Arctic Social Indicators : measuring change in human development in the Artic

Abstract

The Arctic Social Indicators (ASI) project, an endorsed project of the Arctic Council, is aimedat devising a small set of indicators that reflect key aspects of human development in theArctic. The indicators must be manageable in terms of measurement and affordable in regardto labor and material resources as the objective is to use them in monitoring change in humandevelopment in the region over time. As to insure that the devised indicators are goodrepresentatives, the project also seeks to “test” them with existing data and in discussion withrepresentatives from various communities of the Arctic.The ASI and its working process is the focus of this thesis, where the methods ofliterature research, participant-observation and interviews, were used. The author attended thefirst ASI workshop, as well as a meeting of the Sustainable Development Working Group(SDWG) of the Arctic Council under which the ASI is being developed. The ASI wasdiscussed with representatives of indigenous organizations as to hear their opinions on theASI process as well as on how indigenous peoples should be included.An achievement of the first ASI workshop was a selection of six domains for whichindicators needed to be selected. Further achievements were a selection of criteria for use infinding the best suited indicators as well as a selection of preliminary indicators for three ofthe six domains. Discussions at the SDWG meeting regarding the ASI were positive as wellas indigenous respondents were positive towards the ASI domains. Regarding the consultationprocess, suggestions were on using the Indigenous Peoples Secretariat of the Arctic Council,as well as a suggestion was on the ASI members going to the basic community to talk to thelocals.