Arctic

Council
Youth
Matters
 BEGINNINGS
Youth Matters – Arctic [Why it was created.]
Promote: Cooperation,
Coordination and Interaction

Between: 8 Arctic States –

involving both Indigenous peoples
Council

and Northern inhabitants

Regarding: Common Arctic issues;

Sustainable Development and
Environmental Protection
 ARCTIC COUNCIL
Youth Matters – Arctic
STRUCTURE
Council [Overview.]
 USA
Youth Matters – Arctic

Canada
Russia
Council

Denmark;
Greenland,
Faroe Islands

Norway
Iceland Finland Sweden
 PERMANENT PARTICIPANTS
Youth Matters – Arctic [Indigenous Organizations.]
Canada:
– Arctic Athabaskan Council (Canada, USA)
– Gwich’in Council International (Canada, USA)
– Inuit Circumpolar Council (Canada, USA, Greenland, Russia)
Council

Others:
– Saami Council (Finland, Norway, Sweden, Russia)
– RAIPON (Russian Arctic Indigenous Peoples Of the North)
– Aleut International Association (USA)
 OBSERVERS
Youth Matters – Arctic [Interest in the Arctic.]
Countries
International Organizations
Non-Governmental Organizations

France, Germany, Netherlands,

Poland, UK
Council

& 18 International Organizations and

NGOs

WHY  International Spotlight. Interest.

 ISSUES = WORKING
Youth Matters – Arctic GROUPS
Contaminants (ACAP)
Arctic Contaminants Action Program

Monitoring and Assessment (AMAP)

Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme

Conservation (CAFF)
Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna

Emergencies (EPPR)
Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response
Council

Marine Life (PAME)

Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment

Sustainable Development (SDWG)

Sustainable Development Working Group
 CONTAMINANTS
Youth Matters – Arctic [ACAP.]
Contaminants:
• Mercury, PCBs, Pesticides, Hazardous Waste, Flame
Retardants, Dioxins/Furans.
• Most are released through man-made processes.

What ACAP does:

• Monitors and assess contaminants in the Arctic
• Institutes clean-up programs, community initiatives
and demonstrations
Council

• Produces important reports on the current situation

of contaminants in the Arctic

Figure A:
Bioaccumulation
 MONITORING AND
Youth Matters – Arctic ASSESSMENT
[AMAP.]
What’s happening  effects on the
environment and people
– Uses both traditional and scientific knowledge.

• PRIORITIES: Ozone depletion & Effects

• Pollution Effects: Ecosystems and Health
Council

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

Heavy metals
Radioactivity
Acidification
Arctic haze
Petroleum hydrocarbon
 CONSERVATION AND
Youth Matters – Arctic BIODIVERSITY [CAFF.]
• Biodiversity is the number and
types of species in the Arctic
– Important for people in the Arctic
and the Earth as a whole
Council

• CAFF is responsible for various

projects that monitor and assess
the situation of biodiversity in the
Arctic.
 EMERGENCIES
Youth Matters – Arctic [EPPR.]
• Preparing for possible disasters
• Preventing possible disasters

– Assess potential risks,

– Develop scenarios and action plans to

Council

deal with possible emergency

situations

– Conduct research and provide input to

ensure safe development procedures
 MARINE PROTECTION
Youth Matters – Arctic [PAME.]
• Address policy and non-
emergency pollution prevention
and control measures.
• focus on integration to meet
new large-scale challenges
Council

to the Arctic Marine

Environment
 SUSTAINABLE
Youth Matters – Arctic DEVELOPMENT
[SDWG.]
To protect and enhance Arctic
residents’
• Economies
• Culture
• Health

Thematic Areas:
Council

– Arctic Socio-Economic Issues

– Arctic Culture and Language
– Arctic Human Health
– Adaptation to Climate Chang
– Management of Natural Resource
– Energy and Arctic Communities
 YOUTH ADVISORS
Youth Matters – Arctic [Canadian Advisory Committee to the Arctic
Council]
Network and outreach with Northern
young regarding issues that affect the
Arctic
• Participating in Leadership conferences
• Traveling to different communities
• Communication and outreach

Learn about how the Arctic Council

Council

works
• Attend SAO meetings in various Arctic countries
• 1 week orientation in Ottawa
• Participate in conference calls and Advisory
committee meetings providing a unique perspective
Youth Matters – Arctic WHY YOUTH CARE
• Arctic ecosystems + peoples face a
variety of pressures and risks.
• Monitoring and assessing what potential
risks may affect the Arctic is essential
• Need to be ready for emergencies and
able to manage these risks
• Information & planning will ensure the
success of future generations.
Council

• Working with local communities is

essential

• Youth can help!

Youth Matters – Arctic INVOLVING YOUTH
• Become a Canadian Youth Advisor
for the Arctic Council
• Contact current youth advisors to
get information on how you can
participate
Council

• Contact the permanent participant

in your area and let them know
you’re interested in participating
• Visit www.Ookpik.org for more
information
Youth Matters – Arctic CONTACTS
Arctic Athabaskan Council Youth Delegates:
Cindy Dickson
www.arcticathabaskancouncil.org Amy Thompson - NWT
cindy.dickson@cyfn.net
867 393 9214
Robin Urquhart - Yukon

Gwich’in Council robin.urquhart@gmail.com

International
Bridget Larocque Sandi Vincent - Nunavut
www.gwichin.org Websites:
sandi.faye@gmail.com
Council

blarocque_gci@northwestel.net www.ookpik.org
867 777 3782
www.uarctic.org
Inuit Circumpolar Council
Pitseolalaq Moss-Davies
www.international.gc.ca
www.inuitcircumpolar.com
pmoss-davies@inuitcircumpolar.com
613 563 2642