Unit 8: Political Geography: Territorial Politics, Geopolitics, and Circumpolar Initiatives

Question 1

What is a land claim? Name and briefly describe two different types of land claims.

Answer 1

Land claims are declarations of collective rights. They are based on the position that Aboriginal people have claims to traditional territory and rights of governance over people, land, and resources.

1. Specific: Claims dealing with a specific parcel of land already specified as a reserve to address concerns of non-fulfillment of Treaty rights or other obligations.
2. Comprehensive: a claim to Aboriginal title of land and resources in an area where no previous treaty with the inhabitants exits. Their objective is to negotiate modern treaties which provide certainty and clarity over rights to ownership, use of the land, and resources.

Question 2

Identify and briefly describe two legal decisions that helped support the Inuit land claims that provided for the creation of Nunavut

Answer 2

1. The Calder Case, 1973. It acknowledged the existence of Aboriginal title and rights which opened the door to comprehensive land claims agreements.
2. Canadian Constitution, 1982. Aboriginal rights were enshrined within it.

Question 3

Detail the similarities and differences between the Arctic Council and the Northern Forum

Answer 3

In contrast with the AC, the member representatives of the NF are united by their frustration with their central governments, which they characterize as not adequately addressing northern issues. The NF has also taken a much stronger interest in the concerns of non-Aboriginal residents of the North. As well, whereas the AC concentrates on issues related to protected natural areas, long-range pollutants, and nuclear contamination, the NF has focused on matters of infrastructure, housing, economic well-being, and resource development, and it works much more at local rather than higher government levels.

One significant area of overlap between the NF and AC is in sustainable development, particularly in relation to human health and the use of the Arctic’s natural resources. As Young points out, collaboration between the two organizations on sustainable development would work well with the AC taking a top-down approach by focusing on issues such as the long-range transport of pollutants, and the NF adopting a bottom-up approach by examining issues of local infrastructure, economic activity related to climate change, and the educational needs of the residents of small Arctic communities.

Question 4

In what ways do existing international circumpolar organizations fail to fully address the concerns of Indigenous peoples?

Answer 4

They pay lip service to them and their issues of concern, but do not always include them in decision making.

For example, they are not given full active membership in the Arctic Council, were not invited to sign the Declaration on the Protection of the Arctic Environment, and they did not have much say as the signatory bodies in what was included in it.