Environmental Justice: Making it a Reality for the Inuit Indigenous People in the Canadian Arctic region

At the heart of this policy briefing is the issue of environmental justice. “Inuit want to be involved in the future of the Arctic. We want to have meaningful consultation. We want to invest in our own future. We want a voice at the table because, after all, we are the people who will be living here ...” OKALIK EEGEESIAK, President Qikiqtani Inuit Association, Iqaluit, Nunavut (2011) The Inuit Indigenous People in the Canadian Arctic (IIPCA), like many other indigenous people in other parts of Canada and world over, are victims of historical injustices resulting from colonization and dispossession of their land1. While there is no one universal definition that encompasses the diversity of indigenous peoples2, their common traditional way of life as well as the intimate connection to their environment sets them apart. The relationship between the Canadian government and the Inuit indigenous people has been one shaped by a strained history, characterised by land grabs, and relocation and assimilation policies. As the country continues to face the legacy of this history and forge policies that encourage reconciliation, the emerging opportunities for oil and gas exploration in the Arctic present a potential clash between exploitation of such opportunities and the reconciliation process. As Canada attempts to enforce policies that address the unique needs of the Arctic environment and those of the indigenous people living in the Arctic region- especially in light of Arctic oil exploration; such policies prove to be insufficient, or insufficiently implemented, and environmental injustices and grievances ensue. Apart from identifying policy gaps limiting the promotion of environmental justice for the Inuit people in the Arctic region and offering policy recommendation, the paper is also aimed at highlighting and analysing the context and issues underlying such policies.This policy briefing was submitted in partial fulfillment of a Master's degree in Public Policy- Willy Brandt School of Public Policy (Germany