National Inuit Leader Natan Obed welcomed a commitment to a sustainable, low-carbon future announced by the leaders of Canada, the United States and Mexico yesterday and in particular, and the leaders’ commitment to collaborating with Indigenous communities and leaders to incorporate traditional knowledge in decision making.
“Inuit values emphasize the importance of working together to ensure survival. I look forward to working not only with the Canadian government, but also with Canada’s partners and allies to strengthen the role Indigenous knowledge plays in major world decisions affecting climate policy, transportation, and wildlife management,” said Obed, President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the national representational organization for Canada’s 60,000 Inuit.
“President Obama’s reference this evening to partnering to give Arctic peoples the opportunity we deserve comes at an important time in our history. I am pleased to see North American leaders setting strong climate change targets. Ambitious goals, such as the leaders’ commitment to work towards 50 percent clean power generation by 2025, backed by concrete action and meaningful change, is long overdue. I will continue to work in partnership with Prime Minister Trudeau and others to ensure Inuit are included in the work that brings us closer to these targets.”