Resilient Root: Safeguarding Indigenous cultures, identities, and livelihoods in the Arctic

Arctic Youth Conference session on safeguarding Indigenous cultures, identities, and livelihoods

As part of their contributions to the Arctic Youth Conference, PP Youth organized a plenary session on the opening day of the conference, titled "Resilient Roots - Safeguarding Indigenous Cultures, Identities, and Livelihoods in the Arctic". This session focused on preserving the cultural heritage and traditional livelihoods of Indigenous Peoples in the Arctic. As rapid modernization and climate change continue to affect the region and its peoples, and the knowledge and practices of Indigenous Peoples are more threatened than ever, the PP Youth panel explored the importance of preserving Indigenous cultures, identities and livelihoods not only for the survival of these communities but also for their contributions to climate resilience and sustainable development.

Mental well-being was also one of the major themes of the conference with many discussions highlighting its deep ties to culture, environment, and identity. A common message was that when the land, animals, and people are healthy, so are the communities. But when one struggles, the effects are felt by all. This connection reinforces the importance of a holistic approach to mental wellbeing, where cultural identity, language, and traditional practices provide strength and stability.

Reclaiming, revitalizing, and preserving traditions are further important for supporting wellbeing, especially in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss. Practices like storytelling, intergenerational knowledge-sharing, and land-based healing were highlighted as meaningful ways to help Indigenous youth feel grounded and connected in their communities. By blending Indigenous Knowledge with modern mental health strategies, Indigenous youth can create culturally relevant support systems that improves resilience now and for the future.

The aim of the plenary session was to show the importance of preserving Indigenous culture and knowledge and share successful examples of cultural preservation and revitalization initiatives and programs to discuss strategies to preserve indigenous knowledge, continuity, and innovation.

Key themes and takeaways from the Resilient Roots panel

• Cultural practices strengthen Indigenous youth' identity and resilience in the face of external pressures. Cultural traditions, land-based learning and intergenerational knowledge-sharing play a vital role in connecting youth to their heritage.

• Cooperation between the Arctic Indigenous youth is vital for capacity-building, knowledge sharing and strengthening the cultural identity of Indigenous youth. Such cooperation supports Indigenous leadership now and in the future.

• Indigenous Knowledge is important for biodiversity conservation and climate change adaption. There is a need for Indigenous-led research and recognition of Indigenous Knowledge as a legitimate addition to Western science. This would entail a greater involvement of Indigenous communities in shaping research agendas and methods.

• In addition to climate change, evolving fishing regulations and policies have created challenges for Arctic Indigenous communities that impact their traditional fishing practices and contribute to the ongoing salmon crisis, which further impacts food security and traditional livelihoods of Indigenous Peoples across the Arctic. There’s a need for stronger Indigenous governance in managing natural resources and Indigenous Peoples’ livelihoods.

The session increased awareness of the importance of preserving Indigenous culture and knowledge, shared practical strategies and tools for participants to engage in cultural preservation. The session wanted to give youth a sense of purpose and optimism about their active role in cultural preservation. The goal was also to empower the audience with tools and knowledge to engage in preservation efforts in their communities.

The panellists discussed the impact of climate change on traditional livelihoods and cultural practices and called for stronger collaboration among Indigenous youth and organizations to learn from each other and to support cultural preservation and resilience of the Indigenous youth. The panel also called for even more Indigenous-lead research initiatives that integrate Indigenous Knowledge with western science, advocate for policies that recognize the Indigenous governance over the Indigenous livelihoods, and advocate land-based learning programs.