1. ‘Autonomism and comprehensive sustainability in Greenland and Nunavut’
Robert C. Thomsen
Aalborg University, Denmark
ISAR-4/ICARP III,
Toyama, 28 April 2015

2. Comprehensive sustainable development
Sustainable development is: “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (Our Common Future 1987, 24).
Sustainability goes beyond ‘ecologically sound’.
‘Comprehensive sustainable development’:
Ecological, economic, social, cultural, political and legal sustainability
(inter-connected, inter-dependent) 2 2

3. Different perceptions of ‘peoplehood’ (who belongs to the collectivity)
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Different visions (autonomist demands)

4. Inuit collective identities and autonomisms
Pan-Inuit collective, indigenous identity (ICC)
- Demands for the recognition of the rights of an indigenous transnational ‘Inuit polity’ (Shadian, 2014: 5)  
“Though Inuit live across a far-reaching circumpolar region, we are united as a single people. […] Inuit are an indigenous people […]. Central to our rights as a people is the right to self-determination.
[…] Recognition and respect for our right to self-determination is developing at varying paces and in various forms in the Arctic states in which we live.”
(ICC: ‘A Circumpolar Inuit Declaration on Sovereignty in the Arctic’, 2009) 4 4

5. Inuit collective identities and autonomisms
Local Inuit collective identity (Nunavummiut)
- Demands for inclusion, with the recognition of indigenous minority rights.
“The Inuit of Nunavut see themselves as a part of Canada and are interested in further devolution of powers and in stronger cooperation and partnership [within existing] federal structures” (Loukacheva, 2007: 16) 5 5

6. Inuit collective identities and autonomisms
National (Inuit) identity (Greenlanders)
- Demands for the recognition of inherent national rights of self-government; ultimately, full political independence
“Recognising that the people of Greenland is a people pursuant to international law with the right of self-determination […]. Decision regarding Greenland’s independence shall be taken by the people of Greenland […]. Independence for Greenland shall imply that Greenland assumes sovereignty over the Greenland territory.”
(‘Act on Greenland Self-Government’, 2009) 6 6

7. Map based on Inuit language (dialects), not territory7 7