Proceedings from the First International Conference on Urbanisation in the Arctic

218 Pages·2013·16.45 MB·English

Proceedings from the
First International Conference
on Urbanisation in the Arctic
Conference 28-30 August 2012
Ilimmarfik, Nuuk, Greenland
Klaus Georg Hansen, Rasmus Ole Rasmussen
and Ryan Weber (editors)
NORDREGIO WORKING PAPER 2013:6

Proceedings from
the First International Conference
on Urbanisation in the Arctic

Conference 28-30 August 2012
Ilimmarfik, Nuuk, Greenland

Proceedings from
the First International Conference
on Urbanisation in the Arctic

Conference 28-30 August 2012
Ilimmarfik, Nuuk, Greenland
Klaus Georg Hansen, Rasmus Ole Rasmussen
and Ryan Weber (editors)
Proceedings from the First International Conference on Urbanisation in the Arctic
Conference 28-30 August 2012, Ilimmarfik, Nuuk, Greenland
Nordregio Working Paper 2013:6
ISBN 978-91-87295-07-2
ISSN 1403-2511
© Nordregio 2013
Nordregio
P.O. Box 1658
SE-111 86 Stockholm, Sweden
[email protected]
www.nordregio.se
www.norden.org
Editors: Klaus Georg Hansen, Rasmus Ole Rasmussen and Ryan Weber
Front page photos: Klaus Georg Hansen
Nordic co-operation
Nordic co-operation is one of the world’s most extensive forms
of regional collaboration, involving Denmark, Finland, Iceland,
Norway, Sweden, and the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Åland.
Nordic co-operation has firm traditions in politics, the economy,
and culture. It plays an important role in European and inter-
national collaboration, and aims at creating a strong Nordic
community in a strong Europe.
Nordic co-operation seeks to safeguard Nordic and regional
interests and principles in the global community. Common
Nordic values help the region solidify its position as one of the
world’s most innovative and competitive.
The Nordic Council
is a forum for co-operation between the Nordic parliaments and
governments. The Council consists of 87 parliamentarians from
the Nordic countries. The Nordic Council takes policy initiatives
and monitors Nordic co-operation. Founded in 1952.
The Nordic Council of Ministers
is a forum of co-operation between the Nordic governments.
The Nordic Council of Ministers implements Nordic co-operation.
The prime ministers have the overall responsibility. Its activities
are co-ordinated by the Nordic ministers for co-operation, the
Nordic Committee for co-operation and portfolio ministers.
Founded in 1971.
Nordregio – Nordic Centre for Spatial Development
conducts strategic research in the fields of planning and
regional policy. Nordregio is active in research and dissemina-
tion and provides policy relevant knowledge, particularly with a
Nordic and European comparative perspective. Nordregio was
established in 1997 by the Nordic Council of Ministers, and is
built on over 40 years of collaboration.
Stockholm, Sweden, 2013
Content
1. Preface.........................................................................................................................................................9
2. Program for the conference ....................................................................................................................11
3. Urbanisation – an obstacle or a precondition?
Palle Christiansen...........................................................................................................................................17
4. Megatrends in Arctic Development
Rasmus Ole Rasmussen ................................................................................................................................19
5. A History of Urbanization in the Arctic
Timothy Heleniak ............................................................................................................................................23
6. Review of Russian Arctic Regions: urbanization, economy, demography
Lyudmila Zalkind .............................................................................................................................................25
7. Marginal places in discursive space: Political economies of development and urban
space planning in the North, conceptual shifts
Andrey N. Petrov ............................................................................................................................................31
8. The history of urbanization and Urban Planning in the Faroes – the case of Tórshavn
Sámal tróndur Johansen ................................................................................................................................37
9. Iqaluit – Growth of an Inuit Capital
Rob Shields and Barret Weber .......................................................................................................................39
10. Un-Planning in Iqaluit, Nunavut
Kirt Ejesiak and Alain Fournier .......................................................................................................................49
11. Arctic Urban Development and Climate Change: Past, Present and Future of Russian
Urban Infrastructure in Permafrost Regions
Nikolay I. Shiklomanov ...................................................................................................................................57
12. Environmental Impacts of Urbanization: Policy Implications for
Local Warming in Nuuk, Greenland
Tony Reames..................................................................................................................................................59
13. The Role of Winter/Ice Roads in Industry and Communities in Northern Alberta
Scott Stephenson ...........................................................................................................................................67
14. Urbanization of the Alaskan Arctic: The Great Reversal?
Hal Salzman ...................................................................................................................................................73
15. Greenlandic urbanization and urban life – Decline or development?
Gitte Tróndheim ..............................................................................................................................................75
16. Urban Sámi and the City as a frame for the development of a new Sámi cultural
form in Scandinavia
Paul Pedersen and Torill Nyseth ....................................................................................................................79
17. Coming off Country’: The unthinkable process of Indigenous urbanisation
from remote Australia
Andrew Taylor .................................................................................................................................................91
18. Your region – your choice
Maliina Abelsen ............................................................................................................................................105
19. Remoteness, Transportation Infrastructure and Urban-Rural Population Movements
in the Arctic
Matthew Berman and Lance Howe ..............................................................................................................109
20. Long-distance commuting (LDC) in the Russian North: understanding socio-economic impacts
on host communities
Elena Vladimirovna Nuikina..........................................................................................................................123
21. Oil and Gas towns in Western Siberia:past, present and future challenges
Yvette Vaguet ...............................................................................................................................................125
22. Urban Greenland: A spatial analysis of Nuuk’s evolving labour market
Michael J Dangerfield ...................................................................................................................................133
23. New industry and changing demography in East Iceland
Hjalti Johannesson .......................................................................................................................................135
24. New industry and changing demographyin Newfoundland and Labrador
Keith Storey ..................................................................................................................................................137
25. Climate and Demographic Change in Arctic Alaska
Lawrence C. Hamilton ..................................................................................................................................147
26. New Economic Activities and Urbanisation: Individual reasons for moving and for staying
– Case Greenland
Klaus Georg Hansen and Rasmus Ole Rasmussen ....................................................................................157
27. Aftermath of growth in Reykjavik Capital region – land-use and values inherent in
Icelandic urbanization
Anna Karlsdóttir ............................................................................................................................................183
28. Gender dynamics in the “oilopolis”: consequences of boomtown growth for women in
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia
Jessica K. Graybill ........................................................................................................................................193
29. Sociological perspectives on Canadian Arctic urbanization – What is a town?
Thibult Martin ................................................................................................................................................195
30. Diasporas in the Arctic Urbanization
Rasmus Ole Rasmussen ..............................................................................................................................197
31. Recommendations from the conference ............................................................................................213
32. Participant list for the conference ......................................................................................................215
1. Preface
The First International Conference on Urbanisation in participants represented 13 countries – 28 participants
the Arctic was held in Nuuk in Greenland from the 28th from Greenland, 19 from North America, 12 from the
to the 30th August 2012. The conference was organized rest of the Nordic countries, 3 from European coun-
by Nordregio, the Nordic Centre for Spatial Develop- tries, 1 from Russia, and 1 from Australia.
ment, in cooperation with Ilisimatusarfik, University The main purpose of the conference was twofold.
of Greenland. The conference took place at Ilimmarfik. First, it was the idea to create a forum where politicians
Economic support for the conference has been from some of the Nordic countries could meet politi-
granted from the Nordic Council of Minister’s Pro- cians from Canada and discuss mutual experienced
gramme “Samarbete med Nordens grannar i vast”, with the urbanisation process and share ideas on how
Nordic Council of Minister’s Arctic Co-operation Pro- to manage the urbanisation process from a politicians’
gramme, National Science Foundation in USA, and the point of view. Second, it was a success criterion to give
Government of Greenland. Without this support the the politicians and the researchers an opportunity to
conference would not have been possible. The organ- discuss on an informal basis what the politicians would
izers are grateful for this generous support from the like to know more about from the researchers and what
foundations in and outside of the Nordic countries. the researchers could have of recommendations to the
The frame for the conference was phrased with a ci- politicians in the Arctic societies.
tation from the book Megatrends: That purpose was fulfilled in a unique and clearly
“Urbanisation is a global trend which will signifi- constructive way. It was not least due to the discus-
cantly contribute to the shaping of human life in the sion group sessions on the last day of the conference.
future. The Arctic region is no exception … Since the In these sessions there was time to go into a deeper and
1960’s, most of the population growth in the Arctic informal discussion on several of the topics which had
has occurred in urban centres tied to industrial ac- been discussed in the presentations during the first two
tivities, social services and public administration” days of the conference. The main recommendations
(Rasmus Ole Rasmussen, Megatrends, 2011, pp 22). from these discussions can be found in chapter 31.
Thus, the presentations and the discussions at the The proceedings include 10 abstracts and 18 papers
conference did not focus on if there is an urbanisations not previously published. They represent some of the
going on in the Arctic. The presentations and the dis- most distinguished researchers on socio-economic, so-
cussions looked at how the urbanisation in the Arctic cial and cultural aspects of urbanisation in the Arctic.
actually has been going on and is developing. The articles have not been peer reviewed but the editors
The conference was open to researchers, planners have made a light language revision of the texts.
and decision-makers who are directly involved in the
administration or development of Arctic societies. For Klaus Georg Hansen, Rasmus Ole Rasmussen and
the conference 64 participants were registered. Unfor- Ryan Weber (editors)
tuntely, a few last minute registrations had to be reject- Stockholm, 5th May 2013
ed due to lack of seating capacity. Geographically the
NORDREGIO WORKING PAPER 2013:6 9
2. Program for the conference
Monday 27th August 2012
Registration
15:00-17:30 Registration. Ilimmarfik.
Reception
18:00-21:00 Get together Reception.
Hosted by Palle Christiansen,
Minister for Education, Research and Nordic Cooperation,
Government of Greenland.
In Hans Egedes House, the Old Harbour (“Kolonihavnen”).
Tuesday 28th August 2012
Registration
08:00-16:00 Registration. Ilimmarfik.
08:00-08:30 Coffee and tea.
Plenary session I
Chair: Klaus Georg Hansen, Nordregio.
08:30-08:40 Welcome from the organizing committee.
Klaus Georg Hansen, Deputy Director, Nordregio, Sweden.
08:40-08:50 Welcome from the host institution Ilisimatusarfik.
Tine Pars, Rector, Ilisimatusarfik, Greenland.
08:50-09:05 Opening speech.
Urbanisation – an obstacle or a precondition?
Palle Christiansen, Minister for Education, Research and Nordic Cooperation,
Government of Greenland.
09:05-09:40 Megatrends in Arctic Development.
Rasmus Ole Rasmussen, Senior Research Fellow, Nordregio.
09:40-09:50 Short break.
Thematic session 1a: The process of urbanisation – Diversity in the Arctic
In the first session, focus is on the general development of urbanisation in the Arctic.
Chair: Lawrence C. Hamilton.
09:50-10:00 Introduction to “The process of urbanization” (Sessions 1a + 1b).
Lawrence C. Hamilton, Professor of Sociology, Senior Fellow of the Carsey Institute,
University of New Hampshire, Durham, USA.
10:00-10:20 A History of Urbanization in the Arctic.
Timothy Heleniak, Department of Geography, University of Maryland, USA.
10:20-10:40 Differentiation of Russian Arctic Regions: urbanization, economy, demography.
Lyudmila Zalkind, Senior Researcher, Kola Science Centre RAS, Russia.
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