Crossroads of Continents and Modern Boundaries: An Introduction to Inuit and Chukchi Experiences in the Bering Strait, Beaufort Sea, and Baffin Bay
The homeland of Inuit extends from Asia and the Bering Sea to Greenland and the Atlantic Ocean. Inuit and their Chukchi neighbors have always been highly mobile, but the imposition of three international borders in the region constrained travel, trade, hunting, and resource stewardship among neighbo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-06-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/6/1808 |
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| author | Henry P. Huntington Richard Binder Sr. Robert Comeau Lene Kielsen Holm Vera Metcalf Toku Oshima Carla SimsKayotuk Eduard Zdor |
| author_facet | Henry P. Huntington Richard Binder Sr. Robert Comeau Lene Kielsen Holm Vera Metcalf Toku Oshima Carla SimsKayotuk Eduard Zdor |
| author_sort | Henry P. Huntington |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The homeland of Inuit extends from Asia and the Bering Sea to Greenland and the Atlantic Ocean. Inuit and their Chukchi neighbors have always been highly mobile, but the imposition of three international borders in the region constrained travel, trade, hunting, and resource stewardship among neighboring groups. Colonization, assimilation, and enforcement of national laws further separated those even from the same family. In recent decades, Inuit and Chukchi have re-established many ties across those boundaries, making it easier to travel and trade with one another and to create new institutions of environmental management. To introduce Indigenous perspectives into the discussion of transboundary maritime water connections in the Arctic, this paper presents personal descriptions of what those connections mean to people who live and work along and across each of the national frontiers within the region: Russia–U.S., U.S.–Canada, and Canada–Greenland. Some of these connections have been made in cooperation with national governments, some in the absence of government activity, and some despite opposition from national governments. In all cases, the shared culture of the region has provided a common foundation for a shared vision and commitment to cooperation and the resumption of Indigenous self-determination within their homelands. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:54:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1c1ffa2fad6b4b05a69a35b76c42b32f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:54:58Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-1c1ffa2fad6b4b05a69a35b76c42b32f2023-11-20T04:49:46ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412020-06-01126180810.3390/w12061808Crossroads of Continents and Modern Boundaries: An Introduction to Inuit and Chukchi Experiences in the Bering Strait, Beaufort Sea, and Baffin BayHenry P. Huntington0Richard Binder Sr.1Robert Comeau2Lene Kielsen Holm3Vera Metcalf4Toku Oshima5Carla SimsKayotuk6Eduard Zdor7Ocean Conservancy, Eagle River, AK 99577, USAInuvik, NT X0E 0T0, CanadaIqaluit, NU X0A 0H0, CanadaGreenland Institute of Natural Resources, Nuuk 3900, GreenlandEskimo Walrus Commission, Nome, AK 99762, USAQaanaaq 3971, GreenlandNorth Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management, Kaktovik, AK 99747, USADepartment of Anthropology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USAThe homeland of Inuit extends from Asia and the Bering Sea to Greenland and the Atlantic Ocean. Inuit and their Chukchi neighbors have always been highly mobile, but the imposition of three international borders in the region constrained travel, trade, hunting, and resource stewardship among neighboring groups. Colonization, assimilation, and enforcement of national laws further separated those even from the same family. In recent decades, Inuit and Chukchi have re-established many ties across those boundaries, making it easier to travel and trade with one another and to create new institutions of environmental management. To introduce Indigenous perspectives into the discussion of transboundary maritime water connections in the Arctic, this paper presents personal descriptions of what those connections mean to people who live and work along and across each of the national frontiers within the region: Russia–U.S., U.S.–Canada, and Canada–Greenland. Some of these connections have been made in cooperation with national governments, some in the absence of government activity, and some despite opposition from national governments. In all cases, the shared culture of the region has provided a common foundation for a shared vision and commitment to cooperation and the resumption of Indigenous self-determination within their homelands.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/6/1808InuitChukchiArcticmaritime waterssovereigntymobility |
| spellingShingle | Henry P. Huntington Richard Binder Sr. Robert Comeau Lene Kielsen Holm Vera Metcalf Toku Oshima Carla SimsKayotuk Eduard Zdor Crossroads of Continents and Modern Boundaries: An Introduction to Inuit and Chukchi Experiences in the Bering Strait, Beaufort Sea, and Baffin Bay Water Inuit Chukchi Arctic maritime waters sovereignty mobility |
| title | Crossroads of Continents and Modern Boundaries: An Introduction to Inuit and Chukchi Experiences in the Bering Strait, Beaufort Sea, and Baffin Bay |
| title_full | Crossroads of Continents and Modern Boundaries: An Introduction to Inuit and Chukchi Experiences in the Bering Strait, Beaufort Sea, and Baffin Bay |
| title_fullStr | Crossroads of Continents and Modern Boundaries: An Introduction to Inuit and Chukchi Experiences in the Bering Strait, Beaufort Sea, and Baffin Bay |
| title_full_unstemmed | Crossroads of Continents and Modern Boundaries: An Introduction to Inuit and Chukchi Experiences in the Bering Strait, Beaufort Sea, and Baffin Bay |
| title_short | Crossroads of Continents and Modern Boundaries: An Introduction to Inuit and Chukchi Experiences in the Bering Strait, Beaufort Sea, and Baffin Bay |
| title_sort | crossroads of continents and modern boundaries an introduction to inuit and chukchi experiences in the bering strait beaufort sea and baffin bay |
| topic | Inuit Chukchi Arctic maritime waters sovereignty mobility |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/6/1808 |
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