The situation for the Inuit and other Aboriginal Peoples of the Chukotka Peninsula in the Russian Far East is critical. The breakdown of the economy and infrastructure in Russia have had a catastrophic effect on the Aboriginal People of that country. Due to the lack of jobs and money there are shortages of the basic necessities of life including food, clothing, housing, fuel and medical supplies. Conditions are dire and they need your help!
The Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC) has been keenly aware of the worsening conditions in Chukotka and made a commitment at the 1998 General Assembly in Greenland to do something about it. During the winter of 1999 ICC in Greenland provided some clothing and medicine to Chukotka and ICC Canada organized a delivery of emergency food supplies. ICC continues to lobby governments and international aid agencies in an effort to raise awareness of this deplorable situation, and to urge that humanitarian assistance programs target Aboriginal communities in the Russian north. While these efforts have helped to some degree, conditions in Chukotka are not expected to improve in the foreseeable future.
Canadian Inuit, through an ICC Canada resolution of June 1999, have now undertaken theCanadian Inuit Initiative to raise money for our fellow Inuit in Russia. The hope is that this money may help them to cope during these difficult times. The fundraising campaign will be community-driven, and events will be carried out by Inuit regional organizations and Inuit communities throughout Canada. ICC Canada will facilitate the campaign, and will administer the funds with the assistance of our ICC Chukotka office. ICC Canada will also carry out an appeal in Ottawa, and will attempt to match funds raised by the Inuit community.
The Inuit of Chukotka are desperate and need your help. At this time, clothing and other goods are not being requested because of the difficulty in transporting these items. What they really need is cash which will allow the communities to equip themselves for survival. Please be as generous as possible – your support will be very much appreciated by our fellow Inuit, and may even save someone’s life!