February 3, 2026

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It’s a privilege to be here with you today in the beautiful Sápmi region of Norway.

Arctic Frontiers has never been more relevant. I am grateful for the important discussions it has sparked, to help shape the future of the Arctic.

I grew up in Nunavik, in northern Canada.

My family’s culture and way of life were inseparable from the land.

We travelled by dog team or canoe. We picked berries and fished in the crystal waters of George River, rich in Arctic char and Atlantic salmon.

I remember how my grandmother, Jeannie, would turn on our short-wave radio and, sometimes, come across beautiful Greenlandic Inuit songs on the BBC.

She would say: “These are our relatives who live in faraway lands. We are all one people.”

Indigenous peoples have long travelled and learned from one another with respect, curiosity and a commitment to peace.

We’ve shared the rich diversity of our cultures, arts, sports and spirituality. We've shared the fruits of our ingenuity and innovation.

We’ve shared hardships, too.

The legacy of colonialism. The impacts of industrial development.

And, of course, the growing threats of climate change, which has been eroding food sources and traditional navigation routes.

Yet through every challenge, we’ve shared knowledge. We’ve supported and relied upon one another.

This has given us the strength to stand united today and beyond.

Life in the Arctic is shaped by the relationships that have bound Indigenous communities together for generations.

These strong connections will endure, no matter what decisions are made in distant capitals.

For decades, the Arctic was a rare, low‑tension region where international co-operation prevailed, even when relations were strained elsewhere.

For example, even when the iron curtain was in place, we developed our relationship with the Chukotka.

Today, the world sees the Arctic as a region of renewed opportunity. International security issues are coming to the forefront.

And now, more than ever, we must uphold this tradition of collaboration and respect.

Meaningful co-operation, strengthened by Indigenous leadership, has had a phenomenal impact over many years.

Through the Arctic Council and other forums, Indigenous knowledge has driven scientific progress. It has inspired some of the Arctic’s most ambitious environmental and wildlife stewardship initiatives. Indigenous peoples have permanent participant status in the Arctic Council.

At this time, the Arctic Council is the only organisation that provides permanent participant status. 

Respectful co-operation between Arctic states and Indigenous peoples has also strengthened diplomacy.

It has helped resolve disputes peacefully.

The 2022 boundary agreement (Hans Island) between Canada, the Kingdom of Denmark and Greenland is a notable example. It was achieved through patient, respectful negotiations that honoured Inuit leadership.

Time and again, work in the Arctic has demonstrated what can be achieved when co-operation is truly prioritized.

We have already shown the power of co-operation and reconciliation.

We are at a decisive moment in history.

Challenges in the Arctic affect all peoples on earth. More than ever, we recognize the profound interconnectedness of our world.

We must continue to act together in a spirit of reconciliation and respect for Arctic communities.

That is where our strength lies.

We must stay true to our core values, championing human rights, sustainable development, environmental protection, and solidarity with our Arctic nations and NATO allies. 

A strong Arctic is one where northerners have the tools and opportunities they need to thrive.

It is an Arctic where Indigenous knowledge, leadership and values guide our choices.

It is an Arctic where northerners—whether in Norway, Greenland or anywhere across the circumpolar region—can continue shaping their own future.

So, I want to thank all of you for your work supporting Arctic communities, and for helping the world understand that the future of the Arctic belongs to the peoples of the Arctic.

Tomorrow, I will visit Denmark, and then on to Greenland. Let me be clear: Canada stands firmly in support of the people of Greenland who will determine their own future.

Life in the Arctic has profoundly changed since my childhood.

New realities. New technologies. New science.

Yet today, amid rising tensions, one truth endures: the Arctic’s greatest strength and stability lie in the resilience of its peoples.

So whatever decisions are made next—whether advancing scientific research with Indigenous knowledge, managing shipping routes, or strengthening defence systems—those efforts must be matched with investments in Arctic communities.

Let us give them what they need to be truly self‑reliant.

Food security. Reliable infrastructure and housing.

Clean energy and connectivity. Access to health care, including mental health, education and sustainable livelihoods.

It is young people I am thinking of most of all.

Let us continue giving Arctic youth every opportunity to build healthy, fulfilling lives in a sustainable Arctic—grounded in their cultures and languages, and in their deep relationships with the land and with one another.

Thank you. Merci. Nakurmiik.