Inuit Demand Right of Say in Battle for Arctic

The autochthonous populace of the Artic circle is seeking the right of say in the territorial division of the northern hemisphere.

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Published: September 27, 2007 12:36h

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After a Russian submarine disturbed the peace of the cold waters of the Arctic in August, four other nations and an unexpected “sixth party” joined in the race for the “untouched iced territory” that hide significant natural riches.

The Inuit, also known as Eskimos, which is a name the Inuit deem as derisive and insulting, have inhabited the perimeters of the Artic circle for thousand of years and are now demanding a right of say in the international claims of the central Artic Ocean territory which is expected to be divided between Canada, Russia, the United States, Norway and Denmark.

Tender

The five countries bordering on the Arctic circle are bound by the UNCLOS III Convention on Maritime Law, according to which every country demanding the right to the Arctic has to make its claim within 10 years from the ratification of the accord. In the case of the U.S., the deadline is 2017, for Canada it is 2013 and for Russia 2009. After submitting the claims, each one must be evaluated by the commission on the borders of continental shelves, which is only one step in a number of arbitrations that interested parties will face.

"We must develop, for the sake of my people and the world at large, a formal international process focusing on the Arctic that includes indigenous people having meaningful voices," Aqqaluk Lynge, president of the Greenland chapter of the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) told an international gathering of politicians, scientists, and religious figures in the fishing village of Ilulissat on Greenland earlier this month.

"The Inuit have lived in the Arctic for a very, very long time and we should have some role to play in regard to what happens here," says Duane Smith, president of ICC-Canada, who is based in Inuvik, Northwest Territories.

Their demand can seem unrealistic at first glance because the Inuit live in the northern areas of countries bordering with the Artic, that is, on the border, eastern parts of Russia. But their demand becomes more realistic with attention turned to Denmark.

Stepping stone

Of the 56,000 people living in Greenland, whose independence from Denmark is a question of formality. The only tie between the natives and Denmark is the territory’s economic dependence. From the political perspective, the residents of Greenland are now completely autonomous, which renders them a viable party for territorial demands.

"We are launching a claim in the Arctic only on behalf of the Greenlanders," which would inherit any of Denmark's Arctic territory once they become independent, says Svend Auken, a veteran Danish politician and former energy minister.

Aleqa Hammond, minister for finance and foreign affairs of Greenland's home rule government has no doubts about the issue.

"The Russians came and planted their flag up there on the North Pole, but everyone knows it's Greenlandic," she said with a smile.

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