Future Arctic Leaders Workshop Summary Report.

Abstract

At the Kiruna 2013 Ministerial Meeting, Arctic state Ministers asked Senior Arctic Officials (SAOs) to recommend ways to strengthen the work of the Arctic Council. Engagement with youth was included as an important component of these efforts, as it “helps build awareness of the Council's work and creates a sense on shared community on issues of common concern and interest to young people living in the Arctic" (Arctic Council, 2015:1). During Canada’s 2013- 2015 Chairmanship of the Arctic Council, SAOs approved a proposal put forward by Canada to organize a workshop of young leaders from across the circumpolar region to meet and discuss economic, social, and environmental issues in the Arctic, and their vision for the future of the Arctic. On April 23, 2015, the Future Arctic Leaders Workshop was held in Ottawa, Canada, which preceded the April 24-25, 2015 Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting held in Iqaluit. Twenty-one participants1, between the ages of 21-30, attended the Workshop, representing Canada, the United States, Norway and Russia, as well as the Council’s Indigenous Permanent Participant Organizations, including the Inuit Circumpolar Council, the Aleut International Association, the Saami Council, and the Arctic Athabaskan Council.