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Anchor: Antonia Gonzales
The Inuit Circumpolar Council is holding its general assembly this week.
The non-governmental organization represents more than 180,000 Inuit people across the Arctic.
As Emily Schwing reports, ICC last met in Alaska in 2018.
ICC members from Alaska, Greenland, Northern Canada, and Chukotka in Russia meet every four years.
Since their last meeting, the ICC has gained provisional status within the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a United Nations agency that sets international maritime law.
Dalee Sambo Dorough is the current ICC Chair. She says the new status is a first for an Indigenous organization.
“With the changing conditions across the Arctic Ocean, we felt it was necessary to gain consultative status within the IMO as an indigenous people’s organization to really advance our autonomous or independent voice within the IMO.”
ICC has also become the first Indigenous people’s organization to gain observer status within the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
“This is huge in terms of the impacts of climate change across our homelands and our traditional territory including the coastal seas and sea ice.”
Ahead of this week’s meeting, the ICC released new standards aimed at scientists, researchers, and policy makers. The new protocols layout expectations from ICC members on how best to engage in work that takes place on Inuit homelands across the Arctic.
14th ICC General Assembly “Inuit – Strength and Peace” from Talking Circle Media on Vimeo.
Listen to Sambo Dorough and others discuss Indigenous involvement in international policy at the National Congress of American Indians mid-year gathering on Wednesday, June 15, 2022 in Alaska, during special coverage on KNBA.
Two Minnesota tribes are suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over the agency’s approval of changes to Minnesota’s water quality standards.
Last week, the Fond du Lac and Grand Portage Bands of Lake Superior Chippewa filed a Clean Water Act lawsuit in federal court seeking a reversal of the state’s new water quality standards.
At issue in the case is the approval of changes to industrial and agricultural standards.
The tribes argue lowering water quality standards for use in those areas is likely to result in increased pollution downstream.
They’re concerned about water flow around and through reservation land, and threats to the land and water used for hunting, fishing, and gathering – especially for wild rice.
They argue protections are being rolled back in violation of the Clean Water Act.
According to the tribes, it’s believed to be the first lawsuit by any tribe in the country against the EPA over approval of changes to state water quality standards.
The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe in New York has been awarded more than $2 million in grants for suicide prevention.
The federal funds will advance programs for community members at risk of suicide; for prevention, intervention, and postvention; and for a zero suicide initiative project.
Tribal and health officials say suicides and suicide attempts continue to have devastating impacts on the community.
They say contributing factors include the opioid crisis and COVID-19 pandemic stressors.
Health officials say they’re incorporating traditional practices, which emphasize asking for help is a sign of strength.
Assistance can be found at 800-273-TALK or text GOT5 to 741741.
Navajo basketball player Ryneldi Becenti is featured in the new web series Kids Meet.
“In any sport you have to learn how to win, you have to learn how to lose, but at the same time you still keep working hard to accomplish your goal.”
Becenti is the first Native American to play in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).
The series is a collaboration between Sesame Workshop and HiHo Kids.
Sesame Street muppets join young people who lead one-on-one interviews with change-makers, highlighting an appreciation of diversity.
The two-part series includes Samantha Lopez, a dancer who happens to use a wheelchair.
The episode with Becenti was released Monday on YouTube.
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