What is Arctic Council?
{{Infobox organization | name = Arctic Council | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | logo = | logo_size = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | map = File:ArcticCouncil.svg | map_size = 300px | map_alt = | map_caption = {{align|left|{{legend|#002387|members}}{{legend|#0087BD|observers}} }} | formation = {{start date and age|1996|09|19}} (Ottawa Declaration) | type = [[Governmental organization]] | purpose = Forum for promoting cooperation, coordination, and interaction among the [[Arctic]] states, with the involvement of the Arctic Indigenous communities | headquarters = [[Tromsø]], Norway (since 2012) | membership = {{Unbulleted list|[[Canada]]|[[Denmark]]|[[Finland]]|[[Iceland]]|[[Norway]]|[[Russia]]|[[Sweden]]|[[United States]]}} | main_organ = [[Secretariat (administrative office)|Secretariat]] | homepage = {{URL|arctic-council.org|arctic-council.org}} }} The '''Arctic Council''' is a high-level forum between governments. It addresses issues faced by the [[Arctic]] governments and the [[Circumpolar peoples|indigenous people of the Arctic]]. The Council is formed of eight countries: Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About the Arctic Council|url=https://arctic-council.org/en/about/|access-date=2021-04-14|website=Arctic Council|language=en}}</ref> All of these countries have [[sovereignty]] over the lands within the [[Arctic Circle]]. There are also some observer states. The Council was formed in 1996 by the Ottawa Declaration.<ref>{{Cite journal|journal=Arctic Council|date=1996|title=Ottawa Declaration (1996)|url=https://oaarchive.arctic-council.org/handle/11374/85|language=en|last1=Council |first1=Arctic }}</ref> It is designed to encourage cooperation, coordination, and interaction among the Arctic states. The Council meets every six months for a Senior Arctic Officials (SAO) meeting. Senior Arctic Officials are [[Representation (politics)|representatives]] of the member states. Every two years a Ministerial Meeting is held. A