As a result of these campaigns and policies, hunters now find it difficult to obtain the money necessary to equip themselves for further hunting. Their identity and self-respect is therefore at risk. Since seal hunting has declined, the opportunity to pass knowledge from generation to generation has also declined. Reduced income from marine mammals has also meant a reduced amount of time spent on the land by families. It is out on the land, in camps away from the communities where traditional social and cultural values have been greatly rein-forced.

When one undertakes massive public relations campaigns, such as the one against commercial sealing, messages about indigenous peoples, their rights and cultures inevitably get lost in the shuffle. The issue at stake here is not one of subsistence vs. commercial harvesting. Inuit see subsistence hunting and the commercial opportunities for self-sufficiency as one and the same.

Inuit have learned much from such experiences - that is why a system of land claims which guard many Inuit rights is in place today. But Inuit are still highly susceptible to decisions made far from home. The U.S. Congress has an opportunity to put things right during its current session this year, as it considers reauthorizing and possibly amending the MMPA. Inuit Tapirisat of Canada's goal is simple, it is to open trade with the United States in products from non-endangered species of animals. Since this act was adopted, Canada and the U.S. have signed the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which governs the sustainable use and international trade of all wildlife and plants for over 145 nations.

The MMPA is not based on credible science or accepted management principals as CITES is. Indeed the MMPA violates the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, and the North America Free Trade Agreement.

Inuit want Congress to use the reauthorization debate to bring American law into line with its international treaty obligations. Perhaps then, Inuit in Pelly Bay and elsewhere in Canada can resume a viable and traditional way of life.

Inuit will continue to fight for their communities wherever they are threatened - whether at the local, national or international level. We will persevere in our attempts to dismantle the barriers that exist. Trade barriers or barriers that have been put up through ignorance or intolerance must come down. We will continue to educate those who do not understand, and work together with those whose objectives are compatible with ours, such as many of you who are here today. Most importantly, though, we will continue to practice and promote sustainable use of resources in Inuit communities. Do not forget that Inuit co-manage one third of Canada's area.

I have told you the Inuit story. Many of you may have similar stories involving different species, and different policies. Many of you may soon find yourselves victim of similar circumstances, where your abilities to conduct sustainable resource use is compromised by outside forces who know nothing, or care little, about your culture or way of life. As Mr. Morishita from Japan, said this morning, "the issues are all related". What affects us today, may affect you tomorrow. Those of us in this situation must tell our stories and work together to create a powerful force to ensure our abilities to maintain our sustainable resource use systems. This is important to all our cultures, our socio-economy, and our human and environmental health.