Plenary: Art as a Bridge: Translating Knowledge in the Arctic
Discover through a compelling panel discussion on how art serves as a powerful medium to elevate youth voices and exchange knowledge between diverse audiences. Art transcends conventional communication barriers—such as language, cultural differences, and generational divides—by transforming complex scientific concepts into accessible and culturally sensitive material. Through various forms like video, storytelling, and comic strips, art can foster deeper connections between knowledge holders and users, including youth. Our diverse panel will share insights on leveraging art to engage Northern communities, showcasing real-world projects that aim to positively impact society. Moderated by ArticNet, this session highlights the vital role of creative expression in bridging gaps between different ways of knowing and understanding the world.
Plenary: Building Resilience: Youth Preparedness for Arctic Challenges
Join us for an engaging session on preparedness and resilience, focusing on how Arctic youth can lead their communities in facing the challenges of climate change. As the Arctic region experiences rapid environmental shifts and increased natural hazards, it is essential to equip the next generation with the knowledge and tools to build resilient communities. This session will feature insights from researchers, Indigenous leaders, local policymakers, and young politicians, exploring the unique climate risks facing the Arctic and the strategies needed to address them. Participants will learn about disaster preparedness, possible opportunities in a changing climate, and the importance of integrating traditional knowledge with modern science. Be a part of this dynamic discussion to share experiences, discover best practices, and empower Arctic youth to take action for a sustainable and resilient future.
Side Events
What does it mean to resist colonization as Queer Indigenous peoples? Join 2SIQTIP+ Indigenous artists and educators from Northern so-called Canada as they explore the impacts of colonization, homophobia and transphobia in their communities and the practices they’re engaging in to reclaim connection to Land, belonging, and traditional identities. Through an interactive, collaborative art exhibit and artist talk, the team of Qmunity Camp NWT, comprised of Queer Dënesųłın̨ é artist and educator Kianna Stagg and Two-Spirit M'Chigeeng Anishinabek artist and Land based educator Lindsay Debassige of Sǫ̀mba K'è, Denendeh, will share teachings from the Land and Northern Two Spirit, Indigiqueer, Queer and Transgender First Nation, Inuit, and Métis youth in concurrence with Inuk artist Akinasi and filmmaker Isaac Partridge of Kuujjuaq, Nunavik drawing from their lived experiences as Queer urban Inuit.
For over 60 years, Sámi youth have been organizing themselves with a deep commitment to cooperation, unity, and cultural continuity across the Arctic borders of Sápmi. These efforts reflect a long history of sustaining a unified Sámi identity despite the national borders that divide their lands and people. The Sámi youth organizations in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia have always strived to address common challenges, advocate for their rights, and preserve their culture. This session will explore how these efforts can not only strengthen Sámi communities but also contribute to a more connected Arctic. Participants will engage in discussions and activities that show the necessity of cross-border collaboration in preserving culture, maintaining a sense of shared purpose and addressing common challenges, in addition to inspiring them to action.
This training uplifts Indigenous worldviews of genders so we can heal from colonial impositions of binary gender constricts. We put forward ways of being around gender that honors all genders for their full selves. The training includes group agreements, foundations of terminology, unpacking the patriarchy, Indigenous feminisms, and Indigenous gender constructs. The training is a presentation format with group activities and personal story interwoven. If participants walk away with a more fluid and expansive understanding of genders and self reflection, then we consider that a success!
Supporting Wellbeing (SWB) is an award-winning, Indigenous-led mental health training that provides tools and resources for people who deliver land-based programming that will better prepare them to mitigate and respond to mental health challenges on the land. In this session, SWB will share how our work creates a network of informal helpers in communities so participants can better support themselves, other staff members, their participants during land-based programs, and indirectly other community members. Attendees will have the opportunity to participant in a SWB learning activity about conflict resolution where they will learn their conflict style and when it is best to use each conflict style.
Today, many of us find ourselves living, learning and working within governance, education, and economic systems rooted in worldviews that are rarely examined, particularly by those of us who have been raised within them. Like fish in water, we don’t actually understand the water we’re in. Our ways of knowing, doing, feeling, and being are so normalised, they’ve become invisible. Though the extent of their influence often goes unnoticed, worldviews are consequential for decisions about priorities and actions in the world. Worldviews build worlds. Recognizing the consequences of worldview blindspots in our lives, a diverse collective has worked together to create a project called ‘Illuminating Worldviews’. This session will share Illuminating Worldviews’ reason for being and explore its potential to evolve systems in the Yukon [and potentially beyond] in an era of decolonisation, self-governance, and Reconnection.
The Territorial Youth Collective has created a strategy with the vision for all Yukon youth to have a sense of belonging and have a positive sense of self, through fulfilling relationships and feel connected and cared for. We want to share our knowledge and lessons to expand this vision to all Northern Youth.This session will explore how communities can come together through a collective impact approach to create a guiding document that reflects youth resiliency, promoting mental wellbeing, and fostering strong leadership within their communities. Join us for an interactive workshop where participants will learn about the Collective Impact approach, share insights on best practices for community engagement, and collaborate on developing a framework that empowers youth to lead the way towards systemic change by amplifying youth voice. This session is essential for anyone involved in youth advocacy, policy-making, or community development in Northern regions.
Are you passionate about Arctic research, whether you’re a student, early-career researcher, or a community member involved in research? Whether your focus is on social or natural science - or even if you’re simply interested in learning more - this session is for you! Let’s explore how individuals such as yourself can collaborate and co-develop inclusive Arctic research! We will focus on the ethical aspects, respecƞul communicaƟon and collaboraƟon when doing research and producing knowledge about the Arctic, especially around climate and nature. Who has the power to shape these narratives? How can young researchers and participants tackle existing power dynamics to ensure their research will empower people in the Arctic? Join us for a session of learning, discussion, and shared reflecƟon, offering new inspiration and insights for everyone involved in or curious about Arctic research and knowledge production.
Arctic communities find themselves at the forefront of changes happening in the Arctic, and often they are the only eye-witnesses of these changes. That is why community-based monitoring is so important in this vast but scarcely populated region. Community-Based Monitoring (CBM) is a tool for facilitating inclusive decision-making, empowering communities and building trust and creditability among actors. It helps to keep track of changes in the Arctic environment and societies, and improves understanding of the local situation, subsequently supporting decisions on community well-being and development, as well as sustainable environmental management. CBM with participation of Indigenous Communities is a mechanism where methodologies using both Indigenous and western knowledge systems are developed, and local Indigenous indicators are introduced, providing a more comprehensive evaluation of the situation. Moreover, CBM is an important tool for implementing the Arctic Council Strategic Plan, UNDRIP, CBD Strategic Plan, Paris climate change commitments, Sustainable Development Goals, etc.
The Arctic is rapidly changing, in terms of geopolitics, climate, and emerging societal challenges. The role of today’s youth and early career professionals in merging knowledge with direct action is crucial for shaping future policies, enhancing understanding, and adapting to these changes. How can early career professionals effectively respond to these forthcoming challenges by integrating scientific knowledge with practical action? Additionally, how can we maintain interdisciplinary dialogue and ensure that knowledge effectively influences politics, industry, and the future of science-policy? By bringing in early career professionals working with different stages of the intersection between science and politics and with a broad experience in Arctic issues, we will in this session aim to discuss how to cross the bridges between knowledge and action, and how to work towards a sustainable Arctic
Pre-Dinner Tasting at the Nomad Indigenous Foodlab
Social/Cultural Event & Chairship Youth Conference Dinner
Concert Kajsa Balto & Moddi (Tickets needed)