The 15th Inuit Circumpolar Council general assembly commenced in Iqaluit with the traditional lighting of the qulliq and a ceremonial song, marking the first in-person gathering in eight years after the 2022 meeting was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Noteworthy attendees included Gunn-Britt Retter from the Saami council, who made a lengthy journey to Iqaluit by ship to participate in the event.
Expressing her arduous travel experience, Retter mentioned arriving on time after a 12-day journey from Nuuk to Iqaluit. Other delegates traveled from as far as the Chukotka region in eastern Russia to attend the assembly. Outgoing ICC chair Sara Olsvig emphasized the global significance of the assembly, particularly amid the heightened global interest in the Arctic, citing recent geopolitical events such as threats to annex Greenland.
Olsvig stressed the importance of Inuit leadership in shaping the agenda in their homelands amidst the growing interest in the Arctic. She highlighted the unity among Inuit communities as a source of hope and strength in navigating potential risks associated with increased attention on the region.
The opening ceremony emphasized unity and mutual learning among participants, with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated president Gloria Uluqsi underscoring the unity of Inuit despite representing different regions. Newly-elected ICC Canada president Herb Nakimayak echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the value of face-to-face interactions for sharing knowledge and stories within the Inuit community.
Mayor Solomon Awa of Iqaluit emphasized the strength of Inuit collaboration in facing the challenges posed by Arctic transformations, noting the increasing interest from non-Arctic individuals in the region. The initial sessions of the general assembly, scheduled for Thursday, will focus on Indigenous rights, peace, and security issues.