Meaningful research for meaningful impact: Arctic researchers and indigenous communities working together to combat global climate change

Abstract:

The Arctic is warming at twice the rate of anywhere else in the world. As a result, Arctic inhabitants’ cultures, ways of life, and entire future is in jeopardy. Over the past decade, there have been significant advances made by the scientific community to monitor and predict the state of the rapidly changing Arctic. Information gained from these scientific studies could greatly benefit local and Indigenous communities in the Arctic. At the same time, the local knowledge of Arctic inhabitants could advance scientific understanding and guide relevant research outcomes. But how can local Arctic communities and researchers work together? How can scientific research outcomes positively impact the lives of Arctic residents? Scientific research, if shared and communicated properly, could greatly benefit Arctic communities who are dealing with the impacts of a changing climate on a daily basis. This communication between scientists and Arctic communities will be most effective if it is approached with open-mindedness, flexibility, willingness to collaborate, and respect. Building from generations of local community knowledge, I will first present observations of a changing Arctic climate through the lens of Indigenous Knowledge, a framework for observing and living in the natural world that has been passed from generation to generation. I will then provide specific guidelines for researchers working in the Arctic who aim to conduct ethical and meaningful research on traditional indigenous land. Finally, I will connect indigenous knowledge with western science, to shed light on how the two can work hand in hand to both advance scientific discovery and positively impact the lives of Arctic inhabitants.