Laval hosts Arctic conference

IQALUIT — “The Power of Traditions: Identities, Politics and Social Sciences” is the theme of this week’s conference of the International Arctic Social Sciences Association in Quebec City. Its secretariat is located at the Inuit and Circumpolar Institute of Laval University.

From May 16-20, more than 300 participants from around the circumpolar world are to hear some 200 presentations in 30 sessions, four roundtables and seven plenary sessions. One of the keynote speakers is Mary Ekho Wilman from the Nunavut Social Development Council, who is to address the conference on change and the future of Inuit society.

Topics to be discussed range from dictionary making in Inuit languages, to museum representations of northern peoples, to the teaching of aboriginal languages in Siberia.

The association was founded in 1990 in Fairbanks, Alaska. Its aims include promoting mutual respect, communication and collaboration between social scientists and northern peoples.