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Canadian Arctic Indigenous Peoples Against Persistent Organic Pollutants: Support for International Action

• Project Leader:

Terry Fenge, c/o Inuit Circumpolar Conference Canada, 170 Laurier Avenue West, Suite 504, Ottawa, ON K1P 5V5; Phone: (613) 563-2642; Fax: (613) 565-3089; E-mail: tuktu@magi.com

• Project Team:

Council of Yukon First Nations, Whitehorse, YT; Dene Nation, Yellowknife, NT; Inuit Circumpolar Conference Canada, Ottawa, ON;
Inuit Tapirisat of Canada, Ottawa, ON; Stephanie Meakin, Technical Advisor, Meakin Consultants Inc., Kemptville, ON

Abstract:

Four northern Aboriginal organizations – Inuit Tapirisat of Canada, Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC) Canada, Dene Nation and the Council of Yukon First Nations – have, as a coalition, participated in international negotiations to ban and/or phase out the use of key persistent organic pollutants (POPs) brought to the Arctic by wind currents where they bioaccumulate in the food web. Significant levels of POPs are found in Aboriginal people who eat large quantities of traditional/country food containing POPs. The involvement of the coalition has been well received nationally and internationally, and the recently concluded global POPs convention in Stockholm singles out the Arctic and Indigenous peoples. That it does so reflects the advocacy of the coalition, the Government of Canada and certain other Arctic nations attuned to Indigenous peoples. The coalition participated and intervened in all negotiations in Montreal, Nairobi, Geneva, Bonn and Johannesburg. Speeches delivered at these negotiations on behalf of Inuit and the coalition by Sheila Watt-Cloutier, President of ICC Canada, can be found on the ICC Canada Web site (inuitcircumpolar.com).

Key Project Message

1. Northern Aboriginal peoples are able to influence global POPs negotiations.
   
   
2. The Government of Canada's substantive position and negotiating posture in global POPs discussions is markedly strengthened by working with northern Aboriginal peoples.
   
   
3. Arctic nations and Aboriginal peoples working co-operatively through the Arctic Council were able to significantly steer the agenda on the global POPs negotiations.

• Project Leader:

David Stone, Northern Science and Contaminants Research, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, 10 Wellington Street, Gatineau(Hull Sector),Qc K1A 0H4; Phone: (819) 997-0045; Fax: (819) 953-9066; E-mail: StoneD@ainc-inac.gc.ca

• Project Team:

Northern Contaminants Program Management Committee

Abstract:

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) from distant sources are transported mainly via the atmosphere to the Arctic where they accumulate in humans and in the Arctic food chain. The Northern Contaminants Program (NCP) supports the development of international controls on the use of these substances of concern. The support for these controls includes the following three initiatives: (1) the POPs protocol under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution, for which work is continuing to ensure compatibility of contaminant trends and survey activities under the NCP with trends and survey information gathering under the Convention; (2) facilitating negotiation of global actions on POPs, for which Canada has contributed $20 million for capacity building in developing countries in support of these negotiations; and, (3) cooperative actions under the Arctic Council, including contributing to the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) which monitors the levels of, and assesses the effects of, anthropogenic pollutants in the circumpolar Arctic environment.

Key Project Message

1. The United Nations Environment Programme Global Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) became available for signatures in June 2001. Canada was the first country to ratify the Convention.
2. An Expert Group has been established by the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) to consider the possible addition of substances to the Aarhus POPs Protocol.
   
   
3. A global assessment of mercury has been initiated for completion by 2003.
   
   
4. The second Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) report will be completed in the autumn of 2002.

• Project Leader:

Carole Mills, Chair, Northwest Territories Environmental Contaminants Committee (NWTECC) Contaminants Division, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND), P.O. Box 1500, Yellowknife, NT X1A 2R3; Phone: (867) 669-2665; Fax: (867) 669-2833,Email: millsc@ainc-inac.gc.ca

• Project Team:

Members of the NWTECC, including representatives from: Dene Nation, Inuit Tapirisat of Canada, Inuvialuit Game Council, Gwich'in Tribal Council, Sahtu Secretariat, Deh Cho First Nations, Dogrib Treaty 11, Akaitcho Territory Tribal Council, North Slave Métis, South Slave Métis; DIAND; Environment Canada;
Department of Fisheries and Oceans; Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT), Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development; Government of the Northwest Territories Health; and Aurora Research Institute

Abstract:

The Northwest Territories Environmental Contaminants Committee (NWTECC) membership is composed of representatives from various departments of the federal and territorial governments as well as national and regional Aboriginal partners. The Committee meets regularly throughout the year to facilitate scientific study and assessments, as well as the communication of information to Northerners on the presence and possible effects of contaminants in the environment. The NWTECC also facilitates the communication of northern priorities to researchers. The NWTECC met seven times in 2000-2001.

Key Project Message

1. The Northwest Territories Environmental Contaminants Committee (NWTECC) enabled 16 different Aboriginal and government organizations in the NWT to coordinate their activities related to contaminants.
   
   
2. The NWTECC provided a forum for discussion and two-way transfer of contaminants-related information among Northerners of the Northwest Territories (NWT), researchers and programs such as the Northern Contaminants Program (NCP).

• Project Leader:

Carole Mills, Contaminants Division, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND), P.O. Box 1500, Yellowknife, NT X1A 2R3; Phone: (867) 669-2665; Fax: (867) 669-2833, E-mail: millsc@inac.gc.ca;
Glen Stephens, Chair, Nunavut Environmental Contaminants Committee, DIAND, P.O. Box 2200, Iqaluit, NU X0A 0H0; Phone: (867) 975-4549; Fax: (867) 975-4560; E-mail: stephensg@inac.gc.ca

• Project Team:

Members of the Nunavut Environmental Contaminants Committee, including representatives from: Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Environment Canada, Inuit Tapirisat of Canada, Kivalliq Inuit Association, Kivalliq Wildlife Federation, Nunavut Department of Health and Social Services, Nunavut Department of Sustainable Development, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, Nunavut Water Board, Qikiqtani Inuit Association, and Qikitaaluk Wildlife Board

Abstract:

The Nunavut Environmental Contaminants Committee (NECC) membership is composed of representatives from various departments of the federal and territorial governments as well as national and regional Aboriginal partners. The Committee meets regularly throughout the year to facilitate scientific studies and assessments, the communication of information to Northerners on the presence and possible effects of contaminants in the environment, and the communication of northern priorities to researchers. The NECC met several times this year to discuss various contaminant-related issues, including a two-day in-person meeting to review the Northern Contaminants Program proposals that were relevant to Nunavut.

Key Project Message

1. The Nunavut Environmental Contaminants Committee (NECC) exists to serve the unique interests and concerns of Nunavut residents with respect to environmental contaminants.
   
   
2. The NECC assists in the process of collaborative study, assessment and communication of information to Nunavut residents concerning the presence and possible effects of contaminants in the air, land, water, wildlife and humans.

• Project Leader:

Mark Palmer and Pat Roach, Chairs, Yukon Contaminants Committee, Department of Indian and Northern Development, Yukon Region, 345-300 Main St., Whitehorse, YT Y1A 2B5; Phone: 867-667-3139; Fax: 867-667-3341; E-mail: roachp@ainc-inac.gc.ca

• Project Team:

Yukon Contaminants Committee: Cindy Dickson and Theresa Kendi, Council of Yukon First Nations, Whitehorse, YT;
Joan Eamer, Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, Whitehorse, YT;
Ruth Hall, Yukon Territorial Government, Department of Renewable Resources, Whitehorse, YT;
Joy Kajiwara and Ron Pearson, Yukon Territorial Government, Department of Health and Social Services;
Nancy Steffen, Applied Ecosystem Management, Whitehorse, YT;
Bob Van Dijken, Yukon Conservation Society, Whitehorse, YT

Abstract:

The Yukon Contaminants Committee (YCC) was established in 1992 and continues to coordinate research projects operated under the Northen Contaminants Program (NCP). The YCC consists of representatives from government, First Nations, non-government organizations, and private industry. The YCC reviews project submissions under the NCP, for scientific and socio-cultural relevance to Yukon communities, and makes recommendations to the NCP on the suitability of these projects for the Yukon. The YCC also provides a link between research professionals and the Yukon public. The Committee continues to evolve and grow through the addition of partners and changes in its membership. The YCC has remained a diverse and vital partner in Northern scientific research.

Key Project Message

1. The Yukon Contaminants Committee (YCC) has been active since 1992.
   
   
2. The YCC provides direction to, and reviews, research projects to ensure their relevance to Yukoners.
   
   
3. Diverse membership on the YCC ensures all aspects of the Yukon community are represented.
   
   
4. The YCC continues to grow and evolve with emerging issues and new partners.

• Project Leader:

Yvonne D. Stokker, Environment Canada, National Water Research Institute (NWRI), 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, ON L7R 4A6; Phone: (905) 336-4869: Fax: (905) 336-8914; E-mail: yvonne.stokker@cciw.ca

• Project Team:

Ed Kaminski, Environment Canada, NWRI, Burlington, ON; Members of the Northern Contaminants Program (NCP) Quality Assurance (QA) Sub-committee; Measurement laboratories in the NCP QA Program

Abstract:

This report describes the quality assurance activities conducted during 2000-2001 in support of the Northern Contaminants Program (NCP). Interlaboratory assessments included one study on the analysis of heavy metals and methylmercury in muktuk, Arctic char fillets and burbot liver, and another on toxaphene in standard solutions and a lipid-free burbot liver extract. A third intercomparison on organotins in standard solutions, sediment and biota remains in progress. An investigation was also conducted into the need for assessing the quality of measurement data generated for stable lead isotopes. Lastly, this report also provides a summary of the target analytes and matrices under study during 2000-2001 in NCP-funded research projects.

Key Project Message

1. Considerable confidence can be placed in the reliability of data generated for the toxic heavy metals arsenic, cadmium, copper, mercury, selenium and zinc, while aluminum, chromium and nickel data show more variability between laboratories.
   
   
2. Methylmercury and total organic mercury data remain very comparable among the NCP measurement laboratories.
   
   
3. Organochlorine pesticides (OCs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are generally accurate and comparable at analyte concentrations > 1 ng·g^-1.
   
   
4. Because of the diversity in standards and quantitation techniques, toxaphene data should be scrutinized carefully, particularly those of total toxaphene measurements.

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