Arctic voices take centre stage at international shipping forum

WWF

LONDON, ENGLAND — Voices from the shores of the Mackenzie River and Hudson Bay will be heard on the edge of the River Thames this week as the International Marine Organization (IMO) gathers in the British capital for the 70th Session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee.

The IMO includes 171 member countries, 77 environmental and industry NGOs (including WWF) and 65 international government organizations, but no representation from Arctic Indigenous communities or groups. For this reason, WWF-Canada has invited esteemed Inuit and Inuvialuit  leaders to join Russian and U.S. Indigenous leaders to speak directly to IMO members about the environmental impacts from increased shipping and community food security.

Who:  

  • Tagak Curley, one of the founding Fathers of Nunavut
  • Hans Lennie, a member of the Inuvik Hunters and Trappers Committee and the Inuvialuit Game Council

What: Mr. Curley and Mr. Lennie will participate in an Arctic Voices Panel, meet with the IMO Secretary General, the delegations from the United States and Canada, and host a photo exhibit to bring life in the Arctic directly to IMO member states.

When: Oct. 26, 2016

Tagak Curley, member and the first president of the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada, says:
“The sea is the lifeblood for Arctic people. It provides us with our food, clothing. It’s part of our culture. Our home is seeing a lot of changes due to climate change, and as the ice melts, more ships will be able to pass through areas that are important for the species we depend on for our livelihood.”

Hans Lennie, Inuvik Hunters and Trappers Committee and Inuvialuit Game Council, says:
“The IMO makes big decisions that affect us as individuals. We are seeing species disturbed, sometimes struck and killed because of the ships. We can also see the pollution, in the water, on the snow and ice. We need to make sure we protect the environment so that we can continue to live off the land as we have for generations.”

Paul Crowley, WWF-Canada’s vice-president of Arctic conservation, says:
“As the Arctic warms faster than any region on the planet, shipping in and through the region will grow. I commend the IMO for seeking to engage with the very people who depend on the Arctic waters and ice. The Arctic Voices panel is a great opportunity for delegates to the IMO from around the world to hear first-hand from indigenous communities in the North.”

For further information or to arrange interviews, please contact:
Megan Nesseth, communications specialist, [email protected], +1 416-904-2482