Arctic Indigenous Voices Archives
Voices on Polar North Shipping

Arctic Indigenous Voices

Increased Arctic shipping due to climate change can have a major impact on the Arctic environment, and thus indigenous communities. Increased shipping may significantly affect specific Arctic waters, food security, subsistence activities, the environment and wildlife. Arctic communities, Arctic food security, and Indigenous peoples’ cultures stand to be impacted by increased shipping. Many issues and concerns surrounding increased shipping are discussed across multiple regional, national, and international government bodies. However, the IMO, a specialized agency of the United Nations, is the only agency that sets international maritime rules.

With increased international vessel transits through Arctic waters, there is a need to set standards that protect the livelihoods of Arctic Indigenous peoples. However, there is a glaring lack of direct input or independent representation by Arctic Indigenous peoples in creating or advising on the development of international maritime law for the region.

We seek to advocate for Arctic Indigenous voices to be heard, partner with Indigenous organizations to advance joint environmental interests and initiatives, and empower Arctic peoples through capacity building.

Latest News See All
Indigenous Leaders, Environmental Organizations Support Biden Administration Announcement Soliciting Feedback on Expanding and Strengthening Protections for Special Areas in the Western Arctic

DOI's announcement is an important step, but the agency must establish additional safeguards to prevent the irreversible environmental harm that oil and gas projects like Willow pose to our climate and communities.

Conservation Groups Defend the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Decision on the Proposed Pebble Mine

Friends of the Earth is proud to fight alongside our environmental, fishing, and Indigenous allies at every stage to ensure that Pebble Mine remains a distant memory

Court orders Fish and Wildlife Service to fix regulation allowing oil companies to harm polar bears

Fish and Wildlife Service is rightly being sent back to the drawing board to recalculate important factors that could make-or-break the struggling polar bear population on Alaska's North Slope.

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Impact Stories See All
Stopping Pebble Mine and Saving Alaska’s Wild Salmon
Stopping Pebble Mine and Saving Alaska’s Wild Salmon

A years-long battle over a proposed mine in Alaska ended when a coalition that included Friends of the Earth successfully pushed the US Army Corps of Engineers to deny Pebble Mine a permit to operate in Bristol Bay,  killing the project! 

Protecting Arctic Communities & Wildlife
Protecting Arctic Communities & Wildlife

This is yet another blow to efforts to drill in the protected wilderness that means so much to local communities and creatures.

Saving a National Forest
Saving a National Forest

More than 111,000 Friends of the Earth members demanded that the Forest Service permanently protect our National Forests from corporations

Latest Blog Posts See All
The Verdict on the Arctic’s Heavy Fuel Oil Ban: Good, but Not Nearly Enough
The Verdict on the Arctic’s Heavy Fuel Oil Ban: Good, but Not Nearly Enough

While the HFO ban is welcome, much more needs to be done to honor and safeguard the Arctic.

The Climate & Agriculture provisions of the IRA
The Climate & Agriculture provisions of the IRA

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is many things at once. The good and the bad all need to be considered together.

For Arctic Indigenous people, is foresight 2020?
For Arctic Indigenous people, is foresight 2020?

It is important for Arctic Indigenous peoples to be heard at this crucial meeting, to help people understand why we need the Arctic to remain cool by reducing emissions from shipping and other sectors.

Resources See All
  • Indigenous Participation at IMO Briefing Q&A
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  • Indigenous IMO Campaign Fact Sheet
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  • Kawerak, Inc. Resolution
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