The Arctic Circle - Coming Up Next

Our Next MEETING

576th Meeting

March 11 2025

Matthew Zammit-Maempel and Mary Tobin Oates

INUIT SELF-DETERMINATION AND MARINE POLICY: LOOKING AT HOME AND ABROAD

This presentation will provide an overview of international Inuit marine policy work through the Inuit Circumpolar Council, with a specific focus on current Inuit priorities internationally at key forums like the Arctic Council, the United Nations, and international agreements like the Central Arctic Ocean Fisheries Agreement. At this inflection point in Canada’s progress on reconciliation domestically, what does it mean to advance self-determination in a world that is increasingly focused on the Arctic?

Matthew Zammit-Maempel was born in St. Catharines, Ont. His mother’s family is originally from Nunatsiavut and his father’s from Malta. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Humanities from Carleton University and a master’s in Public Policy from McGill University. He worked with the federal government for five years in immigration as well as policy engagement and coordination. Matthew is currently a Senior Policy Advisor at the Inuit Circumpolar Council of Canada. He got his start in Indigenous community engagement work while at the Martin Family Initiative, advancing the co-development of early childhood programming with First Nations and Inuit communities.

Mary Tobin Oates was born in Moose Factory, Ont. Her mother was Inuk from Great Whale in Nunavik and her father was a Newfoundlander who worked for the Hudson's Bay Company. Mary has a law degree from Osgoode Hall and practised law in the federal government dealing with Indigenous issues and administrative law. She now works as a Senior Policy Advisor, Shipping, at ICC.

The meeting will be held in the Beaver Lounge on the ground floor of the Warrant Officers’ and Sergeants’ Mess, 4 Queen Elizabeth Driveway, Ottawa. The Mess sits alongside Lisgar Collegiate, facing the Rideau Canal, and is accessible from the Driveway just south of the Laurier Avenue Bridge. Parking is available in front of the Mess and in adjacent lots and is free. The meeting begins at 2000 hrs and the bar will be available from 1930 hrs.
As always, guests are welcome.

Next meetings:
Apr 8 Anne Barker: The Canada-Inuit Nunangat-United Kingdom research programme

Apr 24 Annual Dinner

Thomas Frisch
Secretary
613 725 2221; tfrisch@sympatico.ca

Members are reminded that membership dues for 2025 are due

SPEAKERS PROGRAMME
2024-2025

October 8 Adam Coombs
The Directorate of History and Heritage (DHH)
“The RCAF in the Arctic”

November 12 Peter Croal
National Healing Forest Initiative
“HMCS Labrador: the 70th anniversary of her maiden voyage”

December 10 Jean Holloway
University of Ottawa
“Climate change, permafrost and forest fires”

January 14 AGM and speaker Camille Slack
University of Ottawa
“Food Security Impacts of the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway”

January 27 Karen LeGresley Hamre
Yellowknife, NWT
"The Northwest Territories Protected Areas Strategy" (Zoom session)

February 11 David Pantalony
Ingenium - Canada's Museums of Science and Innovation
"Scientific Instruments in the Arctic: Stories from the Ingenium Collections"

March 11 Matthew Zammit-Maempel and Mary Tobin Oates
Inuit Circumpolar Council (Canada)
"Inuit Self-Determination and Marine Policy: Looking at Home and Abroad"

April 8 Anne Barker
National Research Council
"The Canada - Inuit Nunangat - United Kingdom Research Programme (CINUK)"

April 24 Annual Banquet with speaker (TBD)