Multi-level legal protection of traditional knowledge of Arctic indigenous peoples: Decolonizing knowledge production for sustainable development

The article provides a comprehensive exploration of the legal protection of traditional knowledge of Arctic Indigenous Peoples, emphasizing the vital role this knowledge plays in their cultural and spiritual identity. It begins by highlighting the unique and symbiotic relationship between Arctic Indigenous Peoples and their environment, underscoring how climate change threatens this delicate balance and the very essence of their existence. Traditional knowledge, accumulated over generations, is presented as a crucial complement to scientific understanding in combating climate change. The article examines multi-level legal protections of Arctic traditional knowledge. First, at the international level, it discusses instruments like the ILO Convention No. 169 and the UNDRIP, which emphasize cultural dimensions and self-determination, respectively. The integration of traditional knowledge into human rights, environmental, and economic laws is explored. Second, regional legal frameworks are also analyzed, which are corroborated by soft law documents, in the Arctic. Third, the article further delves into national legal protections across Canada, Norway, Finland, and Sweden, detailing how each country incorporates traditional knowledge into legislation and judicial decisions.