This conference addresses the timely issue of Canada’s northern foreign policy in context of:

1. Its place within a more general international movement to construct a ‘northern dimension’ among North American and European countries, as well as Russia; and

2. The potential impact of an emerging consensus about, and approach to, ‘circumpolar north’ issues including environment, governance, traditional culture, sustainable development and ‘north-south’ relations among, and within, ‘Arctic’ nations.

Our hope is that these meetings will have the effect of merging the notion of the ‘northern dimension’ as a political and foreign policy construct with a better understanding of the circumpolar region as a homeland for unique cultural identities. The latter is critical in understanding the importance of sustainable development to region-building initiatives in the circumpolar north in general, and in Canada in particular. It is this emphasis which makes this conference unique, and sets it apart from other “northern” symposiums recently organized within Canada and the US.

In addressing the overall themes, there are essentially four issues which this conference will address:

1. The “Northern Dimension” in Multilateral Context: Identifying Policy-Orientation, Potential and Policy Gaps

2. New Definitions of “North-South Relations”: Incorporating the Arctic into Global Structures of Governance and Cooperation

3. Cultural Identities and Northern Dimensions

4. Canada, the US and the North: An Evolving Relationship

Each of these addresses aspects of the main themes identified at the outset of this funding proposal, and each of these topics will be the subject of a panel discussion. There will be four formal panels, followed by open discussion. There will also be a fifth, concluding session, in which conference organizers will summarize the main points of discussion and solicit concluding debate in an open panel forum.

Please note that in addition to the conference panels described below, we intend to develop a parallel cultural program.  In consultation with the Canadian Consulate General in Atlanta, we plan to organize a series of cultural events for conference participants—including art, film and literature exhibits to incorporate the voice of a broad spectrum of indigenous peoples, organizations and NGOs. The latter is crucial in understanding the importance of sustainable development as a goal for region-building.

Overall, we anticipate the following outcomes from these meetings:

• They will serve to initiate dialogue concerning new approaches to circumpolar regionalism in the Southern USA, in a region which has not been particularly engaged with recent multilateral approaches to northern foreign policy.
• The broad-based and consultative dimensions of discussion in each panel session should help to develop points of connection between Canadian foreign policy, its grounding in a broader arena of multinational cooperation, and its relevancy for US decision-makers.

Further information is available at THIS website.

Governor Per-Ola Eriksson, Provincial Government of Norrbotten
Chairman of the NRF Steering Committee, Lassi Heininen, University of Lapland
Director Kari Laine, Thule Institute, University of Oulu
Rector Lauri Lajunen, University of Oulu
Director Pentti Lampinen, Council of Oulu Region
Director Esko Lotvonen, Regional Council of Lapland
Mayor Kari Nenonen, City Administration of Oulu
Ingegerd Palmér, President of Luleå University of Technology
Governor Hannele Pokka, State Provincial Office of Lapland
Mayor Karl Petersen, City Administration of Luleå
Mayor Raimo Ronkainen, City of Tornio
Rector Esko Riepula, University of Lapland
Governor Eino Siuruainen, Provincial Government of Oulu

Governor Eino Siuruainen was elected as a Chairman of the Host Planning Committee and Governor Per-Ola Eriksson was elected as a Vice-chairman of the Host Planning Committee

The following have agreed to be the he hosts of the 4th NRF Open Meeting: City Administration of Luleå, City Administration of Oulu, Council of Oulu Region, Luleå University of Technology, Provincia Bothiensis, Provincial Government of Lapland, Provincial Government of Norrbotten, Provincial Government of Oulu, Regional Council of Lapland, University of Lapland and University of Oulu.