THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DIALOGUES

FIRST ARCTIC DIALOGUE WORKSHOP, Brussels, 9 March 2010 (Source: European Commission. Read the full text here)

The European Commission adopted the Communication on the "EU and the Arctic Region" (COM (2008) 763) on 20 November 2008. This document which forms the first layer of an EU Arctic policy puts a strong emphasis on the role and involvement of the indigenous peoples of the Arctic. Specifically, the European Commission commits itself to "Engage Arctic indigenous peoples in a regular dialogue". The Council in its Conclusions on Arctic Issues of 8 December 2009 has also underlined the importance of supporting sustainable development for indigenous peoples and welcomed the Commission proposal to engage in a broad dialogue with Arctic indigenous peoples on the basis of respect for their rights. With reference thereto, the European Commission organised an 'Arctic Dialogue' workshop on 9 March 2010 at the Berlaymont Building in Brussels that aimed to gather a representative sample of indigenous stakeholders in the Arctic. The goal of the workshop was to establish a constructive dialogue on areas and means of cooperation between the Commission and Arctic indigenous peoples.

There were no definitive conclusions as to the format of the future dialogue. However, the participants put forward several ideas:

• working group on indigenous peoples issues under Northern Dimension policy
• inclusion of  issues on Arctic indigenous peoples in bilateral relationships
• formal memorandum of understanding
• developing set of guiding principles
• indigenous peoples' office in Brussels
• Sami Parliament's role vis-à-vis Lisbon Treaty
• coordination with EU in international organisations
• communication via Arctic Council Indigenous Peoples Secretariat
• promoting rights of indigenous peoples at international level
• enhanced global governance in the Arctic
• education and capacity building
• research incorporating traditional knowledge
• climate change: mitigation, adaptation, use of traditional knowledge, short lived climate change forcers, socio-economic impacts
• transboundary pollutants
• human health and social issues
• biodiversity
• animal products
• corporate social responsibility (e.g. code of conduct for industries)
• maritime transport (e.g. shipping standards, safety, future transportation routes/ passages, emergency response, Arctic tourism, including cruise ship tourism)
• upcoming EU legislation relevant for the Arctic indigenous peoples
• revolving list of issues
• United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
• Indigenous Community Capacity Building
• Research incorporating traditional knowledge
• Animal Products
• Corporate social responsibility
• Arctic tourism
• Upcoming EU legislation relevant for the Arctic indigenous peoples
• Challenges with resource development activities, specifically offshore oil & gas as well as mining activities
• Challenges with EU and the term Indigenous Peoples in international agreements 

 As regards the content of such a dialogue, among the various items suggested for further discussion were the following:

It was generally concluded that the meeting was a useful attempt at exploring the options for future dialogue between the European Commission with the Arctic indigenous peoples. The objectives and working arrangements of the cooperation will require further reflection and discussion.

SECOND ARCTIC DIALOGUE, Tromsø, 25 January 2011 (Source: European Commission. Read the full text here)

On 25 January 2011 in Tromsø the Commission in cooperation with Indigenous Peoples Secretariat of the Arctic Council organised a short meeting to discuss points of common interest between the EU and the indigenous stakeholders in the Arctic. The event was attended by high-level representatives of four of the six Arctic indigenous peoples organisations that are Permanent Participants in the Arctic Council (Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North, Inuit Circumpolar Council, Saami Council and

Gwich'in Council International) as well as the officials from Canadian government, European Parliament and the Finnish Senior Arctic Official, Ambassador Hannu Halinen. The frank exchange focused on improvement of communication channels and enhanced representation of Arctic indigenous interest in EU policy-making and was complemented by presentations of several recent EU projects and programmes relevant for the Arctic stakeholders.

ARCTIC INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DIALOGUE, Brussels 18 October 2013

The third meeting, “Arctic Indigenous Peoples Dialogue”, was held in Brussels on Friday 18th October 2013. On this occasion, Commissioner Damanaki delivered an opening speech on the importance of a dialogue between the EU and the representatives if Arctic indigenous people as the changes in the Arctic are a great concerns to the two parties, but first and foremost to the indigenous people (read the Speech at the Arctic Indigenous Peoples Dialogue here) .

The first session (11.00-13.00) has addressed “CURRENT EU ACTIONS IN THE ARCTIC”, describing EU s policies affecting the Arctic and introducing several projects financed by the EU and aimed at developing a better understanding of the Arctic and its Indigenous Peoples.

During the second session (14.30-16.00) the indigenous peoples had the chance to discuss issues of their choice. Some of the topics proposed were the following:

• United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
• Indigenous Community Capacity Building
• Research incorporating traditional knowledge
• Animal Products
• Corporate social responsibility
• Arctic tourism
• Upcoming EU legislation relevant for the Arctic indigenous peoples
• Challenges with resource development activities, specifically offshore oil & gas as well as mining activities
• Challenges with EU and the term Indigenous Peoples in international agreements 

(read more here.)