For this blog post I chose to focus on the Saami Council and the Aleut International Association (AIA). The AIA has particular interests in environmental, ocean, and social changes within the Arctic region. The Saami Council has a similar interest in environmental protections, as well as sustainable development of the Arctic. Both organizations are invested in the representation of Indigenous people and protecting their ways of life, especially subsistence and cultural practices.
These Indigenous associations are given the status of Permanent Participants, and “have full consultation rights in connection with the Council’s negotiations and decisions.” Which means they are able to influence the work of the Arctic Council by providing Indigenous perspectives on policy issues, traditional knowledge of the land, their people’s history. This is essential as the Arctic’s Indigenous people’s are most directly impacted by these negotiations, and this role as a Permanent Participant gives them a voice and impact on decision making.
At the moment I can’t think of how else the AIA and Saami Council could strengthen their influence without the Arctic Council granting them equal power as the Arctic States currently hold in their deliberations. In their role as permanent participants, they are able to provide information and consultations in connection with the Council’s decision making and negotiations. However, given that these people are Indigenous to the lands that these nations are discussing, I believe they should have a much greater role to play in these deliberations. I understand that the role they play is already very involved, and they are given much more influence than other Indigenous groups outside the Arctic, but I believe official recognition alongside Arctic Nations is necessary out of respect for Indigenous peoples and honoring their sovereignty.
I think that the AIA and the Saami Council do have a few opportunities to improve their influence. The chapter suggested globalization can improve the standing of indigenous nations, and Arctic peoples can use the forces of globalization, especially increasing ease of communication and discourse, to secure more rights from the Arctic powers. Recognition alongside Arctic Nations may involve some diplomatic subtlety, as I came to understand through our reading that a stronger Arctic Council will give Arctic peoples a stronger standing internationally. The AIA does have membership in both the United States and Russia, so something they could consider is strengthening their ties internally across nationalities so they can effectively advocate for strong Arctic relations.