This year’s theme is “traditional knowledge: generation, transmission and protection”

By Nunatsiaq News

Canadian Inuit have come out in force to represent their homelands and culture at the 18th United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York.

The forum, which started Monday, April 22, and ends May 3, will focus on the theme of “traditional knowledge: generation, transmission and protection.” There will also be emphasis on human rights issues in connection with Indigenous peoples.

Canadian Inuit participants range from the presidents of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada to Inuit-language artist Kelly Fraser.

During her statement to the UN, Fraser spoke of pride in culture and community: “My name is Kelly Fraser, I’m a singer from Sanikiluaq, Nunavut. I am a proud Inuk that speaks Inuktitut despite mom going to residential school.”

“With loss we gained resiliency, and by working with our governments, let’s responsibly implement laws, treaties and land claims through being heard and together, we can save the world.”

She also made recommendations on the European sealskin ban and the recognition of Indigenous languages as national languages.

In addition to the main forum, side events also feature a strong Inuit presence.

Some events are Inuit-organized, like the ICC’s “Indigenous Children’s Rights: How to take action in Indigenous communities” and Isuma TV’s co-organized “Rights to Indigenous Communications: Honoring our cultures, languages and traditions through digital storytelling.”

Other events have Inuit participation, like the panel discussion on “Implementation Mechanisms for Indigenous Rights and Agreements with States” with NTI President Aluki Kotierk.

“When land claims are signed, the Crown immediately gets what they wanted,” Kotierk wrote on Twitter, “whereas Indigenous peoples must then work, often for years or decades, to push for governments to live up to the agreement they signed with us.”

The UNPFII also provides a stage to release new materials, such as NTI’s latest report on Nunavut’s education system.

And, next week, there will be an Arctic region dialogue between Indigenous peoples and member states. Discussion questions will cover Indigenous autonomy, securing territorial rights, climate change and resource management, and introducing Indigenous languages into educational systems.

Past UNPFII sessions heard discussions about the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, debate over the forum’s title and calls for more support for Indigenous youth and recognition of Inuktut as a founding language.