A new party is shouldering its way into international sovereignty discussions about the Arctic — the people who actually live there.

The day before politicians from all Arctic nations were scheduled to meet in Norway, the world's Inuit released a declaration saying they have a right to join any talks that affect the future of their frozen homeland, participation that they say has so far been denied.

"Inuit have various rights as peoples to be meaningfully consulted in regards to decisions that are being made in the circumpolar Arctic that are affecting us without our involvement," said Duane Smith, Canadian vice-president of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference, which represents about 150,000 Inuit around the world.

The declaration was released Tuesday in Tromso, Norway, in advance of a meeting of ministers from the eight-member Arctic Council.

Canada is part of the council. Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon, as well as Northwest Territories Premier Floyd Roland and Nunavut Premier Eva Aariak, are expected to be in Norway.

Tuesday's declaration says governments have excluded actual Arctic residents from talks on how the region could be divided up and managed. The declaration maintains that Inuit have the right to be at the table.

"The inextricable linkages between issues of sovereignty and sovereign rights in the Arctic and Inuit self-determination and other rights require states to accept the presence and role of Inuit as partners in the conduct of international relations in the Arctic," it says.

"Inuit consent, expertise and perspectives are critical to progress on international issues involving the Arctic, such as global environmental security, sustainable development, militarization, commercial fishing, shipping, human health and economic development."

Smith points out that no Inuit representatives were present in Illulissat, Greenland, last May when delegates from Canada and the four other Arctic coastline countries discussed the region's regulation and management. Yet the issues from economic development to polar bear conservation are of central importance to Inuit life.

Even search-and-rescue strategies require Inuit participation, said Smith, speaking from Tromso.

"Who are the first people who are going to be out there first?" he asked. "It's the Inuit."

Although Inuit have observer status on the Arctic Council, they continue to be excluded from crucial meetings, said Michael Byers, a University of British Columbia law professor and Arctic expert.

"What we see with this declaration is an organized attempt to insert themselves back into the discussion," he said.

"It's a political case. It's a moral case."

A spokesman for the Canadian government denied it is shutting Inuit out of international talks.

"The federal government is working for and with Northerners at home and on the world stage to strengthen and protect our sovereignty, protect our northern environment, promote social and economic development, and improve and devolve northern governance," said Ted Yeomans of the Northern Affairs Department.

He pointed to the presence of two territorial premiers at the Norway meetings as proof northern voices are being heard.

In the past, Canada has used the Inuit to bolster its sovereignty claims.

In the 1950s, the government relocated Inuit for that purpose to the High Arctic communities of Resolute and Grise Fiord. As well, the Nunavut Land Claim recognizes that Inuit occupation of both the land and sea ice is a major component of Canada's legal claim over the Northwest Passage.

Byers said recent Canadian governments have downplayed the role of Inuit occupancy in sovereignty talks.

"From my perspective, it is the most convincing dimension to our sovereignty claim and yet I have never heard a Canadian prime minister refer to that provision and the importance of Inuit use and occupancy."

Smith hopes Tuesday's declaration will begin to change that.

"Inuit do have a right to be directly involved in issues that are being discussed either domestically by the Canadian government or internationally."