Indigenous Peoples’ autonomy and self-governance: Arctic regional dialogue

On Thursday 3 February, the Department of Economic and Social Affairs organized an Arctic regional dialogue on Indigenous Peoples’ autonomy and self-governance, in cooperation with the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

The dialogue took place at noon in New York, which converts to the following: 6 PM in Kautokeino (Norway), 2 PM in Nuuk(Greenland), 12 noon in Kuujjuaq (Canada), 8 AM in Utqiagvik (Alaska, USA).

The dialogue was moderated by Ms. Anne Nuorgam, Chair of the Permanent Forum and Ms. Tove Søvndahl Gant, member of the Permanent Forum.

At its twentieth session, the Permanent Forum committed to facilitating informal online regional dialogues on autonomy and self-governance to support the development of guiding principles for the realization of the rights of Indigenous Peoples to autonomy and self-government.  Guiding questions for consideration of speakers and participants were:

• What are good practices related to Indigenous Peoples’ autonomy in the region?
• What have been the challenges or obstacles to implement the right to autonomy?
• What are the priorities of Indigenous peoples? 
• What could be the potential scope/content of these guiding principles?

Registration was open for the following:
-Indigenous Peoples’ representatives and organizations
-Member States
-NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC
-Academia