Herb Nakimayak elected president of Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada

The Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) opened its 15th general assembly in Iqaluit, Nunavut, with chair Sara Olsvig of Greenland presiding and leaders from Greenland, Alaska, Russia, and Canada speaking. During the meeting, Herb Nakimayak of Paulatuk was elected president of ICC Canada, receiving 11 of 13 votes and will serve until 2030. Nakimayak, who had been interim president since September 2025, said the council must navigate growing geopolitical interest in the Arctic, including U.S. claims on Greenland, Russia’s war in Ukraine, and Chinese icebreakers, while defending Inuit sovereignty. He also pledged to continue campaigns against the EU’s seal‑skin ban and Etsy’s ban on fur products, arguing that seal populations remain healthy. The assembly highlighted the council’s role in uniting Inuit across Canada, Greenland, Alaska, Russia, and beyond to influence Arctic policy and protect Inuit rights.