The treaty organization representing the Athabaskan peoples has spoken out in support of Indigenous peoples in Ukraine amid escalating tensions in the region.
The Arctic Athabaskan Council (AAC), which represents more than 45,000 people of Athabaskan descent in Northern Canada and Alaska, released a statement on Feb. 14 calling for Canada, the United States and Ukraine to SA国际影视传媒渘ot forget commitments they have made to Indigenous peoples.SA国际影视传媒�
There are nearly 250,000 Crimean Tatars in Ukraine, the vast majority of whom live in the Crimean Peninsula itself, which Russia annexed in 2014.
The AAC statement comes in response to escalating tensions in Eastern Europe. Russia has been amassing troops along its border with Ukraine since November, sparking Ukrainian and Western fears of a possible invasion. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said his country doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 want an armed conflict, but expressed anxiety about the possibility of Ukraine being brought into the NATO alliance.
SA国际影视传媒淓veryoneSA国际影视传媒檚 been watching the military buildup regarding the Ukraine, and tensions are getting more acute every day,SA国际影视传媒� said Chief Bill Erasmus, the Canadian chair of the AAC. SA国际影视传媒淲e started talking about it, and reminded each other that there are Indigenous peoples there.SA国际影视传媒�
The statement references the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), a non-binding UN resolution that outlines the rights of Indigenous peoples across the world. In particular, the statement cites Article 30 of UNDRIP, which states that military activities shouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 take place on Indigenous territory, SA国际影视传媒渦nless justified by a relevant public interest or otherwise freely agreed with or requested by the Indigenous peoples concerned.SA国际影视传媒�
In Canada, UNDRIP received royal assent in on June 21 that set the country on the path to implementing the resolution.
Erasmus said the AAC doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 usually get involved in the media, but the situation in Eastern Europe is a SA国际影视传媒渄irect concernSA国际影视传媒� to the council. The AAC participates in the Arctic Council, of which Russia is the chair until 2023. This means the conflict could have direct consequences on the functioning of the Arctic Council, according to Erasmus.
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e concerned that this may have implications for how the Arctic Council functions as an entity,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
SA国际影视传媒淭hough Crimean Tatars are not members of the Arctic Council, AAC is obligated to raise awareness and support Indigenous PeoplesSA国际影视传媒� rights in Ukraine,SA国际影视传媒� the AAC statement reads. SA国际影视传媒淎lso, as the Russian Federation currently chairs the Arctic Council, AAC fears the current crisis surrounding Ukraine will have a negative impact on diplomatic ties that now exist.SA国际影视传媒�
On Feb. 11, the non-governmental Crimean Tatar Resource Centre issued a statement condemning an SA国际影视传媒渋llegalSA国际影视传媒� military exercise by the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy.
SA国际影视传媒淭he exercises conducted by the Russian military destroy the ecosystem of the peninsula and are a gross violation of international law,SA国际影视传媒� the statement reads.
Despite their different histories and geographies, Erasmus said he sees some commonalities between the Athabaskan and Crimean Tatar peoples: SA国际影视传媒淭he big thing is weSA国际影视传媒檝e (both) managed to survive, and we are functioning today,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
