The newest issue of Arctic and International Relations Series (AIRS) seeks to bridge the gap between remote communities and centers of power. “Bridging the gap between Arctic Indigenous communities and Arctic policy: Unalaska, the Aleutian Islands, and the Aleut International Association,” explores the history, culture, economies and concerns of the Unangan, the maritime people of Unalaska.
Issue #6 of AIRS is the outcome of the workshop, Unangax̂: Maritime People in a Modern World, held in Unalaska on June 19–20, 2018 and sponsored by the Korea Maritime Institute. The vision for the workshop was to continue to build relations between Arctic Indigenous Peoples and South Korea, an Observer member of the Arctic Council since 2013. South Korea has just released its second master plan for Arctic policy. The vision of the first master plan was to contribute to a “sustainable future in the Arctic” by strengthening cooperation with Arctic states and relevant international organizations, including the Arctic Council’s Permanent Participant Indigenous organizations such as the Aleut International Association.
President of the Aleut International Association, Dr. Liza Mack, organized the workshop in collaboration with the Canadian Studies Center. The workshop included, among others, presentations by representatives from the Qawalangin Tribal Council, the Ounalashka Corporation and the Aleut International Association.
Issue #6 of AIRS is edited by Nadine C. Fabbi, Liza Mack and Joanne Muzak. The workshop and publication also received support from the Center for Global Studies and East Asia Center, both Title VI Centers in the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, and the International Policy Institute in the Jackson School.
A copy of Issue #6 can be downloaded here or ordered from the Center.
Since 2014, the Korea Maritime Institute and the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies have had an Agreement on Academic Cooperation to build breadth of collaboration across Arctic-related issues. The Canadian Studies Center in the Jackson School is the host for the Agreement.
