Sacred sites in the Arctic need protection – First International declaration drafted
13.9.2013 15:24
For the first time, over 70 sacred sites custodians, indigenous people's organizations, scientists, policy makers and members of civil society gathered in Finland to draft a joint Conference Declaration that states recommendations and guidelines for policy-making related to sacred sites in the Arctic and that calls for better recognize, legally protect and manage the sacred sites and sanctuaries of indigenous peoples in the Arctic region.
The Draft Conference Declaration that will be finalized in the coming weeks emphasizes the need to take into account the right of self-determination of indigenous peoples and their active and decisive participation in all planning, research and decision-making concerning their sacred sites.
“This move demonstrate the need for action and highlights how important the safeguarding of sacred sites is for the conservation of fragile biological and cultural diversity in the Arctic regions, the transmission of culture and identity across the Arctic, and upholding the sustainable development in the North”, says one of the conference organizers, professor Thora Herrmann from Montreal University (Université de Montreal), Canada.
First Arctic sacred sites declaration draft is the outcome of an international conference “Protecting the sacred: Recognition of Sacred Sites of Indigenous Peoples for Sustaining Nature and Culture in Northern and Arctic Regions” that brought together participants from six Arctic countries in Rovaniemi and Pyhätunturi, Finland, on September 11–13, 2013.
Pyhätunturi is a mountain and nowadays a ski resort about 150 km from Rovaniemi. The name can be translated as Holy mountain”.
Sacred sites are areas of special spiritual significance to peoples and communities.
“Many sacred sites in the Arctic are areas of great importance for the conservation of fragile and unique biodiversity. In fact, they are the world's oldest conservation areas. Sacred sites play also a key role in traditional cultures and lifestyles across the Arctic”, says professor Thora Herrmann.
Participants of the conference came from the entire circumpolar area, including Yakutia, Eastern Siberia, Canada and Alaska to attend the event. The conference was co-organized by the Northern Institute for Environmental and Minority Law (NIEM) at the Arctic Centre of the University of Lapland together with the Université de Montreal (Canada), and the University of the Arctic /Arctic Law Thematic Network.
Among the key speakers and organizations were Birgitta Fossum from South Sami Museum and Cultural Centre Snåsa, Norway; Piers Vitebsky from the Scott Polar Research Institute at the University of Cambridge; Alexandra Xanthaki from Brunel law school; René Kuppe from the University of Vienna; Pekka Kauppala from Saami Parliament; Eija Ojanlatva from the SIIDA Museum; Liisa Holmberg from the Saami Educational Institute; the Nenets Indigenous Association ‘Narian Mar’; the Nenets Indigenous Association, Yamal; the Innu and Naskapi First Nations from Canada.
The declaration draft was published in a ceremony on Friday 13th September 2013. The participants of the conference will finalize the declaration during the next weeks. The key messages of the declaration you can find here.
More information:
Professor Thora Herrmann
Thora.herrmann@gmail.com
Research Fellow (PhD) Leena Heinämäki
leena.heinamaki@ulapland.fi
Tel. +358 (0)40 484 4280
Conference website: www.arcticcentre.org/sacredsites2013
BACKGROUND OF THE CONFERENCE
by Thora Herrmann and Leena Heinämäki
The sacred sites of indigenous peoples contribute to universal values that maintain mankind’s relationships with the earth. They can be in the mountains or springs, rocks or places where reindeers have been slaughtered. But today these sites are not sufficiently understood or recognized. Legal protection of these ancient sites and related policies are still often insufficient or absent.
Many but not necessary all indigenous communities have expressed a strong interest to protect these sacred sites as an important component of their traditional culture. It becomes, however, increasingly difficult for indigenous communities to protect these ancient sites from outside interference, due for example to economic developments (tourism, mining, forestry) or infrastructural development (roads, dams, etc.). Also some of these sites are known only by the community members and it is very important to respect this privacy. Very many of these sites are, however, publicly known. Some of them are legally recognized as a world heritage. There is a growing legal recognition taking place in international level. Often the local legislation is, however, absent. In all cases, it is crucial that all discussion and planning concerning these sites involve local indigenous peoples. Recognition of these sacred sites can be also used as a cultural revitalization and educational process. This conference has put a lot of emphasis to invite representatives of many Arctic indigenous communities to have a fruitful and open dialogue.
Due to lack of legal and political recognition of these places, a concerted action is needed.
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