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Notes for Remarks – Honourable Dennis Patterson Senator for Nunavut – May 9, 2013

Honourable Senators, I rise to express my outrage about the April 25 decision of the General Court of the European Union to reject, on a technicality, an appeal from Inuit of Canada on the European Union regulation banning the import of seal products to Europe.

In a press release announcing their decision, the Court, in an extraordinarily self satisfied and self justifying statement  devoted the first sentence of the  release to an assertion that:

‘ EU law protects the fundamental economic and social interests of Inuit communities which hunt seal as an integral part of their culture and identity.’

But the court’s same judgment, referring to the Inuit concerns that the European seal ban drastically reduces the market for seal products, and thereby the return to Inuit hunters said that:

‘Such considerations, which are very general in nature and not substantiated, do not demonstrate that the Inuit communities have suffered harm which is disproportionate compared with the objective pursued by the basic regulation.’

That objective, the Court ruled, is to harmonize the regulatory regime throughout the EU after several member states expressed what the Court described as serious concerns by members of the public and governments sensitive to animal welfare considerations because of the suffering caused to these animals when they were killed and skinned.

So logically the Court’s conclusion is that the Inuit did suffer proportionate harm, whatever that means – or that the Court is indifferent if they did. I read this as asserting that the EU need to harmonize markets in Europe is infinitely more important than the harm caused to the Inuit traditional way of life.

Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated President Cathy Towtoongie expressed her outrage over the Court’s attitude towards Inuit in the following terms:

 ‘Respect for Indigenous Peoples in the contemporary world means accepting that Indigenous Peoples are best positioned to know their self-interests. It is arrogant and condescending for an EU court to claim to know better particularly when it is abundantly clear that the seal ban adds to the difficult economic and social challenges being faced by Inuit. It amounts to an attack on our way of life.’

Nunavut’s Environment Minister, Hon. James Arreak, similarly describe the EU seal ban, which has effectively killed the seal products market in Europe, including Omega 3 oil and high quality seal leather, as:

‘…a senseless attack on the Inuit culture.’

The Court also paternalistically rejected the assertion of Inuit in the case that their traditional seal hunt has always been practiced in a humane and efficient manner, endorsing the European Food Safety Authority assertion that:

‘…although it might be possible to kill and skin seals in such a way as to avoid unnecessary pain, distress, fear or other forms of suffering, given the conditions in which seal hunting occurs, consistent verification and control of hunters’ compliance with animal welfare requirements is not feasible in practice or, at least, is very difficult to achieve in an effective way…”  

In other words, we do not trust the Inuit assertion because we cannot monitor their seal hunt.

No wonder NTI President Cathy Towtongie called the EU Court decision colonial.

While paying lip service to the Inuit traditional seal hunt and citing its respect for their indigenous rights as enshrined in the UN Declaration of Indigenous Rights, the European Court said that there had been insufficient evidence presented to the Court that the Inuit way of life will be jeopardized by this ban.

However, when it comes to relying on evidence in favour of the ban, the Court’s evidentiary standards are not so high. 

Writing in the Ottawa Citizen, Terry Glavin has reported (Ottawa Citizen, May 3, In Europe Our Sea Weasels Are Sacred):

‘To understand what the EU means when it uses words like, say, “inhumane,” you need to turn to its main documentary evidence on the seal hunt’s “ethical” and therefore “moral” implications. It is a 2005 report that shows up as Exhibit EU-35, authored by a certain “Prof. A. Linzey,” titled “Public Morality and the Canadian Hunt.” Professor who?

Andrew Linzey, a pioneer in the Christian Vegetarianism Movement, is now director of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics. As Glavin said in his article, Professor Linzey’s evidence is relied on over that of the Inuit ‘….because he is English, wears his collar backwards, and holds an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree.’

The EU ban and the Court’s judgment is a senseless attack on the Inuit culture and a threat to all forms of sustainable wildlife use, said Minister Arreak. Despite the EU’s assertion that the Inuit exemption to the ban protects Inuit, we know for a fact that it does not, he said.

I congratulate Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and our government for supporting them in their efforts to overturn the European ban on seal products.

An appeal remains before the EU Court, which I am hopeful will be judged on its merits and will show respect for the Inuit traditional way of life, culture and identity as the EU Court claims it wants to do.

As the winner of the contest, Kaviok and a chaperone will fly to Iqaluit for Nunavut Day. Kaviok will deliver her winning speech during the Nunavut Day festivities and will assist Towtongie in presiding over the Iqaluit celebrations.

NTI launched the contest earlier this year as part of the festivities to celebrate the 20^th anniversary of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement on July 9, 2013.

“I was very impressed by Vayda’s speech and I look forward to hearing her present it on Nunavut Day,” said Towtongie. “It is inspirational to read the writing of a young person who is so knowledgeable about the history of the NLCA. The movement behind the NLCA was started by young Inuit and it is young people like Vayda who will continue the efforts to get the land claim implemented.”

NO SEAL NO DEAL – Petition to the Arctic Council

We the undersigned call on the Arctic Council member states and permanent members to:

Be mindful of the rights of law-abiding Inuit and other seal hunters to participate in a seal hunt that provides much needed sustenance and economic opportunities in the Arctic and other coastal regions.

Be equally mindful that by legislating a ban on seal product imports, the European Union has clearly demonstrated a profound level of ignorance, disrespect and disregard for indigenous culture and livelihoods which includes the sustainable use of abundant wildlife resources.

THEREFORE, we call on the Arctic Council to reject the European Union’s current and future applications for OBSERVER STATUS at the Arctic Council until such time as the European Union completely lifts its unilaterally imposed and unjust law (Regulation (EU) No. 1007/2009) banning the import of seal products into Europe.

You can sign my petition by clicking here.

Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. President Cathy Towtongie today called on the Government of Canada to reject the European Union’s application to be granted permanent observer status at the Arctic Council.

NTI met with EU officials in Iqaluit earlier this week to discuss the EU’s seal ban and the EU application for permanent observer status. Until the EU completely withdraws its seal ban, Towtongie said NTI remains strongly opposed to its application.

“Arctic countries and Arctic Peoples are dependent socially, economically and culturally on the sustainable use of wildlife and renewable resources. The EU has demonstrated repeatedly that it does not support Canada’s sustainable use of renewable resources. The EU demonstrated this through its actions on Canada’s seal hunt and its recent lack of support at CITES on the polar bear harvest,” said Towtongie.

Towtongie said the EU’s decision to ban the importation of seal products was not based on concerns for sustainable use or humane harvesting methods, but on national politics and misinformed public opinion, contrary to international trade agreements and scientific evidence.

Furthermore, the EU’s position on the international trade in polar bear products showed that the EU does not accept the role of Inuit as wildlife co-management partners in accordance with the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, and does not acknowledge that the current management system for polar bears in Canada is adequate.

During the recent CITES meeting in Thailand, which included a US proposal to uplist polar bears, the EU proposed an amendment to the US proposal which would have granted the EU an oversight role in polar bear management in Canada. Fortunately, the international community voted down the EU amendment and the US proposal because Canada clearly demonstrated the polar bear harvest is humane, sustainable and does not threaten the polar bear population, a fact that was also supported by the CITES administration prior to the meeting.  

The EU’s positions on seal imports and polar bears reveal that the EU does not meet the criteria for observers at the Arctic Council, including respect for the values, interests, cultures and traditions of Arctic Indigenous Peoples.

“These are examples of the EU’s attitude toward Canadian and Inuit wildlife management. It is not in the best interests of Inuit to have the EU granted permanent observer status,” said Towtongie. 

The so-called Inuit exemption was adopted after only the most nominal of consultation with Inuit. It is based on complex and unworkable administration and proves to be of virtually no value in preventing the disappearance of seal product markets for Inuit in the EU.

The EU Court’s decision and press release show that its reasoning is flawed and faulty on a variety of key points. Particularly odd is the Court’s view that EU legislation banning seal products is a justifiable exercise in harmonizing markets in Europe, when in reality the ban kills the seal product market.

“It is offensive for the Court to state that Inuit did not suffer ‘disproportionate’ harm compared with the EU’s own objectives, when the ban has directly and negatively impacted Inuit. EU countries claim to support the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, but the EU court failed to show basic respect for Inuit rights of self-determination,” said Towtongie.

“Respect for Indigenous Peoples in the contemporary world means accepting that Indigenous Peoples are best positioned to know their self-interests. It is arrogant and condescending for an EU court to claim to know better particularly when it is abundantly clear that the seal ban adds to the difficult economic and social challenges being faced by Inuit. It amounts to an attack on our way of life,” said Towtongie.

Two days prior to the Court’s decision, NTI met with EU officials in Iqaluit to discuss the seal ban and the EU’s application to be granted permanent observer status on the Arctic Council. Until the EU revokes their seal ban, Towtongie said NTI remains strongly opposed to their application and called on the Government of Canada to reject their application.

NTI will take part in an ITK Board of Directors meeting next week to review the EU Court decision in detail to determine what steps to take next in the campaign to insist on respect for fundamental Inuit rights in relation to wildlife, wildlife products, and Inuit economic, social and cultural well-being.

The deadline for the President for a Day Contest for Inuit youth attending high school is April 26, 2013.

Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. President Cathy Towtongie launched the contest earlier this year as part of the festivities to celebrate the 20^th anniversary of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement on July 9, 2013.

Inuit high school students who wish to enter the contest must write a 500 word speech about Nunavut and the 20th anniversary of the NLCA. The winner of the contest will deliver this speech at the unveiling of the 20^th anniversary monument in Iqaluit on Nunavut Day, July 9, 2013. The winner will also co-host Nunavut Day activities with President Towtongie and perform other duties as required.

If the winner already resides in Iqaluit, a prize of $1,500 will be awarded.

Submissions can be sent to NTI’s Iqaluit office via Canada Post or email to contest@tunngavik.com. Details of the contest are available on NTI’s website.

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For further information:

Kerry McCluskey                                                                   

Director of Communications                                     

Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated                                         

Tel: (867) 975-4914 Toll-free: 1-888-646-0006

Cell: (867) 222-2893              

kmccluskey@tunngavik.com                                     

www.tunngavik.com

Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. President Cathy Towtongie launched the contest earlier this year as part of the festivities to celebrate the 20^th anniversary of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement on July 9, 2013.

Inuit high school students who wish to enter the contest must write a 500 word speech about Nunavut and the 20th anniversary of the NLCA. The winner of the contest will deliver this speech at the unveiling of the 20^th anniversary monument in Iqaluit on Nunavut Day, July 9, 2013. The winner will also co-host Nunavut Day activities with President Towtongie and perform other duties as required.

If the winner already resides in Iqaluit, a prize of $1,500 will be awarded.

Submissions can be sent to NTI’s Iqaluit office via Canada Post or email to contest@tunngavik.com. Details of the contest are available on NTI’s website.

The forms are available on NTI’s website, and information packages were distributed to all schools, Nunavut Arctic College campuses, hamlet offices and Community Liaison Officers.

Applicants must write a 500-word essay that discusses in detail how they will use their education to promote Inuit rights, identity, language and culture. All essays must be original and must not plagiarize work already published by other writers. It is preferable that applicants be enrolled in education or Inuit language studies. Exceptions can be made if the applicant clearly illustrates how his or her studies and work will contribute to the advancement of Inuit rights.

The scholarship will award two Inuit each with $5,000 to pursue studies at accredited post-secondary institutions. An NTI jury will review the applications and select the students based on their fields of study, written essay, and references.

Applications are due by July 9, 2013, Nunavut Day. Students who are enrolled or eligible to enroll as Beneficiaries of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement are eligible for the scholarship.

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For further information:

Kerry McCluskey

Director of Communications

Tel: (867) 975-4914 Toll-free: 1-888-646-0006

Cell: 867-222-2893

kmccluskey@tunngavik.com

www.tunngavik.com

Countries attending the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species’ (CITES) 16^th Committee of the Parties voted on the American proposal last week, but it was possible for the vote results to be challenged before the end of the conference. Changing the listing of polar bear from appendix II to appendix 1 of CITES would have significantly restricted the international trade of polar bears. The victory is substantial and clearly shows that Canada’s sustainable and responsible polar bear harvest is well-managed.

“Inuit are celebrating today. We have responsibly managed the harvest of polar bears for centuries, and this is recognized by the international community,” said Eetoolook. “The American government’s proposal has been defeated twice now. Perhaps it is time that they turn their efforts to reducing their own impact on the climate instead of trying to control the Inuit economy.”

Canada’s delegation to Thailand was made up of representatives from NTI, the Regional Wildlife Organizations, Government of Nunavut, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Makivik Corporation, Nunatsiavut government, and Government of Canada. Eetoolook said Canada’s collaborative efforts resulted in the victory.

“During the meeting in Thailand and leading up to it, NTI and other officials heavily lobbied many countries to raise awareness about the responsible nature of our harvest. Science clearly shows that international trade does not negatively impact the polar bear population in Canada,” said Eetoolook.