There are about 170,000 Inuit, living mostly in Canada (50,000), Greenland (50,000), Denmark (8,000), Russia (1,700), Alaska (44,000) and other parts of the USA (13,000). Their homeland spreads from Greenland across the Arctic stretches of northern America and over the Bering Strait to the eastern tip of Russia. They are a nation living within four nations. Their history is unique as they have survived and prospered for over 4,000 years in one of the harshest and most unforgiving environments on Earth. Today, modern development and its consequences are impacting on all aspects of Inuit life. Theirs is a story of courage, pragmatism and determination in the face of these, some of the greatest challenges they have had to confront.

Annmaree O'Keefe is a Senior Associate, Chester Reimer Consulting Inc.