The Arctic This Week Take Five: Week of 31 October, 2022
Canadian Parliament Recognizes Residential Schools as Genocide
As reported by Nunatsiaq News on October 28, the Canadian House of Commons has formally recognized that the residential school system amounted to genocide against Canada’s Indigenous Peoples. The motion was proposed by Member of Parliament for Winnipeg Centre Leah Gazan during a question session at the House of Commons, and passed by unanimous vote in Parliament on October 27. It was the second time that Leah Gazan introduced the motion in the House of Commons, with the first attempt failing in 2021. (Nunatsiaq News)
Take 1: Canada’s residential school system was part of government assimilation policies for over a century. The schools separated children from their families and eroded Indigenous culture and language. Therefore, the Canadian government’s formal recognition that what occurred at the residential schools was genocide is a profound moment for the country and an acknowledgement of the government’s atrocities. This action follows other recent steps to recognize the harm of the residential schools, including the establishment of the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation and a formal apology from the Pope, who also agreed that the residential schools policy amounted to cultural genocide. Yet, schools in Inuit communities continue to lack courses or curriculum that include Indigenous history, traditional learning, culture, or language. Schools also often ignore or even discourage Indigenous values and practices. The lack of Indigenous education and acknowledgement of Indigenous values continues to weaken Inuit culture. One major contributing factor is that parents and Indigenous community members are typically not involved in the school process and have little authority over the curriculum design, particularly due to the devastating experience of the residential school system. Schools should involve Indigenous people as meaningful partners in transforming school culture and work with them to develop inclusive education. While the unanimous passing of the motion in the House of Commons is incredibly important, the legacy of residential schools remains, and more must be done to address enduring injustices in schools. (AP News, Journal of Youth Studies, University of Washington)
Norwegian Military Raises Preparedness Level
As reported by High North News on November 1, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr announced that the Norwegian Armed Forces would be strengthening its military preparedness due to the serious security situation. Following advice from the Chief of Defense, the military will move into a new phase of its strategic plans, which includes reprioritizing resources and adjusting activities. Chief of Defense General Eirik Kristoffersen stated that maritime surveillance and domestic preparedness would be some of the areas that are prioritized. (High North News)
Take 2: The announcement that the Norwegian Armed Forces will be raising its level of preparedness is an important signal and indicates that the security situation in the High North is continuing to deteriorate. The decision follows several security threats in the region over the last few months, includinginclude Russia’s tests of underwater warfare technology in the Barents Sea, its numerous Russian military exercises in the region, and the re-deployment of Russia’s long-range strategic bombers to the Kola Peninsula. The situation in the High North is alarming as both Russian and NATO drills intensify, increasing the potential for conflict and further destabilizing the region. The announcement is also worrisome as it demonstrates the worsening political relations with Russia. The Arctic Council, which paused its activities after Russia invaded Ukraine, will likely remain suspended as tensions continue. Although Arctic science research is essential, including in Russia’s Arctic territory, the prominence of political and security concerns may hinder international scientific research in the region. Therefore, while Norway’s decision to strengthen its military preparedness is vital for its national security, it further emphasizes the importance of military and security matters in the region. As Norway moves into the next phase of its strategic plans, it should also continue to pursue other Arctic priorities, especially promoting scientific research, investing in the welfare of Indigenous communities, and creating pathways for future Arctic cooperation. (Government of Norway, The Barents Observer)
China Resumes LNG Module Deliveries
As reported by the Barents Observer on November 1, China’s largest heavy-load vessel, Xin Guang Hua, has sailed into the Kola Bay to deliver an industrial module for the LNG Construction Center in Belokamenka, an important site for Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 project. A company representative of Novatek stated that Chinese construction yards will continue to cooperate with Novatek. However, technological adjustments have been made due to ongoing sanctions, which have prohibited the exporting of key technology to Russian LNG projects. (The Barents Observer)
Take 3: The arrival of the Xin Guang Hua marks the resumption of Chinese deliveries for the Arctic LNG 2 project. Following the EU’s fifth sanctions package, which targeted specific goods and services, Chinese manufacturers halted construction for Russian projects to comply with EU sanctions. It was also reported that China’s state shipping company COSCO decided not to sail any of its vessels through Russia’s Northern Sea Route this year. At the time, these actions raised questions about the strength and nature of Arctic cooperation between China and Russia; however, the delivery of the new module indicates that the two countries continue to remain cooperative partners. Although the sanctions were intended to target Russia’s liquified natural gas projects, including those in the Arctic, the shipment may also suggest that Novatek and the Arctic LNG 2 project are overcoming some of the challenges from the sanctions. Russia has also worked to navigate around the sanctions regime to procure critical technology, including by replacing its use of European technology companies with other firms. Therefore, while the project has been seriously harmed, it is possible that Russia will complete Arctic LNG 2 despite the sanctions. These projects and Russia’s continued development of the Arctic could provide additional resources to sustain its militarization of the region and its invasion of Ukraine, a major source of tension between Russia and the other Arctic states. Thus, while the delivery of the module signals continued Russia-China cooperation, it could further hinder cooperation in the Arctic. (Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, High North News, The Barents Observer)
Arctic Heating and Cooling: the Role of Vegetation
As reported by Earth.com on November 1, new research published in Nature Communications found that the Arctic’s diverse vegetation is an important factor in surface energy flux or the transfer of energy and heat between the atmosphere and the Earth’s surface. A team of scientists, led by two researchers from the University of Zurich, studied energy flux data from 64 tundra and glacier sites over the period between 1994 to 2021. The researchers concluded that plant communities may have warming and cooling effects on the land surface and should be included in climate models. (Earth.com)
Take 4: Rising temperatures have led to rapid environmental changes in the Arctic, including significant permafrost thaw. The melting of this perennially frozen ground can potentially release harmful contaminants, hazardous materials, and immense amounts of greenhouse gases that are currently stored in the permafrost. As preserving permafrost largely depends on the transfer of heat into the ground, the research from this study provides important information on the critical role of vegetation in driving the exchange of energy and heat between the atmosphere and the surface. This is particularly relevant due to the “greening” of the Arctic tundra, or increased tundra productivity. Scientists have observed that shrubs in the tundra have become larger and denser. Rising temperatures are allowing forests to advance into the typically treeless tundra, furthering the growth of vegetation and plant communities. Therefore, the findings from the paper emphasize that understanding the spread of vegetation in the future will help scientists make better climate projections in the vulnerable Arctic ecosystem. Climate models should incorporate the Arctic’s various types of vegetation into climate models to account for these impacts of vegetation on the transfer of heat. Moreover, governments should also support the researchers’ recommendations to fill data gaps by establishing and maintaining monitoring stations to better observe the shifts in the Arctic landscape. (DW News, NOAA)
Inuit Arts Summit to Take Place in Ottawa
As reported by CBC News on October 29, Qaggiavutt’s annual performing arts summit will take place in Ottawa instead of Nunavut due to a lack of performing arts space. The summit, which will take place from November 3 to 7, aims to revitalize Inuit languages through performing arts by bringing together Inuit and Northern musicians, actors, dancers, storytellers, and artists. Maori haka dancers will also perform at the summit and discuss how Indigenous culture and language have been preserved in New Zealand. (CBC News)
Take 5: Like many Indigenous Peoples across the Arctic, the Inuit in Canada were subjected to a colonial regime, featuring policies such as residential schools and voting restrictions. Canada’s aggressive policy of assimilation is characterized by the Indian Act of 1876, which put the eradication of Indigenous culture into law and enabled trauma, human rights violations and social and cultural disruption for generations of Indigenous peoples. As a result, these policies severely eroded Indigenous culture, language, and practices. The historical trauma from colonial policies and the weakening of traditional culture have contributed to mental health problems in many Arctic Indigenous communities. According to the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, suicide rates are 5 to 25 times higher among Inuit compared to the Canadian average, and many Inuit communities also experience high levels of substance and alcohol use. Performing arts are one way to address these issues. Performances sustain traditional practices, revitalize Indigenous languages, and continue the process of storytelling. They also provide spaces for expression, enjoyment, and connection with community, making the arts an important aspect of preserving Indigenous culture and promoting mental wellness. Cultural continuity, such as connection and maintaining Inuit language, culture, and history, also serves as a protective factor that decreases the risk of suicide. Thus, the Canadian government should support organizations like Qaggiavutt and invest in more spaces for traditional cultural and performing arts. (Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, NorthwesTel, The Canadian Encyclopedia)