Ottawa, Ontario - Located in the waters of Canada and the Kingdom of Denmark with regard to Greenland, the Pikialasorsuaq or North Water Polynya, is a dynamic area of open sea that remains ice-free throughout the winter. It is one of the most biologically productive regions north of the Arctic Circle.
The Pikialasorsuaq is of great value to the surrounding Inuit communities: it provides a food source through harvesting, through its cultural and spiritual significance, and acts as a travel route connecting Inuit. The Pikialasorsuaq marine ecosystem is recognized as a vital habitat for many migratory species upon which Inuit depend, but is now under threat from climate change and increased human activity.
Today, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, and her Greenlandic counterpart, the Minister of Agriculture, Self-Sufficiency, Energy and Environment, Kalistat Lund, signed the Letter of Intent for Cooperation on the Pikialasorsuaq which took place on the margins of the Arctic Circle Assembly, in Reykjavik, Iceland. The signing was witnessed by Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) President Olayuk Akesuk, in recognition of QIA's role as the Inuit partner to the Government of Canada in the discussions with Greenland, and in representation of Inuit in Canada living on the Pikialasorsuaq.
The Letter of Intent will allow for the implementation of a joint steering committee across Canada and Greenland, with representation from Inuit and national governments on both sides. The committee will share Indigenous knowledge and scientific information, work towards common conservation goals, and advance ecosystem-based management for the future of the Pikialasorsuaq.
