Thematic Network on Arctic Law “Arctic Archives” subgroup delivered two seminars at the 17th Polar Law Symposium

The speakers, from law, social science, history, and archival practice, examined a number of ongoing issues regarding access to and control over archives in Arctic contexts.

In the first session, Njörður Sigurðsson explained the work of the International Council on Archives on shared archival heritage, their efforts to map contested archival claims around the world, and the principles that guide their work in colonial and post-colonial contexts.

Maria Press discussed the efforts of Sami in Nordic countries to renegotiate their rights to archives containing information about themselves and the challenges their claims present to State-based archival practices.

Romain Chuffart then presented the results of his joint research with Apostolos Tsiouvalas on the Thule Law from Northwest Greenland and how it is both an ‘archive’ and a living law that remains central to Inughuit culture.

In the second session, Astri Dankertsen explored what decolonization can look like in Sápmi at the municipal level and the potential for Indigenization of local government.

Astrid Nonbo Andersen presented the novel concept of historiographic sovereignty, or the right of a People to shape its own narrative, as an aspect of self-determiantion and the role of archives in making space for this work, including through truth and reconciliation processes.

Rachael Lorna Johnstone concluded the formal presentations with a discussion of the right to know in international law and how far the established legal norms could strengthen Indigenous and post-colonial claims for access to and control over archives. A lively discussion amongst the polar law symposium participants followed.

The presentations were as follows:

Arctic Archives I: Shared Archival Heritage in the Arctic, with Njörður Sigurðsson, Assistant Director, National Archives of Iceland; Maria Press, Section Chief, Archivist, National Archives of Sweden in Östersund; Apostolos Tsiouvalas, PhD Fellow, UiT The Arctic University of Norway; and Romain Chuffart, Nansen Professor, University of Akureyri, Iceland

and

Arctic Archives II: Decolonial Practices, Historiographic Sovereignty, and the Right to Know, with Astri Dankertsen, Professor of Sociology, Nord University, Norway; Astrid Nonbo Andersen, Senior Researcher, Danish Institute for International Studies, Denmark; and Rachael Lorna Johnstone, Professor of Law, University of Akureyri, Iceland.