ABSTRACT
Adopting a postcolonial theoretical approach, this chapter explores the use of music as a medium for attaining subaltern self-representation through exercising indigenous advocacy and communicating indigenous knowledge and counter-narratives. It argues that sovereignty and ‘claiming back the Arctic’ manifest not merely in a physical territorial sense but also as cultural preservation. The chapter examines why the Arctic context and the plight of its indigenous populations may be examined through a postcolonial theoretical lens. It turns to imaginations of the Arctic wilderness and how anxiety about losing it fuels musical initiatives for environmental advocacy, while debating whether indigenous populations reap any benefits from these efforts. Combining sonic and visual elements can be an effective means of capturing the attention of audiences and a platform which promotes active listening. Where music has been incorporated in environmental advocacy, such as in Greenpeace’s Save the Arctic campaign, it has afforded emotional uplift, united listeners, and encouraged environmental behaviour.
