Inuit Circumpolar Council

The Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) was founded in 1977 to unify Inuit voices, promote rights and influence Arctic policies. It now represents approximately 150,000 Inuit of Alaska, Canada, Greenland and Chukotka (Russia). The council has offices in all four countries and is governed by an Executive Council with two members from each country.

Every four years, the council hosts a General Assembly for discussion, sharing information and strengthening the bonds between all Inuit. Representatives from Inuit Circumpolar Youth Council and the International Elders Council also participate. The next General Assembly will be in Nuuk, Greenland in 2010.

The council is also very active within the United Nations on human rights, climate change and other issues such as the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It also works closely with Arctic indigenous organizations within the Arctic Council (where it is one of the original Permanent Participants) and in other international forums.