About the Arctic Athabaskan Council
Since February 2021, Arctic Athabaskan Council (AAC) has continued its work in earnest to implement the goals and objectives of AAC’s Five-year Strategic Plan (2021-2026).
Starting February 8, 2021, AAC began a partnership with Global Affairs Canada (GAC) under the Global Arctic Leadership Initiative (GALI). Through this initiative, AAC has been able to begin to revitalize and improve AAC’s day-to-day operations, enhance capacity, and strengthen our mandate.
The challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic has (similar to other international treaty organizations) resulted in a “slowdown” on some fronts, particularly when it comes to travel, in-person meetings, and delays with some new project initiatives. However, AAC has made progress by focusing its energy on strengthening its secretariat so it can better support AAC’s mandate to protect and promote Athabaskan interests both at home and the circumpolar level.
AAC’s leadership, as with its international counterparts, had no choice but to adapt to the new virtual meeting realities since COVID-19 hit. Despite some setbacks, and the lack of in-person meetings, AAC continued to be a dedicated participant when it came to outreach initiatives, including taking a lead role with several projects tied to the recognition of Arctic Council’ 25th Anniversary on September 19, 2021.
Through training of staff and orientation of AAC contractors and researchers, the introduction of Results-Based Management (RBM) practices into AAC’s day to day operation is already showing benefits. AAC’s Gender Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) study provided a clear indication that there are challenges that exist. AAC has seen immediate results by strategically strengthening its mandate to include Elders and Youth Advisors within the organization. This accomplishment will go along way in balancing the contributions to International Arctic research, by Athabaskan People, women and youth. By enhancing the engagement of Elders, AAC will significantly increase the Arctic Council’s access to Athabaskan Indigenous Knowledge and provide a more fulsome scope of views and data in support of its research efforts. With the introduction of youth at the Arctic forum level, and at the Arctic Council table alongside AAC’s Athabaskan Representatives, AAC will improve its voice at the international table. This growth in capacity will also serve to strengthen the outreach within Athabaskan communities, and play an important role in in terms of cultural, social and economic development and environment protection.
About Athabaskan people
The Athabaskan peoples, residing in Arctic and sub-Arctic Alaska, U.S.A., and the Yukon Territory and Northwest Territories of Canada have traditionally occupied a vast geographic area of approximately 3 million square kilometers. This vast region has been continuously occupied by Athabaskan peoples for at least 10,000 years and includes three of North America’s largest river systems (Mackenzie, Yukon and Churchill Rivers). It also includes vast areas of both tundra (barren lands) and taiga (boreal forest) as well as North America’s highest mountains (Mount McKinley and Mount Logan) and the world’s largest non-polar ice field (St. Elias Mountains). The southeastern boundary of the Arctic Athabaskan peoples’ traditional territories includes portions of provincial northern Canada.
The ancestors of contemporary Athabaskan peoples were semi-nomadic hunters. The staples of Athabaskan life are caribou, moose, beaver, rabbits and fish. Athabaskan peoples continue to enjoy their traditional practices and diet.
Except for south-central Alaska (Tanana and Eyak) and the Hudson Bay (Chipweyan), Athabaskan peoples are predominately inland taiga and tundra dwellers. Collectively, the Arctic Athabaskan peoples share 23 distinct languages and live in communities as far flung as Tanana, Alaska and Tadoule Lake, northern Manitoba, nearly 5,400 kilometers apart.
Forms of political and cultural organization vary depending upon the place of residence of a particular Athabaskan people. In Alaska, Athabaskan peoples have organized themselves in accordance with federal and state statutes which provide funding for government operations, including the Indian Reorganization Act for tribal governments, Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act for incorporated Villages, and a variety of state- legislated and traditional political entities. In Canada, Athabaskan peoples have organized themselves into political bodies under federal legislation including bands created under the Indian Act, self-governing First Nations as mandated through negotiated Settlement Agreements, and regional umbrella organizations.