Overlapping sovereignties: Indigenous polities and Arctic regionalism

This chapter examines the complex landscape of overlapping sovereignties in the Arctic, where state-centric governance frameworks intersect with Indigenous systems of self-determination and relational governance. Considering specifically Indigenous polities such as the Inuit and Sámi, it explores how Indigenous governance and self-determination challenge traditional, territorial notions of sovereignty based on exclusive jurisdiction by emphasizing relationalities and interdependencies among people, lands, waters, and ecosystems. Through a detailed case study of Nunavut, the chapter illustrates the complexities and innovations of integrating Inuit knowledge (Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit) into public governance, while highlighting persistent structural barriers. The chapter also analyzes transnational initiatives like the Pikialasorsuaq Commission as models of Indigenous-led regional cooperation. Identifying four critical areas for future research—including relational sovereignty, the politics of Greenland's independence, and comparative Indigenous governance—the chapter argues for rethinking Arctic regionalism through Indigenous sovereignties that transcend state borders and ground governance in relational, ecological, and cultural interdependence.