Pan Arctic Forum

The Alaska Dispatch News published an article titled, ” Papp hopes next president will carry on U.S. Arctic policies”. The article reads in part as follows:

“A year ago, President Barack Obama became the first sitting U.S. president to travel above the Arctic Circle. The president’s historic three-day visit to Alaska, where he met with Native villagers and saw effects of climate warming first-hand, was a milestone that cemented his deep commitment to the Arctic and the circumpolar north, the State Department’s top Arctic official said Thursday.

The Arctic Journal published an article titled, “The majority of people in the North aren’t represented on the Arctic Council”. The article reads in part as follows:

“When the Arctic Council was established in 1996, permanent participation was granted to organisations representing indigenous peoples with majority Arctic indigenous constituency.

However, non-indigenous peoples were not – and still are not – properly represented on the council, argues to Tony Penikett (above, at centre), who served as premier of Yukon between 1985 and 1992. Speaking with High North News during the 2016 High North Dialogue, held in Bodø, Norway, in May, he discussed the need to address this lack of representation.

The Global Trade posted an article titled, “Congress Receives Report on Arctic Issues: The Region is Rife with Security and Commercial Consequences”. The article reads in part as follows:

“The Congressional Research Service, a bipartisan and well regarded agency that briefs the U.S. Congress on current issues has weighed in on the diminution of Arctic sea ice and the increase in human activities in the region, including trade and transportation.

Alaska makes the United States an Arctic country and therefore has substantial interests in the region. In January 2015, President Obama issued an executive order for enhancing coordination of national efforts in the Arctic. The United States assumed the chairmanship of the Arctic Council in April 2015 and will serve in that capacity for two years.

An op-ed recently published in the Indian Express emphasizes that “India should leverage trade talks with South Korea to take advantage of opportunities in the Arctic region.” The article reads in part as follows:

“There has been a surge of global interest in the Arctic because of its vast reserves of oil, gas and minerals, commercial fishing opportunities, and shortened shipping routes that are now accessible because of global warming. In 2013, India was granted observer status to the Arctic, where India joined China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea as a non-circumpolar country in the Arctic Council.

The Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada posted a press release titled “Appointment of Mary Simon as Minister’s Special Representative (MSR): A Concrete Step in Shared Arctic Leadership Model” that reads in part as follows:

“Today, the Government of Canada took a concrete step to further their commitment to work with Indigenous peoples across the Arctic.

The creation of a Minister’s Special Representative to lead engagements and provide advice to the Government provides a direct path for meaningful incorporation of the realities and needs of Inuit and other northerners as Canada begins the important work of implementing the commitments of the March 10, 2016 US-Canada Joint Statement.

Nunatsiaq Online posted an articled titled “Ottawa names respected Inuit leader as high-level advisor on the Arctic.” The article reads in part as follows:

“Ottawa has named accomplished Inuit leader Mary Simon as its new high-level advisor on Arctic issues.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs minister Carolyn Bennett announced Simon’s appointment Aug. 5 as the Minister’s Special Representative on the development of new policies that will focus on conservation and the sustainable growth of the Arctic economy.

CBC News published an article titled “Mary Simon named minister of Indigenous Affairs’ special representative on Arctic.” The article reads in part as follows:

Prominent Inuit leader Mary Simon has been named the minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs’ special representative on Arctic issues.

Simon, originally from Kuujjuaq, Nunavik, in Northern Quebec will be working with Carolyn Bennett on a new Shared Arctic Leadership Model.

Part of Simon’s work will be to assist the federal government to implement the US-Canada Joint Statement on Climate, Energy and Arctic Leadership.

“I am very very excited,” says Simon.

The World Policy Journal’s most recent posting on their blog highlights “the many voices of the Arctic in order to understand the position of those involved in the region.” The posting reads in part as follows:

“In April 2016, Arctic experts and practitioners representing academia, indigenous organizations, NGOs, the private sector, and government gathered at The Wilson Center in Washington, DC. At the midpoint of the two-year U.S. Arctic Council Chairmanship, this two-day symposium was co-hosted by the World Policy Institute, Trent University, and the University of Washington.

Morning Consult published an article titled “With Spotlight on Arctic, Environmentalists Have High Hopes for Clinton.” The article reads in part as follows:

“The 2016 presidential election is a pivotal one for the Arctic. As melting sea ice opens up more opportunities for offshore drilling, activists who support and oppose fossil fuels agree that the next president will need to take an international leadership role, either persuading other countries not to drill or helping them drill more safely.

The Bristol Bay Times published an article that highlights the “Aleutian Life Forum science conference [on] Aug. 16-21, at the Grand Aleutian Hotel.” The article reads in part as follows:

“The theme is “Building resilience in the face of change,” or bouncing back and getting used to it. Numerous cultural and recreational activities round out a full week of fun and science.

The forum features guest speakers and discussions on “issues of importance to the community and seafood industry of Unalaska, topics will include sustainable fisheries, ocean acidification, vessel traffic risks and spill response, coastal hazards of erosion, inundation, contaminants and effective science communication,” according to the Unalaska City Council, which donated $3,000 for meals and other expenses.