Lecture and Fireside Chat

In her book The Right to Be Cold, Sheila Watt-Cloutier explores the relationship between the ecological conservation of the Arctic and the survival of Inuit culture, language and ways of life, and ultimately the conservation of the world. Watt-Cloutier argues that climate change is not only an issue threatening Inuit culture but also a critical human rights concern. Her narrative provides a holistic voice to the issues of climate change and sustainability by weaving accounts of her personal life with historical events that disrupted the traditional Inuit way of life and current issues that have arisen from those events. She demonstrates the relationship and connection between different cultures and peoples and sheds light on the underlying theme of shared responsibility for the safeguarding of the Arctic and the world.

Sheila Watt-Cloutier was born and raised in a small community, Kuujjuaq, in Nunavik (northern Quebec). She grew up learning and living Inuit life, traveling by dog-team with her family as a young girl, as well as experiencing recent social and cultural changes. She was the Corporate Secretary for the Makivik Corporation from 1995 to 1998. In 1995, she was elected to be President of the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) Canada and was re-elected in 1998. From 2002 to 2006, she served as the International Chair of the ICC. Through her work in education and activism on climate change issues, she has received numerous honourary doctorate degrees, along with several prestigious awards such as the Order of Canada, the Order of Greenland, Champion of the Earth Award (United Nations Environment Programme) and the Mahbub ul Haq Human Development Award (United Nations Human Development Awards). In 2007, she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.