3.6. Challenges of Urban Development in the Arctic

25 March 2025 | 13:30 - 18:00 (MDT)

Open Session - HYBRID

Room:  Glen Miller Ballroom - UMC 208

Organisers: Robert Orttung (George Washington University, USA); James Powell (University of Alaska Southeast, USA); Meghan Holtan (University at Buffalo, USA)

Zoom link to the Open Session (password-protected)

The password needed to connect to the session will be distributed the day prior to the start of the sessions to all registered conference participants. Further guidelines on how to participate virtually in the ASSW 2025 can be found on the ASSW 2025 website.

 

Session Description:

This session will examine the challenges of urban development in northern conditions. The various papers will examine issues related to the built urban environment, including housing, the energy transition away from fossil fuels, and other infrastructure issues. The speakers will examine issues of justice in terms of historical and current developments. The examples will include material from North America and northern Europe.

Instructions for Speakers:  Oral presentations in this session should be at most 10-minutes in length, with an additional 2 minutes for questions (unless more detailed instructions are provided by session conveners). See more detailed presenter instructions here.

Oral Presentations - Part 1 (13:30 - 15:30 MDT): 

• unfold_moreQuantifying the Soundscapes of Alaska’s Arctic Coastal Plain — Max Plichta 

  Max Plichta ¹; Todd Brinkman ^{2 
  1} University of Alaska Fairbanks; ² University of Alaska Fairbanks, Institute of Arctic Biology

  Format: Oral in-person

  Abstract:

  We investigated the widespread and pervasive nature of anthropogenic noise, or anthrophony, on the Arctic Coastal Plain (ACP) of Northern Alaska, an area of significant ecological and cultural importance. Despite well-documented adverse effects on human health and wildlife, the region-specific impacts of anthrophony in remote areas like the ACP, particularly against the backdrop of industrial activities such as those at the Prudhoe Bay Oilfield Complex (PBOC), remain understudied. This knowledge gap underscores a critical need to better understand the indirect impacts of infrastructure and human activities on ecosystem health in remote regions. To address this need, we characterized the soundscape of the ACP and assessed the impact of anthropogenic noise on sound pressure levels (SPLs). Leveraging the emerging field of soundscape ecology, our project employed 40 autonomous recording units and machine learning to establish a comprehensive multi-year baseline of the ACP's soundscape. After processing over 60,000 hours of audio data collected during the summers of 2019 and 2021-2023, we fit generalized linear models that incorporate spatiotemporal variables and sound classification data generated from our machine learning model to predict SPLs across the region. Our initial findings suggest that anthropogenic noise is a significant driver of SPLs, especially within 10 km of infrastructure pads where the median SPLs are approximately 75% higher (+4.88 dB) compared to the adjacent Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and distant PBOC sites.This study can inform targeted noise management strategies in this region to mitigate adverse impacts on migratory wildlife and remote Arctic communities.

• unfold_morePredicting the Unpredictable: Landcover change and wildfire exposure in the Northern Boreal Forest — Jennifer Schmidt 

  Jennifer Schmidt ¹; Monika Calef ²; Robert Ziel ³; Anna Varvak ^{2
  1} University of Alaska Anchorage, Institute of Social and Economic Research; ² Soka University of America; ³ University of Alaska Fairbanks International Arctic Research Center

  Format: Oral in-person

  Abstract:

  The boreal forest of northwestern North America covers an extensive area, contains vast amounts of carbon in its vegetation and soil, and is characterized by extensive wildfires. Catastrophic crown fires in these forests are fueled predominantly by only two evergreen needle-leaf tree species, black spruce (Picea mariana) and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta). Identifying where these flammable species grow through time in the landscape is critical for understanding wildfire hazard, exposure, and risk. Using Fairbanks and Anchorage, Alaska, and Whitehorse, Yukon, we developed a compound modeling approach to refine the available evergreen forest category into highly and less flammable species. We then expanded our refined landcover at decadal time steps from 1984 to 2014. With the aid of an existing burn model, FlamMap, and simple succession rules, we were able to predict future landcover at decadal steps until 2054. The resulting vegetation maps were then used to assess decadal wildfire hazards based primarily on ember dispersal and wildfire proximity, referencing landscape changes from 1984 through 2054. Within the Fairbanks study area, we compared 2014 flammability hazard, wildfire exposure, and FlamMap burn probabilities among burned (2014-2023) and unburned areas. Unlike burn probabilities, there were significantly higher exposure values among burned and unburned locations (Wilcoxon; p < 0.001), and exposure rose as flammability hazard classes increased (Kruskal–Wallis; p < 0.001). Our resulting land cover and wildfire exposure maps provide important information to communities in our study area on current and future wildfire risk and vegetation changes.

• unfold_moreArctic energy transition strategies — Magnus de Witt 

  Magnus de Witt ^{1 
  1} University of Alaska Fairbanks

  Format: Oral in-person

  Abstract:

  Energy transition for remote Arctic communities. Energy is a key factor for the livelihood of modern Arctic communities. Finding locally generated energy sources is of particular importance to remote arctic communities. This will lower the impact of the global fuel market on communities and the pressure of complex and expensive transportation. For coastal communities, global warming has made the shipment of fuel easier by extending the ice-free period. However, inland communities that depend on fuel delivery via ice-roads are severely impacted by climate change. Due to the ice conditions on rivers, sometimes the fuel delivery has to split into two parts, which relates to a delivery time of two years. This makes the fuel supply very inflexible. All this complexity results in high fuel prices and is reflected in high electricity prices. To lower electricity costs, it can be beneficial to replace energy generated by burning fossil fuels with renewable energy. The high fuel prices make renewables an extremely cost-competitive option. However, it is important to keep in mind the subsidy schedule, which might interrupt the market by artificially lowering the price of fossil fuels or electricity generated by fossil fuels. Strategic energy transition planning is essential to incorporate all the different factors and find an optimal solution for each community.

• unfold_moreIndigenous sovereignty and municipal comprehensive planning in Alaska — Meghan Holtan 

  Meghan Holtan ¹; Mishuana Goeman ^{2 
  1} University at Buffalo, Department of Urban and Regional Planning; ² University at Buffalo, Department of Indigenous Studies

  Format: Oral in-person

  Abstract:

  All land in North America is Indigenous land, yet most municipal planning documents do not engage with issues of Indigenous and tribal sovereignty. I conduct a qualitative content analysis of three comprehensive plans in Alaska, where one-quarter of communities have a local municipal and tribal government, to better understand how plan documents’ language, structure, and images engage with Indigenous sovereignty. I find that expressions of sovereignty are embedded in all aspects of the plan document, from the cover and background sections to the future land use plan map, strategies and actions. Through plan documents, planners can explicitly recognize Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination, relationships between tribal and nontribal governments, uplift subsistence relationships, and limit the settler colonial focus on property ownership. My analysis is limited to the contents of the written plan. The scope of this paper does not reflect all possible engagements between municipal and tribal governments in planning processes, nor their outcomes, and implications for practice are similarly limited.

  This research offers the following takeaways for urban planners: Make planning authority, jurisdiction, governance and relationships clear at the beginning of the plan document. Be intentional with language and imagery to not reproduce metaphors of Indigenous land dispossession by settler colonial powers. Recognize the history of Native land ownership and stewardship. It’s okay to not plan. Leaving spaces on land use plan maps can allow for recognition of the other forms of planning and future making.

• unfold_moreArctic Urban Sustainability Transitions Moving forward while addressing the past — Robert Orttung 

  Robert Orttung ^{1 
  1} George Washington University

  Format: Oral in-person

  Abstract:

  This presentation seeks to expand our understanding of Arctic urban sustainability transitions by providing a theoretical framework for thinking about sustainability in Arctic conditions. First, our analysis begins with the historical evolution of each city, starting with the purpose for the city’s establishment and the relationship to the existing population. Second, we identify the key players - industry, government, or citizens - that drive the development of the city and its sustainability transitions. Third, we focus on the level of participation that local groups have in defining and pushing forward the transition. These three types of empirical data - pathways, players, and participation - make it possible to draw conclusions about the level of justice in the transition and allow us to answer questions about how the city defines its values and makes trade-offs based on these values.

• unfold_moreUrban heat islands in the Arctic: Physical mechanisms, climatology, implications for urban sustainability — Igor Esau 

  Igor Esau ^{1 
  1} UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway, Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center, Bergen, Norway

  Format: Oral in-person

  Abstract:

  Urban heat island (UHI) - a persistent warm temperature anomaly over a urbanized area - is a well-recognized global urban climate phenomenon. In low latitudes, UHI detereorates urban life quality by driving air temperature to extremes. In high latitudes, where air temperatures are well within their biophysical tolerace margins, the major UHI effects are felt through altering the surface water cycling and cryogenic processes. Frozen soils lose their stability and infrastructure support. Urban surface dries out and subside. Dust and chemical pollution reduce air quality.

  This study presents a survey of UHI in 118 Arctic settlements larger than 5000 inhabitans. The survey is based on the MODIS remote sensing products for the land surface temperature. Geographical, seasonal, and diurnal variations of typical UHI are shown. We discuss physical mechanisms that create the unique variability patterns for the Arctic UHI. Furthermore, these mechanisms are considered from perspective of the Arctic climate change amplification. We suggest that the Arctic UHI could be considered as harbingers of the regional climate change, and therefore, the areals of UHI could be seen as natural laboratories for sampling and observation of future climate change, processes, and effects. At the end, the study addresses sustainability issues that fill the UHI effects. The major issues are related to weakening and subsidence of frozen grounds, theats to infrastructure, and unexpected effects of urban compactification in the Arctic.

• unfold_more"Unpaved Arteries": An Assessment of Rural to Urban Connectivity in the Alaskan Arctic — Alex Griffin 

  Alex Griffin ^{1 
  1} George Washington University

  Format: Oral in-person

  Abstract:

  In the Alaskan Arctic, the development of a natural resource extraction site coincides with the construction of a road. However, roads do not exist to merely transport natural resources from a point of extraction to a point of production. Rather, roads are fundamental to human mobility and access to greater livelihoods and economic opportunity. Drawing on political negotiations of past road construction efforts, this paper aims to assess roads beyond a narrow context of mining and environmental impact assessments. The goal is to balance such contexts with the need for human mobility and rural-to-urban access. Through a mixed methods approach, this paper quantifies existing Alaskan transportation networks and then qualitatively analyzes how access to a road can impact perceptions of scale and connectivity using mental mapping techniques. In the Arctic context, remoteness is not only a lived reality but a spatially perceived concept. The existence of rural connections to urban areas is not directly congruent with a decreased sense of remoteness. This paper examines how geographic remoteness is perceived and distorted by prior notions of a frontier imaginary. An Arctic road is a political project, with human, environmental, and economic concerns.

• unfold_moreEstablishing an Alaska housing socioeconomic research program at the Cold Climate Housing Research Center — Mindy O'Neall 

  Mindy O'Neall ¹; Stacey Fritz ¹; Leah Winters ^{1
  1} Cold Climate Housing Research Center (CCHRC)

  Format: Oral in-person

  Abstract:

  The Cold Climate Housing Research Center (CCHRC), based in Fairbanks, has long been committed to addressing the housing challenges faced in Alaska. As CCHRC evolves, we recognize an urgent need to expand our focus beyond the technical aspects of housing and delve deeper into the socioeconomic factors that are critical to creating sustainable and equitable housing solutions. CCHRC is inspired by the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at Berkeley and its data-driven research that shapes housing policy in California. The accessibility of Terner Center briefs and analyses make it possible for community advocates and policymakers to effectively advance affordable housing measures. In Alaska, unique housing challenges are tied to our extreme climate, geographical isolation, and ways of life centered around harvesting and processing fish and game. Typical housing models and policies designed for other regions simply do not apply here, and CCHRC envisions multi-disciplinary, targeted, and evidence-based research that directly addresses barriers to equitable housing in Alaska.

  In fall 2024, CCHRC requested assistance from the Arctic Research Consortium of the U.S. (ARCUS) to convene a series of virtual workshops with collaborators to explore the current landscape of socioeconomic research related to housing in Alaska. Bringing the community together to pinpoint gaps in housing research helped CCHRC brainstorm key topics for white papers and develop a focused research agenda to guide its efforts to build this specialized research wing. At ICARP, we will report on the status of the initiative and grow our network.

• unfold_moreResidential Development Pathways, Priorities, and Sustainability Trade-offs across Arctic Cities: A Comparative Perspective from Fairbanks (USA), Yakutsk (Russia), Yellowknife (Canada), and Lulea (Sweden) — Aleksandra Durova 

  Aleksandra Durova ¹; Matthew Jull ^{2 
  1} Research Associate, School of Architecture, University of Virginia; ² University of Virginia

  Format: Oral in-person

  Abstract:

  As environmental pressures intensify alongside industrial and economic changes, Arctic cities are reconsidering their development pathways to enhance sustainability and resilience. This study analyzes recent spatial and residential priorities in four Arctic and sub-Arctic cities—Fairbanks (United States), Yellowknife (Canada), Yakutsk (Russia), and Luleå (Sweden)—to uncover differing approaches and sustainability trade-offs. Fairbanks is characterized by sprawling and often low-density, unregulated development. Yellowknife is constrained by a lack of available space and contaminated landscapes. Yakutsk grapples with rapid population growth, land scarcity, and deteriorating housing, while Luleå prepares for urban growth driven by “green” investments. This study examines how spatial strategies for each city build on or diverge from past approaches and reveals key drivers and barriers. Through an analysis of strategic documents, historical records, and stakeholder interviews, it identifies development strategies manifesting differently across contexts: 1) conservation and protection of the built environment, 2) spatial evolution through redevelopment and densification, and 3) transformation of non-residential landscapes into residential areas. Yakutsk plans large-scale redevelopments, replacing blighted and central low-rise neighborhoods with dense, multi-family housing. Luleå is focusing on adaptive reuse and infill with multistory buildings. Yellowknife is pursuing strategies for infill development and remediation of contaminated sites. And Fairbanks is opting for smaller-scale densification, limited by infrastructure availability, while continuing predominantly suburban, low-density growth. Luleå and Yakutsk propose converting environmentally sensitive and industrial sites into dense residential zones, involving landfilling and large-scale land reclamation. Each city’s strategy reveals context-specific trade-offs and conflicts, highlighting the complexity of balancing urban growth and sustainability in the Arctic region.

Oral Presentations - Part 2 (16:00 - 18:00 MDT):

• unfold_moreReanimating the Sacrifice Zone: Mechanisms of Harm and Healing in Yellowknife — Allison Barusevicius 

  Allison Barusevicius ^{1 
  1} George Washington University

  Format: Oral in-person

  Abstract:

  Recent research in environmental justice has examined the consequences of extractive activities on ecosystems and the human communities that depend on them. However, we lack an understanding of the permanence of these impacts, especially as it concerns their embeddedness in social, political, and economic systems over time. Employing the theoretical framework of a sacrifice zone to a case study of Yellowknife, Canada and nearby mining projects, this article examines the mechanisms through which extractive activity pollutes societal systems in addition to land. By analyzing a combination of interview and site visit data, we find that sacrificial logic diffuses across human systems, even as environmental harms are remediated. In response, local residents engage in land-based, restorative, and collaborative activities, constructing a future pathway for community development that focuses attention on healing human-land relationships. In this sense, a sacrificed place is not static, nor irreversibly dead.

• unfold_moreSustainability of Growth in Urban Arctic Areas: A Comparative Analysis of Infrastructure Development in Luleå and Yellowknife — Hannah Silber & Michaela Stones 

  Hannah Silber ¹; Michaela Stones ^{2 
  1} GWU, UC Berkeley; ² GWU

  Format: Oral in-person

  Abstract:

  As resource economies have declined, and industrial expansion has occurred, the struggle to balance sustainable development alongside notions of justice and cultural preservation is increasingly challenging for municipal leaders. Both Luleå and Yellowknife are facing divergent notions of sustainability and justice, particularly as outside entities impose broad economic and environmental goals on these areas that often do not consider the residents nor history of the land. While Lulea has made swift progress in expanding its housing infrastructure and investment into new industry that supports economic growth and Yellowknife manages its remediation economy, both will have to adapt to the challenge for skilled laborers and the impacts of in-migration within communities. Serving as resource hubs for their respective regions, these cities are subject to outside influence that are competing with local interests and community cohesion. Our research intends to identify potential catalysts for sustainable growth in these cities while recognizing their respective histories and identities. As these communities navigate competing interests that have led to the displacement of Indigenous peoples and the disruption of local economies and culture, we pose the following questions: How can we approach the global energy transition and development, when considering concepts of sustainability and justice often diverge at the local level? How can we prevent patterns of environmental and cultural disruption in the energy transition? If local environmental, socioeconomic, and culture systems are disrupted for the purpose of resource extraction, how does the development of local jobs and infrastructure influence the outcomes of these regions?

• unfold_moreNavigating the Impact of Seasonality and Climate Change on Fairbanks’ Open Public Spaces Infrastructure — Diana Khaziakhmetova 

  Diana Khaziakhmetova ¹; Vera Kuklina ²; Nikolay Shiklomanov ²; Alexander Kholodov ^{3
  1} University of Arizona; ² George Washington University; ³ University of Alaska Fairbanks

  Format: Oral in-person

  Abstract:

  Four seasons in Fairbanks, Alaska, shape the residents’ interactions with green, blue, and white (snow-covered) open public spaces (OPS) infrastructure. However, climate change significantly shapes these patterns, leading to shifts in weather, transportation challenges, safety concerns, and increased wildfire risk. This study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining local climate data analysis, land-cover change detection, interviews with local and Indigenous communities, and a review of the Fairbanks Climate Action and Adaptation Plan to assess the increasing vulnerability of OPS infrastructure. The key issues identified are permafrost thaw, more frequent rain-on-snow (ROS) and wildfire events, and increased vulnerability of trails and other recreational spaces. Indigenous perspectives highlight these changes' cultural and practical implications, particularly during winter when traditional land-use practices are affected. The research underscores the critical need for climate-resilient urban planning in Arctic cities, advocating for integrating local knowledge and community-driven adaptation strategies to enhance OPS resilience in the face of climate change. Contributing to the ICARP IV Research Priority Teams, it aligns explicitly with RPT 3 (Understanding the dynamics and resilience of Arctic social-ecological systems to foster sustainable futures) and RPT 7 (Technology, Infrastructure, Logistics, and Services) by emphasizing the importance of adaptive strategies for sustainable Arctic futures.

• unfold_moreRapid Growth and Sustainability Transitions: Evolution of Planning and Development in an Arctic Industrial City — Matthew Jull 

  Matthew Jull ¹; Aleksandra Durova ^{2 
  1} Arctic Design Group / Arctic Research Center / University of Virginia; ² University of Virginia

  Format: Oral in-person

  Abstract:

  This study examines the implications of rapid growth driven by green industrial transitions on the urban landscape of Luleå, Sweden. As the city prepares for a projected population increase - with Vision 2040 providing guidelines for urban growth, infrastructure expansion, and residential development- Luleå’s commitment to sustainability suggests that future growth may differ from late 20th-century rapid urban expansion which was shaped by technocratic planning. While Luleå has fully embraced sustainability principles, it remains unclear how this will lead to differences in urban form in response to rapid green growth. This paper examines how current growth plans, in tandem with the sustainability framework, factor into residential development and what kind of city they may shape. Using time-series orthophotos, satellite imagery, and statistical analysis, we characterize the scale and direction of urban change during a period of rapid growth in the 1970s and compare this to current trends. Four city areas, either recently developed or planned, are analyzed, representing various residential typologies and their close relation to neighborhoods from the previous growth period. Preliminary results indicate gradual shifts in the scale and diversity of residential areas, alongside challenges related to land scarcity and infrastructure. More recent plans prioritize a greater mix of uses, further densification, and greater housing diversity. While prioritizing a more compact urban form, new development involves significant expansions and conversions impacting risk-prone and environmentally sensitive sites.

• unfold_moreAlaska’s Struggle with Climate Change Policy: Leadership from Municipal Governments — Jus Tavcar 

  Jus Tavcar ^{1 
  1} University of Alaska Fairbanks

  Format: Oral in-person

  Abstract:

  Alaska is experiencing climate change impacts at a rate four times the global average. Despite federal and international decarbonization trends, Alaska's state government has yet to commit to transitioning away from fossil fuels and adapting comprehensive climate action policies. On the other hand, municipal governments have been actively implementing climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. This paper asks to what degree Alaska's municipal plans have been fulfilling climate justice principles and contributing to the state's battle against the climate crisis. Using a qualitative approach, this research analyzes climate action plans for Alaska’s two largest cities, Fairbanks and Anchorage. The paper examines planning processes, passed measures, and public perception of the plans. The analysis incorporates assembly meeting minutes, public testimonies, and opinion pieces published in local media. A key finding is that municipal governments are crucial shapers of public discourse around climate action and its intersection with social justice. Establishing local climate plans has resulted in community building and enhanced civic engagement despite notable political challenges. However, local actions are only a starting point in the state’s battle with climate impacts. Alaska needs a state-wide climate action plan to convene a just transition from a fossil fuel economy to one relying on a low-carbon energy portfolio. Lastly, the state needs an independent and nonpartisan public agency to produce climate change research, allowing citizens to access consistent and reliable data. This research contributes to the growing scholarship on climate action in Alaska and highlights the importance of local advocacy in shaping climate policy.

• unfold_moreAccessing the “Inaccessible”: The Role of Airports for Arctic Local Communities — Alexandra Meyer & Ria-Maria Adams 

  Alexandra Meyer ¹; Ria-Maria Adams ¹; Sophie Elixhauser ^{1
  1} Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology, University of Vienna

  Format: Oral in-person

  Abstract:

  Often imagined as remote and isolated, the Arctic is becoming more accessible and connected. In this presentation, we explore the local effects, promises and fears related to the increased accessibility that existing and planned Arctic airports provide communities. We do so by comparing three unique Arctic towns: Longyearbyen, extremely remote yet well-connected through its airport; Rovaniemi, a central Arctic hub with an international airport and other transport infrastructures; and Tasiilaq, a region that currently does not (yet) have a good transport infrastructure. While the two former towns are well-established Arctic tourism destinations, the latter aspires to increase accessibility and tourist numbers by building an airport. By comparing these different cases, and drawing on the concept of affordances, we seek to answer the question: What is the role of existing and planned airports for local Arctic communities? We base our research on the comparison of three individual ethnographic studies, which allows us to compare the role airports play/are anticipated to play in everyday life and community development, as well as the hopes and fears connected to increased accessibility of remote Arctic communities.

• unfold_moreClean and Affordable Space Heating in the North — Dominique Pride 

  Dominique Pride ¹; Shivani Bhagat ^{1 
  1} University of Alaska Fairbanks

  Format: Oral in-person

  Abstract:

  In the Arctic, space heating is a necessity. However, many Northern communities do not have access to a source of clean, affordable energy for heating their homes. Across Alaska and Northern Canada, many communities rely on expensive fuel oil for space heating leading to high energy cost burdens. Some households burn wood as a supplemental heat source to reduce their heating costs, but burning wood contributes to particulate matter pollution. This research focuses on two field studies in which electric thermal storage heaters (ETSH) are being used to displace dirtier fuels. After tracking baseline energy costs and pollution levels, ETSH were installed in homes in the community of North Pole, Alaska, which does not meet federal air quality standards for particulate matter pollution, to measure their impact on home energy costs and air pollution. The energy efficiency of the residential building stock is also important when considering heating costs. In the community of Kotzebue, Alaska, ETSH that are powered by excess wind energy were installed and energy efficiency retrofits were undertaken on homes to determine the impacts of these treatments on home energy consumption and costs. This research has energy justice implications for the hundreds of Arctic communities currently using dirty fuels for space heating. Transferring a portion of a community’s thermal load away from polluting fuels to low-cost, renewably generated electricity can help reduce the energy cost burden and improve air quality.

• unfold_moreStudies of Indigenizing Arctic urban spaces: Insights from the MUST project — Vera Kuklina 

  Vera Kuklina ¹; Diana Khaziakhmetova ²; Stanislav Ksenofontov ³; Andrey Petrov ³; Marya Rozanova-Smith ¹; Johan Sandstrom ^{4
  1} The George Washington University; ² The University of Arizona; ³ University of Northern Iowa; ⁴ Luleå University of Technology

  Format: Oral in-person

  Abstract:

  Arctic urban spaces are significantly shaped by historical-cultural heritage, employment sources, and geographical settings. Since the cities are built on lands of Indigenous Peoples, understanding how Indigenous heritage and current Indigenous cultures are represented and how they interact with and are overshadowed by other identities is one of the indicators of their sustainability. In this presentation, we draw on experience from our scholarly work in the following cities: Fairbanks, Jokkmokk, Kiruna, Luleå, Naryan-Mar, Yakutsk, and Yellowknife. Each of these cities serves as a cultural center for a larger territory. While scholars have very different experiences of engaging with these cities, their communities, and spaces, together they create a spectrum of diverse ways how Indigenous heritage is or could be celebrated and acknowledged in the cities. For comparison, we look into the representation of Indigenous cultures in the built environment, in the cities’ institutions, and urban events. The results demonstrate that including Indigenous communities in urban planning and development is one of the main pillars for ensuring equity and justice, and building resilience in the cities in transition.