ABSTRACT
Despite lacking obvious sources of international political power the Inuit have become a strong voice for sustainability in the face of the increasing encroachment on and environmental degradation of their lands. In doing so this Inuit campaign has showcased to the world a distinct political and economic model for the sustainable management of land and resources with relevance well beyond the Arctic. However, Inuit notions of sustainability are not always neatly aligned with Western ecological norms promoted by green non-governmental organizations. In particular, the ethical tide against hunting advanced by the global green movement jars with the sustainable continuation of this traditional practice by the ‘original ecologists’. An additional challenge for advancing this model of sustainability comes from within the Inuit community itself by those tempted by new opportunities for a ‘dash for growth’ as the ice retreats and the multi-national corporations advance. This chapter explores the evolution and impact of this unique Inuit voice for sustainability, paradoxically increasing in global influence at the same time as this lifestyle has come to be most threatened.
