Certifications and traceability in the Nunavut seal market: Implications for Inuit rights

Abstract

As recognized in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), to which Canada is a signatory, Inuit have the right to food, culture, and economic opportunities. Seal hunting is a long-standing cultural practice for Inuit, and is therefore at the centre of these rights. However, anti-sealing campaigns targeting the commercial seal hunt in Newfoundland have resulted in international bans that have collapsed the market for sealskins and imposed hardships on communities across Inuit Nunangat. To improve market access for Inuit seal products, the Canadian Government established the Certification and Market Access Program for Seals (CMAPS), which is creating certification and tracking systems for Inuit seal products in European Union markets. In 2015, the Government of Nunavut became an Attestation Body under the EU Indigenous Communities Exemption, which enables the Government to certify Nunavut seal products for export into EU markets. As such, this research explored the suitability of certification and traceability in supporting the Nunavut seal market and Inuit rights. Through an assessment of the existing traceability system and focus group discussions (n=5) with value chain actors in Iqaluit and Qikiqtarjuaq, this research has demonstrated that while many opportunities remain in supporting the seal hunt, there are limitations when servicing a global market. Some limitations come from the influence of government, some are trade-offs in supporting the local economy, and others are in retaining Inuit values in a certification or traceability system. Collectively, these findings have revealed the need to reconcile retaining cultural value in an economy so heavily influenced by external factors.

Keywords: seal market, traceability, certification, Inuit rights, credence, values