Inuit Circumpolar Conference
From Free net encyclopedia
Inuit Circumpolar Conference or ICC, is an multinational non-governmental organization claiming to represent 150,000 Inuit living in Canada (Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and the Yukon Territory), Inupiat and Yupik living in United States (Alaska), Kalaallit living in Greenland, and Siberian Yupik living on the Russian peninsula of Chukotka.
All of these peoples are sometimes collectively referred to by the exonym Eskimo, the use of which is frowned upon by many of the Inuit peoples, especially in eastern Canada. The ICC uses the term Inuit to refer to them all, which has its own problems. The Yupik of both Alaska and Russia generally dislike being called Inuit, which is not a word in the Yupik language nor a word which they use to describe themselves, and prefer Yupik but will tolerate Eskimo. [1]
The main goals of the organization are to strengthen unity among Inuit, to promote their rights and interests, and to ensure the development of Inuit culture.
A General Assembly, which also serves as a discussion forum, is held every four years, bringing together Inuit from across the northern circumpolar region. Assembly delegates elect a president and an executive council, and develop policies and resolutions for the coming term.
