Women’s participation in decision making - Environmental and Human Security in the Arctic - page 225

Conclusion
The introductory section of Interviewing Inuit Elders: Perspectives on Traditional
Law states: 'Inuit elders were not concerned with theory, but with practice'
(Oosten et al . 1999:6). Throughout this chapter, we have attempted to take
up that directive and to determine how human security may be a useful tool
for thinking and, more importantly, for action, especially in relationship
to issues of governance and Indigenous women's involvement in govern-
ance structures. In our definition of human security, we emphasize that the
concept must include recognition of the fact that Indigenous representation
and Indigenous political institutions are connected to a people's identity,
community and culture. They are essential to Indigenous individuals' and
communities' well-being. Drawing upon this definition, we have argued
throughout this chapter that human security is more conducive to achieving
an integrated understanding of what it means to live well and live freely - a
concept more open to participation and discussion than the defensive and
theoretical discourse of rights. Further, thinking in terms of human secu-
rity allows us to move beyond the prevalent and hindering juxtaposition of
individual rights versus collective rights that has characterized so much of
the debate about Indigenous women's rights within their collectives. The
concept of human security acknowledges and must continue to acknowledge
that individual and collective security are intertwined and, as highlighted in
this chapter, the security of Indigenous women is deeply engaged with the
security of Indigenous peoples, both men and women. Further, we have found
that the dominant rights language, which was developed by Enlightenment
thinkers and is at odds with much Indigenous political philosophy, intrinsi-
cally favours Western colonial systems, particularly in terms of the question
of political participation. Through the domination of non-Indigenous under-
standing of rights, the right to participate in present political systems for
Indigenous peoples amounts to Indigenous peoples having a right to take
part in the system that has perpetrated oppression, rather than opening a
space that recognizes and accepts the existence and functioning of alterna-
tive Indigenous political systems. Finally, the idea of 'security' is one that
speaks to the embodied experience of individuals and of groups. Discussion
of human security invites those experiencing insecurity to identify, describe
and define the roots of their vulnerability and to develop solutions. Through
such an exercise, discussions of Indigenous suffering and the direction of an
Indigenous future could move beyond the confines of colonial systems that
both perpetuate suffering and limit the future of Indigenous governance sys-
tems that are in consonance with Indigenous realities.