James Kuptana

Bio

While taking Indigenous Environmental Studies with Dr. Chris Furgal at Trent University, James has had the opportunity to be a research assistant with Inuit Circumpolar Council-ICC (Canada). At ICC, James documented traditional Inuvialuit knowledge from three Inuvialuit communities, outlining changes in the Beaufort Sea ice ecosystems as part of the Circumpolar Flaw Lead Systems Study (CFL).

During the climate change negotiations at the Convention of the Parties meeting (COP 15) in Copenhagen, James represented ICC (Canada) and Canadian Inuit as a youth ambassador to climate change on the ICC (Canada) delegation. James also worked on helping to organize the logistics and planning of several Indigenous Peoples events during the course of the climate negotiations in Copenhagen in December of 2009 and presented on the traditional Inuvialuit knowledge research conducted thus far through the CFL systems study.

James has also taken a keen interest in urban Inuit populations, looking for positive methods to bring urban Inuit youth together.

James is from Sachs Harbour, Nunakput which is located on Banks Island, the musk-ox, and formally white fox capital of the world. Sachs Harbour lies within the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR) of the Northwest Territories. James currently resides in Ottawa with his spouse and child.

Issue of Investigation

James will examine the economic benefits available to Canadian Inuit through seal harvesting, looking at regional, national and international legislation and policies that provide opportunity for economic benefits to Inuit communities in Canada. James will examine how the different levels of government and various Inuit organizations play a role within that process. James understands the importance of the history of this issue and will look at the previous EU ban on all seal products, to see what action former Inuit leaders and hunters took in light of the circumstances.