Social and environmental concerns are shared by Arctic residents around the polar regions. Listed below are some important issues, but there are many others. Please send your ideas to this website using the form at the bottom of this page.

Intellectual Property

Indigenous peoples are developing guidelines and practices which will protect traditional information and retain its spirit and context. Oral cultures have preserved many practices and much traditional knowledge from misuse and misinterpretation. Information and communication technology (ICT) has opened many new possibilities for information exchange. This allows people to share knowledge, but at this time also requires sensitive communication so that its meaning is kept.

The ACR leaves the topics and the level of detail reported in the hands of the participating communities. The ACR prefers that participants write content themselves, and encourages communication in traditional languages.

Viewers’ comments are requested.
See "Who Owns Native Culture?" link at http://www.williams.edu/go/native/

Languages and Literacy

The survival of traditional language is a priority for many circumpolar peoples, faced with predominant languages which threaten their own. Language carries culture, and culture needs its language to be vital. Literacy in indigenous northern society needs to be interpreted broadly, incorporating all the skills and knowledge which lead to full participation in society. There is much work to be done.

The ACR promotes multilingual reporting on its website. Costs and complexity are outweighed by values of increased literacy. However, this will occur incrementally, depending on resources. The ACR works with other organizations to increase communication, including radio, television, and print journalism (see Arctic Circle of Indigenous Communicators, http://acic@on.to).

Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

The Internet and other forms of electronic communication can overcome the limitations of distance for small and isolated communities. At present, few Arctic communities have full access to the best technology. Issues to be resolved include cost of service, availability of computers, and limited resources for training and support. Active community involvement in creating content would ensure that ICT becomes a constructive tool for development in Arctic settlements. This also results in limited information coming from the Arctic.

The ACR has taken an active part in using ICT to raise awareness in both north and south of its potential. There are many barriers still to be overcome.

Other current issues: