Coming in from the Cold

Abstract

In the past, Inuit societies were often pictured as unorganized, primitive, and isolated. Their impressive success in domestic and international politics over the last forty years contradicts these early stereotypes. Inuit have been strong partners in an international movement to create a stable and equitable political regime in the circumpolar world. Beginning in the 1970s, Canadian Inuit made common cause with Inuit of Alaska and Greenland, forming the very effective nongovernmental organization, the Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC) in 1977. They developed an Arctic Policy to support international efforts to better manage the circumpolar basin, fought and won a battle to create a global program to reduce the production of persistent organic pollutants, and have led international efforts for action on climate change.