Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada

10/14/2026

ICC participated in the Arctic Circle Assembly, that took place on October 8-10 in Reykjavik, Iceland. It featured 700 speakers in over 200 Sessions over three full days of discussions about the future of the Arctic and our Planet.

09/30/2026

Today marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day to recognize the history and ongoing impacts of the residential school system in Canada.

It is a time to acknowledge the children who never returned home, honour residential school Survivors, and recognize the lasting effects on Indigenous individuals, families, and communities.

Today also serves as a reminder of the importance of continued learning and meaningful action toward reconciliation.

09/25/2026

Before the Arctic Council was formed, in 1991, the eight Arctic states signed an agreement on Arctic cooperation, the Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy (AEPS). The three Indigenous Peoples' organizations: Inuit Circumpolar Council, Saami Council, and Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON), were originally admitted as Observer organizations and later negotiated to have full access to negotiations as Permanent Participants. This photo was taken at the first ever Arctic Leaders' Summit in 1991, an international gathering of the three Indigenous Peoples' organizations that would later become the founding Permanent Participants of the Arctic Council.

09/24/2026

The Indigenous Knowledge Mobilization Session Report was published today. The report details our work with the Arctic Council to ensure that emergency management and response includes the Knowledge and support of Indigenous Peoples at all stages of response.

We led the Indigenous Knowledge Mobilization Session (IKMS) held at the Arctic Emergency Management Conference in Bodø,, Norway (March 2025). The session brought together Permanent Participants, Arctic states, conference attendees and students to listen, learn and discuss case-studies in emergency management. It is vital that the Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response Working Group, and the Arctic Council as a whole, ensure the co-production of Knowledge and the inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge in this key consensus-building space.

The report of the IKMS (https://hdl.handle.net/11374/3431), now available on the Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response (EPPR) website ( https://eppr.org/news/indigenous-knowledge-mobilization-session/), highlights discussions on the practical implementation of UNDRIP, psychosocial support for volunteer search and rescue responders, cruise and passenger vessel management in the Arctic and Indigenous data sovereignty. The mobilization of our Knowledge in these key areas and beyond contribute to stronger, safer, and inclusive engagement in support of Arctic emergency management.

Indigenous Knowledge Mobilization remains an ongoing project within EPPR, and ICC thanks our Permanent Participant colleagues, EPPR, Arctic states and the conference attendees present for this good discussion and the opportunities to move the work detailed in this report forward.

09/22/2026

Thirtieth Anniversary of Arctic Council

September 22, 2026 – Inuit Circumpolar Council, celebrates the thirtieth anniversary of the Arctic Council which was established on September 19 in 1996. Congratulations!

Inuit Circumpolar Council is proud of its co-founding role and Permanent Participant status in the Arctic Council and acknowledges that the Arctic Council remains the preeminent body for collaboration among Arctic States and Indigenous Peoples and remains committed to maintaining peace, stability and cooperation in the Arctic.

As we reflect on thirty years, it is an opportunity for states to recommit to maintaining the unique character of the Arctic Council by continuing to engage with Permanent Participants as equals in decision-making.

Inuit Circumpolar Council commits to continue its work to implement the recommendations in the 2024 ICC Position Paper Safeguarding And Strengthening the Arctic Council. Further, Inuit Circumpolar Council commits to fully end effectively participating and meaningfully engaging at the Arctic Council and to continue cooperation with Permanent Participants on matters of shared interest and engagement in projects of the Arctic Council Working Groups that support Inuit-led and co-developed research, activities, and events.

ICC actively participates in the following five working groups of the Arctic Council: Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP); Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF); Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response (EPPR); Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME); and the Sustainable Development Working Group (SDWG).

2026 Iqaluit Declaration:https://www.inuitcircumpolar.com/wp-content/uploads/2026-07-25-ICC-GA-Declaration-FINAL.pdf
2024 ICC Position Paper Safeguarding And Strengthening the Arctic Council: https://www.inuitcircumpolar.com/position-papers/inuit-circumpolar-council-position-paper-safeguarding-and-strengthening-the-arctic-council/

View Russian version ПРИЛОЖЕНИЕ I ANNEX 1 “ICC has worked hard for the establishment of the Arctic Council. We take our place at the Arctic Council as a distinct people, with our own language, culture, values, traditions, homelands and the right of self-determination.” HIGHLIGHTED RECO...

09/19/2026

The Arctic Council turns 30 today! ICC has been involved in the Arctic Council since its inception and is one of the original Permanent Participants!

09/14/2026

, as one of three vital platforms that amplify the voices and aspirations of Indigenous Peoples at the UN, was key to the adoption of .

A key outcome of the Forum’s inaugural session 25 years ago was the bold call to States to adopt the draft United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples before the end of the decade.

I call on Member States to honour their commitments under the Declaration and to actively implement its articles, into domestic law and policy.

Read the statement by Aluki Kotierk, Chair of UNPFII, at the opening of the 25th session: https://bit.ly/UNPFII25

Find out more and read the Declaration in one of many languages here: https://bit.ly/_UNDRIP

09/05/2026

International Day of the World’s Indigenous Women and Girls

September 05, 2026 – The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Women and Girls is being observed for the first time this year on September 5th. The day is to raise awareness of the need to recognize and respect the rights and fundamental freedoms of all Indigenous women and girls as set out in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

On this day, Inuit Circumpolar Council celebrates and acknowledges Inuit women as pillars of strength across our communities who continue to safeguard our languages, traditions and transmit the values that sustain Inuit societies and ways of life. Inuit women are cycle-breakers, confronting and transforming legacies of colonialism, violence, and inequality, ensuring opening new pathways for healing, dignity, and self-determination.

Inuit Circumpolar Council expresses concern that Inuit women, like Indigenous women around the world, continue to have a high risk of intersectional gender-based and racial discrimination, including Inuit with diverse gender identities, systemic discrimination, and high rates of violence and abuse, and of being missing or murdered. The consequences of these violations affect not only the individual woman, girl or gender diverse person but our collective Peoples across Inuit homelands and beyond Inuit homelands.

Broad societal circumstances such as the housing crisis further exacerbates vulnerability to violence, displacement, and family separation, and must be addressed as an integral part of ensuring the safety, dignity, and human rights of Inuit women and families.

The Inuit Circumpolar Council welcomes the recent Report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, Albert K. Barume entitled, “Historical and contemporary forms of violations against the sexual and reproductive health and rights of Indigenous women and girls” which includes Inuit women’s obstetric violence experiences.

Inuit Circumpolar Council hosted the first Inuit Women’s Summit in Sisimiut, Kalaallit Nunaat in October 2025. On the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Women and Girls, Inuit Circumpolar Council reiterates the following call included in the Inuit Women’s Summit Declaration as follows:

Call upon the documentation and sharing of experiences and testimonies related to reproductive rights, ensuring that Inuit communities across all regions have access to culturally-grounded support, including therapy and healing services.

Inuit Women’s Summit Declaration: https://www.inuitcircumpolar.com/declaration/inuit-womens-summit-declaration/

2026 Iqaluit Declaration:https://www.inuitcircumpolar.com/wp-content/uploads/2026-07-25-ICC-GA-Declaration-FINAL.pdf

Inuit Arnartaasa Ataatsimeersuarnerannit Nalunaarut Sisimiut, Kalaallt Nunaat – 29 October 2025 Downloads A3 print to duplex (8 pages) print on both sides of paper) KAL edition A3 PDF in spread KAL edition A3 print to duplex (8 pages) print on both sides of paper UK edition A3 PDF in spread UK edi...

08/09/2026

The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is observed each August 9th. This year’s theme is “Honouring Indigenous Midwives: Safeguarding Life and Well-being.” Inuit Circumpolar Council affirms the right of Inuit women to comprehensive care by Inuit midwives, the right to give birth in their own communities, and to receive support from Inuit health care providers.

Indigenous Knowledge systems have sustained the wellbeing of Indigenous Peoples for generations. The Inuit Circumpolar Council celebrates and honours the knowledge and care that Inuit women as mothers, aunties, grandmothers, and midwives provide in caring for babies, mothers, and homes. We honour Inuit birth workers that are doing this work in Inuit communities, providing critical infant and maternal care. We recognize the role of Inuit midwives in protecting Inuit knowledge, language, culture and self-determination through birth and family care.

Inuit Circumpolar Council hosted the first Inuit Women’s Summit in Sisimiut, Kalaallit Nunaat in October 2025. On the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, Inuit Circumpolar Council reiterates the following call included in the Inuit Women’s Summit Declaration as follows:

Call on all Inuit and non-Inuit to create safe spaces and to protect Inuit women leaders at all levels and in all forms, including supporting Inuit women legal professionals, behavioral health specialists, educators, midwives, advocates, and the many other professions that Inuit women occupy, to be heard and respected as they battle every day for our collective rights.

Inuit Women’s Summit Declaration: https://www.inuitcircumpolar.com/declaration/inuit-womens-summit-declaration/
2026 Iqaluit Declaration: https://www.inuitcircumpolar.com/wp-content/uploads/2026-07-25-ICC-GA-Declaration-FINAL.pdf

Inuit Arnartaasa Ataatsimeersuarnerannit Nalunaarut Sisimiut, Kalaallt Nunaat – 29 October 2025 Downloads A3 print to duplex (8 pages) print on both sides of paper) KAL edition A3 PDF in spread KAL edition A3 print to duplex (8 pages) print on both sides of paper UK edition A3 PDF in spread UK edi...

07/31/2026

Learn more about ICC Canada’s work over the past year. Our 2025-2026 Annual Report is now available online in English and Inuktitut!

Explore our work, key milestones, and what’s next as we continue advancing Inuit priorities.

Available here: https://www.inuitcircumpolar.com/project/2025-2026-annual-report/