Julius Mihkkal Eriksen Lindi and Viljo Vuorimäki from the Chairship Youth Committee
© Petra Polčičová

Inaugural Arctic Youth Conference: A Historic Milestone for Arctic Youth Engagement 

May 12, 2025

Empowering the next generation and shaping the future of Arctic governance through youth engagement at the Arctic Youth Conference

Article by:
Minetta Westerlund, Arctic Council Secretariat

The Arctic Youth Conference (AYC) set a new precedent for youth involvement in Arctic governance. With nearly 300 participants from across the Arctic and beyond, the conference created a dynamic platform for youth to engage in discussions on pressing Arctic issues, from leadership to preserving Indigenous cultures. This historic event marks the beginning of a new era in Arctic youth leadership.

Over the three-day conference, youth-led sessions, workshops, and critical issues facing the Arctic were addressed. The AYC was a truly youth-driven initiative, offering a space for meaningful dialogue and broadening perspectives and connections amongst youth in the circumpolar Arctic and beyond. At its core, Norway’s establishment of the Chairship Youth Committee ensured that the conference remained youth-led, providing a platform for young people to engage with senior Arctic leaders while addressing vital topics like the preservation of Indigenous cultures, youth leadership, mental well-being, and more. Participants also had the opportunity to interact with Arctic Council delegates from Arctic States, Permanent Participants, and Working Groups. More than 25 side events and workshops organized by major Arctic youth organizations further enriched the conference's impact.

Youth: A Cross-Cutting Priority of Norway’s Chairship

Knut Seim, Norway’s Deputy Senior Arctic Official, reflects on what inspired the idea for an Arctic Youth Conference and his experience working closely with the Chairship Youth Committee over the past year.

“The emphasis on youth engagement was a natural extension of one of Norway’s thematic Chairship priorities: People of the North. In the Arctic—where small and scattered populations face harsh climates—a key challenge is making communities attractive and sustainable for young people. Without young people, small local communities risk stagnation. For Arctic communities to thrive, it is vital that youth voices be heard, as the youth of today are the future, and their perspectives matter. We realized that it is essential to give young people a platform to present their ideas, voice their concerns, and propose solutions. It was important for us to do more than just invite a few youths to take part in Arctic Council meetings or panel discussions. In other words, — we wanted to avoid tokenism.”

Consequently, the Chairship decided to explore the possibility of establishing a platform for youth - or more precisely - organizing an Arctic Youth Conference. In Knut’s own words, the Chairship allowed themselves to think big and aimed at inviting Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth from across the Arctic to a circumpolar youth conference, where they could meet in person and get to know each other, exchange ideas and experiences, and learn and practice leadership skills in a safe and relaxed environment. And most importantly, they wanted the event to be youth-led.

Drawing inspiration from local and regional youth councils in Norway, the youth work conducted by the Arctic Council’s Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) Working Group, as well as past youth conferences organized by the Barents Euro Council - the Chairship Youth Committee, who would shape the whole conference - was formed.

The Chairship Youth Committee
© Jamie Michael Bivard

The Chairship Youth Committee: Catalysts for Success

The Chairship Youth Committee (CYC) comprises members from diverse Arctic youth organizations, ensuring a variety of backgrounds and perspectives. "We were fortunate to have nine highly motivated young people on the committee, eager to realize the Chairship’s ambitious vision of organizing this conference," Seim explains. Thanks to their hard work and dedication, the AYC in Tromsø was a huge success.

"The Norwegian Chairship is extremely grateful for the committee's efforts in making the AYC such a wonderful event," he says. "The committee did an outstanding job not only in shaping the program but also as moderators and panelists during the conference itself."

Looking ahead, the committee’s next task is to summarize the key takeaways from the conference sessions and advise the current but also the incoming Chairship. We look forward to seeing the results of this work reflected in the Arctic Council Joint Declaration and the SAO report to ministers, which marks the end of the Norwegian Chairship term. "Our ambition was not to create a youth strategy for the Arctic Council," Seim clarifies, "but rather to provide a model for future Arctic Youth Conferences." Future Chairships will decide whether—and how—to develop the youth conference concept further.

Gathered around fire in the Nomad Indigenous FoodLab
© Arjun Acharya

Key Activities and Contributions to Conference Success

Jens Toft, Project Coordinator for the Arctic Council Secretariat, played a key role in overseeing the preparations for the AYC. He acted as the bridge between the Chairship Youth Committee and other conference organizers, ensuring youth engagement remained central throughout the event.

"The Nomad Indigenous FoodLab, brought to Tromsø by the World Reindeer Herders, was an outstanding event, celebrating the culinary traditions of Indigenous communities," Toft highlights. "It not only featured traditional dishes but also panels, sharing circles, and discussions, offering an immersive cultural experience."

The Nomad Indigenous FoodLab at Prostneset
© Petra Polčičová

A critical issue for many participants was mental well-being, particularly in relation to climate change. In collaboration with the Arctic Council’s Sustainable Development Working Group (SDWG) and the CREATeS Project, a workshop was held where youth worked with professionals to create a video documenting the intersection of climate change and mental health. The workshop resulted in four videos shown at the final plenary session, Healing Through Connection: Mental Wellbeing in the Arctic making a powerful contribution to the discourse on Arctic mental health.

Additionally, the Kristin Harila X AMAP Arctic Youth Expedition allowed nine youth from the Arctic and beyond to embark on a skiing expedition across Finnmarksvidda, guided by renowned mountaineer Kristin Harila. The expedition offered participants a deeper understanding of the Arctic environment and the impacts of climate change. Sweden’s Senior Arctic Official Axel Wernhoff joined for a portion, sharing and exchanging perspectives with participants in the unique Arctic environment. The expedition concluded a few days before the conference started, allowing the expedition team to get back in time for the conference and give a presentation in the Nomad Indigenous Foodlab about their experience.

In addition to workshops and side events, the conference featured a townhall reception, concerts by Norwegian artists Kajsa Balto and Moddi, and other socializing and networking opportunities. On the last day of the conference, a small breakout session with the Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers, Karen Ellemann, provided youth the opportunity to discuss their recommendations on how youth should be involved in the Nordic collaboration. The Change-makers take the Stage event aimed at fostering dialogue between Arctic youth, Senior Arctic Officials to the Arctic Council, and leaders of the Indigenous Peoples’ organizations that are Permanent Participants in the Arctic Council. It provided a platform for youth to put their skills in diplomacy, advocacy, and leadership into practice.

The Arctic Youth Conference offered youth a wide range of sessions and thematic topics. This was possible because of the diverse perspectives and the inclusivity of different voices from start to finish in the planning and execution.

Arctic Parliamentarians session
© Jamie Michael Bivard

Diverse Perspectives and Inclusivity

Clara Johanne Storgaard Madsen, representing Kalaallit Nunaat and the Kingdom of Denmark in the Chairship Youth Committee, underscores the importance of inclusivity at the AYC.

“The inaugural Arctic Youth Conference prioritized a youth-driven approach, ensuring that diverse Arctic youth voices, including Indigenous Knowledge Holders, were truthfully and meaningfully represented. We played a central role in shaping the program and enhancing inclusivity together with Jens and the key organizations. Attendees were offered platforms to share knowledge through storytelling, various methods, and co-leading discussions. The conference fostered true and meaningful engagement and lasting contributions from Arctic youth by embedding inclusivity throughout the entire process.”

The conference featured five plenary sessions, each planned by the Chairship Youth Committee. Topics included youth leadership, preservation of Indigenous culture, co-development of knowledge, preparedness and resilience, and mental well-being.

Kassandra Petsa, representing the Nordland County Youth Council in the Chairship Youth Committee, explains one of the key issues discussed during the AYC:

“The session I was planning focused on preparedness and resilience in Arctic communities, with an emphasis on the role of youth in addressing climate challenges. Topics like climate change impacts, youth engagement, and Indigenous Knowledge were central to our discussions," she describes.

Preparing for the conference was an inspiring experience for Kassandra, one that helped strengthen youth leadership in the Arctic and will undoubtedly shape future Arctic Youth Conferences.

A Lasting Impact on the Arctic Council’s Agenda

Jens Toft highlights the significant achievements of the Arctic Youth Conference: “This was the first time that Arctic youth, Arctic Council Working Groups, Permanent Participants, state officials, Observers, and key organizations came together on such a large scale. This fostered collaboration and dialogue, ensuring youth voices are prioritized in Arctic governance.”

For Toft, the key to success lies in the lasting connections formed during the conference. "The next step is to build on the momentum generated by the AYC and ensure that youth engagement continues to influence the Arctic Council’s work," he says.

The inaugural Arctic Youth Conference in Tromsø has not only reinforced the role of youth in Arctic governance but also paved the way for future generations of Arctic leaders. With its focus on inclusivity, sustainability, and youth-driven dialogue, the AYC represents a critical milestone. It ensures that Arctic youth voices will continue to be heard, valued, and integrated into decisions shaping the region’s future.