ARCTIC INNOVATORS
Meet the
Arctic Innovators Charlotte McEwen
Martina Müller
Mehek Sethi
Drones are a disruptive technol-
The Arctic ocean is an integral part of life in
Industry and economic activity, both of which
ogy that can revolutionize the
the Arctic. It provides food and
are rapidly increasing in the Arctic
realm of possibilities in the
livelihood to all Arctic residents
region, historically come at
Arctic. Charlotte focused on
from Inuit to Norwegian
great cost to the environment.
the ways in which governments
communities. Yet, it is one of
The risk is especially high in
and private sector companies could work with
the least protected oceans in the
the climate-sensitive Arctic
indigenous communities to help new oppor-
world and is facing increased risks due
Circle. Mehek proposed an Arctic
tunities take flight. Her innovation provides
to climate impacts and economic development.
Free Trade Area, including all eight Arctic
a launch pad new jobs thereby strengthening
Martina recommended that instead of relying
Council member countries, which could set a
the economic development of the Arctic. She
only on national governments in the Arctic to
new and revolutionary precedent in the global
explored using drones as a tool to improve
preserve this resource, marine protected areas
trading system. Adding science-based environ-
indigenous communities’ access to products and
should be created through states and provinces.
mental regulatory standards to a multilateral
information.
These marine protected areas act like state parks
agreement that reduces trade barriers could
in the ocean, creating ground rules for develop-
harness economic opportunities in the Arctic
Wen Hoe
ment and ways to care for biodiversity.
while mitigating environmental consequences
Climate change is threatening the homes of
Gabrielle Scrimshaw
complex political environment.
ing them to retreat and relocate.
Gabrielle, a member of the Hatchet Lake First
Meredith Davis Tavera
Currently, communities receive
Nation in Canada, advocated for the development
little to no federal money for
of an indigenous venture capital fund, the first
Local Arctic communities, facing rapid
relocation, leaving each village
one in the world. Tourism in the
development from public and private resource
over one-hundred-million-dollars
northwest territories was expect-
extraction, must negotiate path
short of what’s needed to rebuild. To address
ed to grow by 200 million dollars
to prosperity that will protect
this critical financial gap, Wen proposed an
by 2020—but already passed that
their physical environments
Arctic fund to raise money for communities in
milestone in 2018. Unfortunately,
from pollution and preserve
the Arctic who are displaced by climate change.
indigenous communities were not
the traditions they wish to main-
Modeled after a good idea from France which
the winners in that development as most of
tain. Meredith outlined the need for teaching
raised $1.5 billion in eight years for UNITAID,
those investments came from Asia. The 600
negotiation skills to indigenous populations
Wen proposed a $1 levy on all flight, train, and
indigenous communities in Canada are sitting
to equip them with the toolkit to negotiate
bus tickets in and out of the Arctic region to
on millions of dollars from land sharing and
favorable agreements that concern their historic
build this fund.
resource agreements that could be used to create
lands and livelihoods. Through simulations and
a fund that would drive indigenous economic
case-based learning, this would teach future
independence. Gabrielle’s fund would empower
negotiators at the high school level about the key
indigenous communities to be the winners of the
aspects of negotiations
and improving global diplomatic relations in a
Alaskan Native communities, forc-
»» The work of the Arctic Innovators was published in Arctic Today (www.arctictoday. com), a key medium on circumpolar issues.
development happening in their backyard.
ARCTIC INITIATIVE | YEAR IN REVIEW 2017–2018
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