Press

ARCTIC ATHABASKAN COUNCIL
11 Nisutlin Drive, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada, Y1A 3S4
telephone (867) 393-9214 or 393-9215, fax (867) 668-6577

e-mail: ncp.cyfn@yukon.net

Press Release

SIGNING OF THE TREATY OF THE ARCTIC ATHABASKAN COUNCIL

LU'AN MAN KEYI (Burwash Landing), July 2, 2000 - On Monday, June 26, 2000 a historical meeting and signing ceremony took place at Lu'an Man Keyi, as seven Athabaskan leaders from Alaska, Yukon Territory, and the Northwest Territories signed an international treaty creating the Arctic Athabaskan Council. The Treaty creates a forum for North American Athabaskan cooperation within the Arctic. Council members are represented by the Chickaloon Village Traditional Council (Nay'Dini'AA Na), Healy Lake Traditional Council (Menda Cha~Ag), Steven Village Tribal Government, Northway Tribal Council, Council of Yukon First Nations, Dene Nation, and Metis Nation-Northwest Territories. The treaty organization was created for the purpose of promoting Arctic Athabaskan heritage and to represent the interests of Athabaskan peoples at the international forum of the Arctic Council.

"This Arctic Athabaskan Council treaty organization will help all of our Nations in advocating for greater protection and preservation of our northern ecosystems", said Ed Schultz, newly appointed Chairperson of the Arctic Athabaskan Council.

"With this treaty in place, the Arctic Athabaskan Council will now be making an application for recognition as a Permanent Participant to the Arctic Council at its next meeting, to be held in Barrow, Alaska on October 9-15, 2000", Schultz said.

Also at its first meeting , the Arctic Athabaskan Council established a Secretariat, with a Permanent Office in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. The Arctic Athabaskan Council also appointed two interim Executive Directors to the newly formed Secretariat. Cindy Dickson of the Council of Yukon First Nation, Yukon Territory, Canada, and Howard Mermelstein of the Native Village of Healy Lake (Mendas Cha~Ag), Alaska, United States, will oversee the day-to-day operations of the secretariat.

The Arctic Council was established in 1996 to expand cooperation and facilitate meetings to deal with shared challenges and opportunities within the circumpolar region. Currently, there are eight Arctic member states and four Aboriginal Permanent Participants. Regional forums such as the Arctic Council play an important role in ensuring effective information sharing, coordination, and co-funding initiatives for shared priorities among Arctic member states and Aboriginal Permanent Participants.

The northern dimension of Canada's foreign policy, which was recently announced, highlights the importance of promoting an increased role for Permanent Participants. It encourages northern Indigenous communities, like the Arctic Athabaskan Council, to increase their presence in Arctic international forums.

For more information please contact:

Cindy Dickson: (867)393-9214 or Howard Mermelstein: (907)876-5018