The vice-president of the Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada SA国际影视传媒� who is also an NWT MLA SA国际影视传媒� is hailing a ban on unregulated commercial fishing in the High Arctic as an example of the leadership role Indigenous people must take in climate negotiations.
Nunakput MLA Herb Nakimayak said he was the sole Indigenous person representing Inuit at the negotiating table for the agreement, in his role as vice-president of the Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada.
He said the SA国际影视传媒渇irst-of-its-kindSA国际影视传媒� agreement demonstrates inclusion of Indigenous people SA国际影视传媒� not just in Canada, but around the world.
In his role, he met with Indigenous people to gauge their thoughts on how the agreement might work with different governments, and to bring those ideas to the table.
SA国际影视传媒淪ince itSA国际影视传媒檚 right in our backyard, itSA国际影视传媒檚 important for Inuit and Indigenous people to be involved in the decision-making process as well as including Indigenous local knowledge,SA国际影视传媒� said Nakimayak. SA国际影视传媒淭hese negotiations are meant to prevent any more unregulated, unreported fishing since thereSA国际影视传媒檚 no conservation measures put in place.SA国际影视传媒�
However, the GNWT is not as pleased with how the decision-making process played out.
SA国际影视传媒淚t all rolls back to the premier and his red alert about the federal government making decisions without getting input from the Government of the Northwest Territories,SA国际影视传媒� said Industry Minister Wally Schumann. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 unregulated international waters, but I think itSA国际影视传媒檚 alarming again how the federal governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 gone ahead and done something like this without talking to us.SA国际影视传媒�
On Nov. 30, Canada, the European Union and eight other jurisdictions reached an agreement to prevent unregulated commercial fishing in the high seas of the central Arctic Ocean.
The ban will last at least 16 years, allowing experts to gather better science on Arctic waters before any fishing can take place, stated information from Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
There is currently no commercial fishing in those high seas and the ban will not affect any local Canadian fisheries.
Schumann agreed the ban is the right thing to do, but stressed the GNWT would have liked to be included in the decision-making.
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e just not the little kid up here that the federal governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 babysitting,SA国际影视传媒� the minister said.
Given the longer open season in the Northwest Passage, the ban is good news to Paulatuk mayor Ray Ruben Sr.
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e heard of countries like China and Korea and others that are looking for major fishery areas,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭hat will affect, through the food chain, the coastal species. We have our char that rely on food sources out there, the beluga and the seals, everything that depends on what happens out in the Beaufort.SA国际影视传媒�
While Ruben Sr. said people from his community werenSA国际影视传媒檛 directly consulted on the ban, heSA国际影视传媒檚 in favour until more regulations exist.
Nakimayak described the high seas of the central Arctic Ocean as approximately 322 kilometres offshore.
It includes waters off the coast of Canada, the United States, Russia, Norway and Denmark SA国际影视传媒� with respect to Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
These are international waters outside any countrySA国际影视传媒檚 exclusive economic zone, stated Fisheries and Oceans spokesperson Carole Saindon in an email.
With the melting polar ice cap, Arctic waters are vulnerable to fishing by other countries without the ban in place, said Nakimayak.
He stressed the need for Indigenous voices to be included in any process affecting their climate and livelihood SA国际影视传媒� right from the very beginning.
Schumann said he believes Nakimayak has done SA国际影视传媒渢he right thingSA国际影视传媒� representing the Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada in the negotiations.
SA国际影视传媒淏ut our point is, as the Government of the Northwest Territories SA国际影视传媒� we need to be at the table or at least be informed of whatSA国际影视传媒檚 going on,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
