University of Akureyri and AMT Library Welcome Gift of Books from Canadian Embassy

To mark the occasion, the Embassy of Canada in Iceland is making generous donations of Canadian books to the Polar Law programme of the University of Akureyri, the municipal library in Akureyri and Reykjavík library.

The works of several influential Indigenous scholars are included in this anniversary gift from Canada. They include Professor John Borrows who gave guest lectures to the Polar Law students this Spring, with support from the Embassy. His books are amongst the several works donated by the Embassy, alongside publications by Jesse Wente, Dr Paulette Regan, Professor Michael Asch and others.

The books given to the public libraries are in English and in French, including Canadian fiction and non-fiction, children’s stories, youth fiction, crime novels and cookbooks.

Canada’s Ambassador to Iceland, Her Excellency, Jeannette Menzies will host a reception at the AMT library in Akureyri at 4pm on 1^st June to celebrate the handover.

“We are delighted to welcome these great books,” said Professor Rachael Lorna Johnstone who steers the Polar Law programme at the University of Akureyri. “Improving our understanding and teaching of Indigenous history, law and values is crucial to effective cooperation across the Arctic. This can be difficult in Iceland which is the only Arctic State with no Indigenous population in the legal sense; but these books make a great contribution to that end.”

The Ambassador added, “Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has often stated that “No relationship is more important to Canada than the relationship with Indigenous Peoples,” and the Embassy is pleased to partner with the University of Akureyri to support their teaching of Indigenous rights. We share the Polar Law programme’s aims in prioritising the full inclusion of Indigenous Peoples in decisions affecting them, at global, regional and local level, especially in the Arctic.”

The event is open to the public and registration is not necessary.