EU Youth4Ocean Forum

As a founding member of the Youth4Ocean Forum under the EU4Ocean Coalition, I’m happy to announce that we’ve made progress in our first workshop. For more background on the project, check out the website here. Here’s where we’re at with my role so far.

Why should Indigenous peoples be included in EU decisions? First, our Sámi brothers and sisters in Sápmi and Scandinavia deal with EU policies and regulation on a daily basis, and we should stand in solidarity with them in conversations and negotiations occurring within Europe. Additionally, EU policies affect other Arctic Indigenous communities as well, including in the EU ban on seal skin products that has been detrimental to Inuit communities especially in Canada. For more information on this second point, I recommend the documentary film Angry Inuk by Alethea Arnaquq-Baril. Last, a focus on the Arctic ocean must include Indigenous communities as we share the same waters that carry pollution, debris, contaminants, and other residuals from the coast of Europe to our homelands.

EU policies must include Indigenous perspectives and worldviews, and this must be reflected in the Youth4Ocean Forum charter and other EU documents and forums more broadly. Development of our charter will include language and intention for the meaningful engagement of Indigenous communities impacted by EU decisions, including in countries beyond EU jurisdiction. The Arctic Sea Basin working group will focus on opening participation to Indigenous communities, especially to us Inuit in Greenland.

Expect good things and plenty to fight for. Stay tuned!