摘要:Background The 12th International Congress of Circumpolar Health (ICCH) took place in Nuuk Greenland on September 8-14, 2003. Since 1967, the ICCH is held every three years in various northern cities to gather researchers, indigenous peoples, health professionals, administrators, and others who are working with health in the Arctic. There are eight working groups that meet during the conference: birth defects, cancer, environmental health, health surveys, indigenous peoples, infectious diseases, injury prevention, and occupational safety and health. The indigenous peoples working group is chaired by Patricia Cochran, Executive Director of the Alaska Native Science Commission, and holds concurrent sessions and meetings as part of the triennial Congress.(Int J Circumpolar Health 2004; 63(3):295-297)