fort Yukon, Birtch, Circle and Venetie) two Gwich'in representative bodies in Canada — Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation (representing Vuntut Gwitchin in Old Crow, Yukon), and Gwich'in Tribal Council representing four communities in the Beaufort Delta region in the Northwest Territories. In total, the Gwich'in Council International founding members represent approximately 9,000 indigenous peoples of Gwich'in descent. The GCI Secretariat rotates between the Gwich'in Tribal Council in Inuvik, NWT and the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation in Old Crow, Yukon.

Inuit Circumpolar Council (ІСС) — by Kris Molle — last modified Feb 17, 2009 11:47 AM

Founded in 1977 by the late Eben Hopson of Barrow, Alaska, the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) has flourished and grown into a major international non-government organisation representing approximately 150,000 Inuit of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Russia. The organisation holds Consultative Status II at the United Nations. To thrive in their circumpolar homeland, the Inuit realized they must speak with a united voice on issues concerning them as a whole and combine their energies and talents towards protecting and promoting their way of life. The principal goals of ICC are, therefore, to strengthen unity among Inuit of the circumpolar region; promote Inuit rights and interests on an international level; develop and encourage long-term policies that safeguard the Arctic environment; and seek full and active partnership in the political, economic, and social development of circumpolar regions. The ICC holds a General Assembly every four years where delegates from across the circumpolar region elect a new Chair and an executive council, develop policies, and adopt resolutions that will guide the activities of the organisation for the coming term. The General Assembly provides an opportunity to share information, discuss common concerns, debate issues, and strengthen the bonds between all Inuit. Representatives from the Inuit Circumpolar Youth Council and the International Elders Council attend, thereby improving communications and creating synergies with these important affiliated organisations. ICC has been directed to develop a language commission (ICC Language Commission) in order to strengthen unity among Inuit of the circumpolar region and to ensure the endurance and growth of Inuit culture and societies for both the present and future generations. Among other goals, the Commission will act as a forum for Inuit to preserve and promote the use of Inuit languages, and will develop recommendations regarding the development of a common Inuit writing system.

Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON) — by Kris Molle — last modified Feb 17, 2009 12:46 PM

RAIPON was created in 1990 at the First Congress of Indigenous Peoples of the North. The Association was originally called the "Association of Peoples of the North of the USSR" and united 26 indigenous groups of the North. On November 24, 1993 the Association was registered as public political movement “Association of indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and Far East of Russian Federation” and on July, 1999 it was reregistered at the RF Ministry of Justice as All-Russia public organisation. RAIPON is public organisation that aims to protect human rights, defend the legal interests of indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East, and assist in finding some solutions to the environmental, social and economic problems, and the problems of cultural development and education. RAIPON works to guarantee the right of protection of native homelands and traditional way of life as well as the right to self governance according to the national and international legal standards. RAIPON unites 41 indigenous groups whose total population is around 250,000 people. These people are represented by 34 regional and ethnic organisations that have the authority to represent these groups both in Russia and in the international community. The highest body of RAIPON is the Congress of Indigenous Peoples of the Russia’s North, Siberia and Far East, which is held every four years. The Coordinating Council and Presidium (consisting of RAIPON President, I vice-president and vice-presidents) leads the RAIPON current activity. The president is elected at the RAIPON Congress by secret vote and from a ballot that has at least two candidates. All regional associations’ leaders, elected by people in their regions, are members of the Coordinating Council. RAIPON is built on territorial and territory-ethnical principle. Regional branches (associations) form the basis of RAIPON, and these associations are organisationally and financially independent. RAIPON is very close to its regional branches; it coordinates regional associations’ activities according to steering bodies’ decisions; and helps in all issues. RAIPON organizes meeting especially for regional branches; contributes to international exchange programs and collaboration; and provides any aid to indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and Far East. RAIPON in cooperation with RF State Duma Committees and RF Government takes part in elaboration of the legislation, which guarantees indigenous peoples’ rights, preservation of their way of life and economic development. RAIPON has special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC); it is very active in participating in UN Working Groups on Indigenous Peoples’ Issues and on Draft Declaration on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights, and also in the Commission on Human Rights and Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. RAIPON is a permanent participant at the Arctic Council, established by the eight Arctic countries: Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Island, Canada, USA, and Russia. Experts of the Association participate in the permanent working groups of the Arctic Council on biodiversity conservation and protection from ecological disasters.

Saami Council (SC) — by Kris Molle — last modified Feb 17, 2009 12:54 PM

The Saami Council is a voluntary Saami organisation (a non–governmental organisation), with Saami member organisations in Finland, Russia, Norway and Sweden. Since its foundation in 1956 the Saami Council has actively dealt with Saami policy tasks. The primary aim of the Saami Council is the promotion of Saami rights and interests in the four countries where the Saami are living, to consolidate the feeling of affinity among the Saami people, to attain recognition for the Saami as a nation and to maintain the economic, social and cultural rights of the Saami in the legislation of the four states (Norway, Sweden, Russia and Finland). This objective can be achieved through agreements between these states and the bodies representing the Saami people, the Saami parliaments. The Saami Council renders opinions and makes proposals on questions concerning Saami people’s rights, language and culture and especially on issues concerning Saami in different countries.

Map of Arctic Indigenous Peoples — by Kris Molle — last modified Feb 17, 2009 11:16 AM