A Quest for Equality: Dr. Dalee Sambo Dorough

By Neeraja Kulkarni

Dalee Sambo Dorough was born among vibrant Inuit in Alaska. Previously referred to as Eskimos, they are preferably known as Inuit -- Arctic Indigenous peoples that inhabit the Arctic and subarctic regions of Greenland, Canada, Alaska, and Chukotka in the Russian Federation. They are reliant on marine biodiversity and have been preserving, through generations, in-depth knowledge about the cryosphere.

During middle school, a strange tide of uncertainty hit Dalee’s reality. In 1971, the US Congress passed the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANSCA), to “settle” native claims to vast aboriginal lands. Signed off by President Nixon, this act entailed that, in a short period of time, Alaskan Inuit could lose everything. At 14, Dalee realized that it prioritized profit-making corporations as title holders of their lands rather than traditional tribal councils recognized as far back as 1936. “I was stunned by the notion that somehow one people could extinguish the rights of another people” Dalee recalled. Subsequently, working for eminent Inupiaq leader Eben Hopson was a pivotal moment in shaping Dalee’s perspective. He aspired to safeguard the Inuit, who were imperiled further by planned offshore fossil fuel projects. Additionally, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) posed a potential ban on bowhead whaling, a culturally integral way of life for the Inupiat of the North Slope. As a volunteer in his 1976 political campaign, Dalee discovered that indigenous peoples needed to play a direct role regarding developing their own Arctic Policy. This is why, at a young age, Dalee identified law and human rights advocacy as her prime pursuit.

Dalee reminisced that her experience at Fletcher is an essential backdrop to her present occupation. At Fletcher, she participated in various heated discussions, especially with Prof. Rubin, who taught international law. These discussions honed her negotiation, legal, and argumentative skills. Dalee especially enjoyed late Prof. Keith Highet’s seminars, who had granular experience in arguing legal cases in the International Court of Justice and in particular, his course on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Highet’s course helped Dalee while negotiating on the Arctic Ocean and coastal seas initiatives pursued by Inuit. As a professor at the University of Alaska, Dalee was intent to carry forward his legacy of enabling students to gain practical experience relevant to their in-depth theoretical interests. While at UAA, she engaged her students from Alaska to work on real-time projects within the UN. Dalee recalled a cherished memory of when she served on the UN Permanent Forum of Indigenous Issues. While diplomats and community leaders sat across the UN tables, to continue ongoing negotiations, a Bhutanese Fletcher alum slipped her a little note. At the same UN sessions, she also converged paths with her Pakistani colleague and diplomat. Another Fletcher alum! In an one-on-one meeting, she stressed the essence of the right of self-determination for indigenous peoples and the need for clarity regarding the same in his country. The shared sense of belonging made discussions effortless and empathetic.

Dalee's twenty-five-year struggle for the recognition of Indigenous people’s rights made her the icon she is today. She was integral to the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous by the UN General Assembly in 2007. Dalee recalls her discontent when four nations, namely the USA, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada, voted against the UN Declaration. "It was racial discrimination in the halls of the UN," a frustrated Dalee added. The countries were conspicuous of secession because self-determination also meant enabling political independence of Indigenous peoples, thereby threatening the territorial integrity of UN Member States. She emphasizes that it was a decades-long struggle to attune the legality of the language, to clear this confusion, and the need to remind UN member States about Indigenous peoples’ aspirations. She also stressed that being a woman diplomat has been an ongoing struggle.

Dalee accentuated that the 2007 UN Declaration has turned a corner, but implementation gaps remain persistent. On the positive front, several Indigenous peoples now invoke their distinct human rights to support their claims in legal settings. The UNFCCC has incorporated consultations from and direct involvement of Indigenous peoples within the newest constituted body entitled the Facilitative Working Group, which includes both UN member States and Indigenous peoples’ representatives from the seven “socio-cultural regions”. In relation to Arctic projects, she stated that the International Agreement to Prevent Unregulated Fishing in the High Seas of the Central Arctic Ocean is a considerate movement favoring Arctic Indigenous peoples and the ecology. It will prevent commercial fishing by the signatory countries in the Arctic for at least 16 years. Until then, scientific research program and Indigenous Knowledge will be undertaken and guided by the direct involvement of the Inuit. However, Dalee highlighted the need for enhanced participation of indigenous peoples in the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council. It is beneficial for the UN, as policymakers can base their decisions by understanding their cultural context and valuable Indigenous Knowledge.

As for the states that originally opposed the UN Declaration, all four have publicly pronounced their support for this international human rights instrument. Indeed, the Government of Canada has adopted national legislation to implement its provisions as part of their domestic laws, creating coherence with the 2007 UN Declaration. In contrast, the USA has made modifications in a context-specific way rather than in a comprehensive manner. The constantly shuffling administration in the federal government always poses a challenge. "We've remained constant, our values have remained constant, and our knowledge is adapting, but we have remained constant. In contrast, when it comes to government everything around us is in flux and always changing." Dalee reflected. Concerning November as Native America Heritage Month in the USA, she expressed that American citizens today should be aware of who bore the land before them; the history, its people, and their culture. Sharing such insights will encourage inclusion of Indigenous Peoples among the US citizens.

“We used to think that one overwhelming disaster would get the point across, but we have repeatedly seen how the world community tends to fall to the lowest point and still does not take issues as seriously as it should.” Dalee illustrated her disappointment - Melting sea ice due to climate change has posed a livelihood and survival issue for Indigenous peoples throughout the circumpolar North. She suggests that advocates should identify priorities of their communities and bring their stories forward to cultivate a dynamic impact within the world community. With the utmost tone of emotion, Dalee concluded, “My advice to those genuinely concerned, including students at The Fletcher School, is to come forward, be present, advocate, but do so based on what you all see, based upon your knowledge, your observations, and your motivations as a human being.”

Neeraja Kulkarni is an MGA (F24) student at The Fletcher School. This is the second post in our Native American Heritage Month blog series. Read the first post here.