Opening of Indigenous Peoples' International Polar Year
Wednesday, 14 February 2007
Kautokeino, Norway
For further information, please go to:
http://www.ip-ipy.org
The opening of the Indigenous Peoples' International Polar Year takes
place on Wednesday, 14 February 2007, in Kautokeino, Norway.
Representatives of indigenous peoples from all arctic regions, climate
researchers, managers, public officials, and reindeer herders and Sami
youth from Kautokeino will participate in the opening ceremony.
The Indigenous Peoples' International Polar Year includes a human
dimension with a focus on changes in indigenous peoples' societies in
the Arctic, and many of the projects in the international research
effort are initiated from indigenous peoples' own institutions.
Societies in the Arctic face major changes, such as warming of the
climate of northern regions. While the international research community
is focused on the reasons behind climate change, it is important to ask
how indigenous peoples may handle and adapt to the ongoing changes while
simultaneously maintaining existing values and knowledge in their
societies. Intensive, multidisciplinary activities are expected during
the Polar Year through cooperation between indigenous peoples throughout
the region. Northern and indigenous peoples institutions play a major
role in producing and managing local knowledge that is important for
building robust societies.
The opening of the Indigenous Peoples' International Polar Year is
organized by the International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry, Sami
University College/Nordic Sami Institute, Association of World Reindeer
Herders, Resource Centre for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and
Kautokeino municipality.
For further information, please go to:
http://www.ip-ipy.org
or contact:
Svein Mathieson
E-mail: svein.d.mathiesen [at] gmail.com
or contact:
Anders Oskal
E-mail: ax [at] reindeercentre.org