Growing up, parents and grandparents would assertively whisper, “Atta!” It caused immediate stillness and attention to all. The word in our Inuvialuktun (Inuit) language means, “Listen!” As a hunting culture, it was important to pay attention to any sounds of the environment and wildlife.
The Arctic Research Foundation (ARF) recognizes how Indigenous people have a deep connection with the land, water, and sea and therefore understand the need to invest in understanding their respective traditions and beliefs. That relationship is a goal in how ARF will pursue meaningful engagement with communities in and around its areas of operation and how important it is to listen first.
ARF recognizes Section 35.(1) of Canada’s Constitution Act, 1982.
“The existing aboriginal and treaty rights of the aboriginal peoples of Canada are hereby recognized and affirmed.”
The ARF Indigenous Policy will provide an internal guide to ensure best practices and recommended processes in successfully engaging with Indigenous people. Our reconciliation journey is to understand and educate ourselves on our country’s past, its impacts on Indigenous people, and to find the best ways to work together in moving forward.
Consultation – Listen first.
ARF endeavours to listen first when communicating with Indigenous communities, individuals, governments, and organizations. ARF acknowledges the respective traditional territories of various Indigenous people and respects their traditional knowledge and ways of life.
ARF is committed to maintaining open dialogues and developing consultations into meaningful, community led collaborations. We recognize the invaluable knowledge and experience Indigenous communities hold and work with these communities to help them maintain an active role in shaping the research and policies that impact their homelands.
We aim to integrate Traditional Knowledge alongside scientific expertise to ensure the research respects Indigenous rights and values, and addresses the environmental and socio-economic challenges Northern communities face. We are dedicated to making processes collaborative to ensure the inclusivity, equity, and sustainability crucial to informed decision making.
All My Relations
Indigenous peoples have a unique constitutional relationship with the Crown. ARF recognizes they also have a special relationship with their respective land, water, and sea. ARF will continue to invest time in developing that same respect and to build meaningful relationships as we do.
ARF acknowledges the broad diversity in Indigenous peoples, and tailors the scope and operations of proposed projects to the communities where we work, ensuring a collaborative, respectful approach that meets mutual needs. In the spirit of ongoing reconciliation, we commit to amplifying Indigenous voices and providing education and awareness of Indigenous people’s history to ARF board members, staff and partners.
Gathering
ARF understands the cultural significance of the gathering of resources from the land, waters, and sea for subsistence and identity. With the gathering of knowledge through research, ARF will respect communities and the rights of Knowledge Holders. We will ensure an attitude of respectful partnership in the sharing of and use of local knowledge in shaping solutions for science, research, and culture. Our work must always be additive, never extractive.
Commitment to Reconciliation
ARF acknowledges and recognizes the 94 recommendations outlines in the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
We recognize the need to promote education and awareness to other Canadians regarding past history, and move forward to establish respectful relationships. Using our in-house Indigenous resources, we will develop and implement a plan with goals, objectives and activities to ensure all staff and Board members come to an understanding of Indigenous people, customs, and traditions, within Treaties and Land Claim Agreement environments.
Furthermore, we believe in and mirror the calls to action in Towards reconciliation: 10 Calls to Action to natural scientists working in Canada. This was developed by Members of Parks Canada, Kluane First Nation, Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation, and the University of Waterloo (Carmen Wong, Kate Ballegooyen, Lawrence Ignace, Mary Jane (Gudia) Johnson, Heidi Swanson). The following is our interpretation of the call to action applied to ARF’s context:
Call 1: We strive to understand and adapt to the socio-political landscape around research sites.
Call 2: We strive to recognize that generating knowledge about the land is a goal shared with Indigenous peoples and seek meaningful relationships and collaboration for better outcomes for all involved.
Call 3: We strive to enable knowledge sharing and knowledge co-production.
Call 4: We strive to provide meaningful opportunities for Indigenous community members, particularly youth, to experience and participate in science.
Call 5: We strive to recognize and incorporate Indigenous place names in our work.
Call 6: We strive to educate ourselves on Indigenous history and rights.
Call 7: We advocate to change approaches to funding to better suit the realities of the North.
Use of Language
At ARF, we recognize the importance of protecting and preserving endangered languages. Languages are not just a means of communication but a gateway to a community’s cultural heritage and history. We commit to working with communities in their preferred languages. We commit to ensuring live translators are available when consulting with communities and in contexts where language barriers may exist. We will also translate documents where appropriate and possible to ensure all community members have access to information on request. ARF commits to engaging youth and elders to serve as a platform for language, wisdom, and knowledge sharing to younger generations and will support ongoing intergenerational knowledge exchange. We are dedicated to promoting and protecting endangered languages as an essential part of our commitment to cultural preservation and diversity.