EDUCATION AND TRAINING

ICC MANDATES UNTIL YEAR 2002

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

The Inuit Circumpolar Conference was given a strong mandate from the 1998 General Assembly delegates to pursue various initiatives related to education and indigenous training. ICC’s Principles and Elements for a Comprehensive Arctic Policy devotes several sections to the need for improved training and educational programmes in the Arctic for the benefit of Inuit. The ICC delegates built upon these Principles and Elements to further guide the ICC Executive Council until the year 2002. Joe Kunuk, the chair of the panel discussion on education and indigenous training, urged delegates to clearly discuss the issues with Inuit youth in mind.

GUIDANCE FROM DELEGATES

I want to caution the planners of the University of the Arctic to go slowly and not to reinvent the wheel. We already have various universities and local colleges that should be more closely consulted in this process. The local colleges should be the starting point. 

(Alaskan delegate)

I believe that we should involve more people in the planning, but the idea should not be slowed down.

(Canadian delegate)

The drop-out rate in our high schools is enormous. We must find solutions to this. I believe creating a common Inuit writing system, and developing definitions of traditional knowledge and science in our own languages are our first priorities. 

(Canadian delegate)

I would like ICC to assist in more educational exchanges among Inuit from different countries. For example we have an excellent fisheries school in Greenland to which we should invite other Inuit.

(Greenland delegate)

The ICC President and Executive Council take their mandates from direction given by delegates at each General Assembly through recommendations and resolutions. As well, ICC’s Principles and Elements for a Comprehensive Arctic Policy continue to guide the work of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference.