‘Inuit Autonomist Movements: National and Indigenous
Identities in Greenland and Nunavut’
Robert C. Thomsen
Aalborg University, Denmark
Security and Governance in the Globalised Arctic
Aarhus, 13 November 2015
Article 3
Indigenous peoples have the right of
self-determination. By virtue of that right they
freely determine their political status and freely
pursue their economic, social and cultural
development.
Article 4
Indigenous peoples, in exercising their right to selfdetermination, have the right to autonomy or selfgovernment in matters relating to their internal and
local affairs, as well as ways and means for
financing their autonomous functions.
(www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/
documents/DRIPS_en.pdf)
Article 26
Indigenous peoples have the right to the lands,
territories and resources which they have
traditionally owned, occupied or otherwise used or
acquired.
Greenland / Kalaallit Nunaat
Nunavut
Population: 57,000
(~85% Inuit/Inuit-Danish)
Population: 32,000
(~85% of Nunavummiut are Inuit)
Area: 2,038,722 km2
Area: 2,166,086 km2
Autonomism (nationalism)
“Nationalism is primarily a
political principle, which holds
that the political and the national
unit should be congruent”
(Gellner, Nations and Nationalism, 1)
‘Autonomism’:
Autonomy: “equivalent to selfgovernment in the context of an
internal right to selfdetermination”
(Loukacheva, The Arctic Promise, 6)
Based on the perception of a
national right to self-determination,
but the means and the goals may
differ from those of ‘classic’
nationalist movements.
Different perceptions of ‘peoplehood’ (who
belongs to the collectivity)
=>
Different visions (autonomist demands)
Inuit collective identities and autonomisms
Pan-Inuit collective, indigenous identity (ICC)
- Demands for the recognition of the rights of an indigenous transnational ‘Inuit
polity’ (Shadian, 2014: 5)
“Though Inuit live across a far-reaching circumpolar
region, we are united as a single people. […] Inuit
are an indigenous people […]. Central to our rights
as a people is the right to self-determination.
[…] Recognition and respect for our right to selfdetermination is developing at varying paces and
in various forms in the Arctic states in which we
live.”
(ICC 2009)
Inuit collective identities and autonomisms
Local Inuit collective identity (Nunavummiut)
- Demands for inclusion, with the recognition of indigenous minority rights.
“The Inuit of Nunavut see themselves as a part of Canada and are
interested in further devolution of powers and in stronger cooperation and
partnership [within existing] federal structures.” (Loukacheva, 2007: 16)
“Inuit exchanged Aboriginal title to all their traditional land in the Nunavut
Settlement Area for the rights and benefits set out in the NLCA […]. NTI
coordinates and manages Inuit responsibilities set out in the NLCA and
ensures that the federal and territorial governments fulfil their obligations.”
(Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, 2015)
Inuit collective identities and autonomisms
National (Inuit) identity (Greenlanders of Kalaallit Nunaat)
- Demands for the recognition of inherent national rights of selfgovernment; ultimately, full political independence
“Recognising that the people of Greenland is a people pursuant to
international law with the right of self-determination […]. Decision regarding
Greenland’s independence shall be taken by the people of Greenland […].
Independence for Greenland shall imply that Greenland assumes
sovereignty over the Greenland territory.”
(‘Act on Greenland Self-Government’, 2009)
Early findings
* There is much difference in the way ‘Inuitness’ is constructed across the
Arctic, thus also diverging perceptions of the rights that can be claimed as
a consequence of Indigeneity.
* In the longer term, different visions may cause some conflict between
Inuit in the Arctic. Certain manifestations of ‘indigeneity’ and autonomism
/nationalism can be argued to constitute opposing positions, and thus could
be harbingers of potential conflict between Inuit.
* When central governments take the position that Indigenous peoples are
basically entitled to some form of self-determination, solutions for
sustainable political-constitutional and socio-cultural development must be
as diverse as the Inuit indigenous/national collectivities -- and the
demands, they seek to address.