28 March 2025 | 08:30 - 10:00 (MDT)
Open Session - HYBRID
Room: Glen Miller Ballroom in UMC - 210/212
Organisers: Evie Morin (Research Institute for Sustainability); Aslak Holmberg (Saami Council); Ikaarvik
Session Description:
There is a need to decolonize and Indigenize Arctic research. Recent co-creative projects have illustrated how improved collaboration between Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners benefits all. Increasingly, more funding guidelines explicitly require co-creative approaches; however, these terms risk becoming box-ticking, obscuring continued exploitative practices. Similarly, good intentions do not always amount to ethical projects. Dominant Arctic research requires a better understanding of what ‘co-creative’ and ‘Indigenous-led research’ mean and a clearer grasp on the structural and practical requirements required to uphold Indigenous Peoples’ right to self-determination.
A group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous co-authors recently developed two documents with recommendations to address challenges and ethical concerns in co-creative and Indigenous-led research: the Comprehensive Policy Brief to the EU Commission - Roadmap to Decolonial Arctic Research (Herrmann et al., 2023) and Towards Arctic Research Upholding Indigenous Peoples’ Rights: Recommendations for ICARP IV, the International Conference on Arctic Research Planning (Holmberg et al., 2024). Focusing on Arctic research, topics include Indigenous Peoples’ right to self-determination; ethics, methods, and methodology; Indigenous-led research in design and practice; Indigenous Peoples’ co-equal participation in funding structures and decision-making; and funding for co-creative and Indigenous-led research.
Recently, IASC funded a process to broaden and deepen exchange of expertise and discussion on these topics. Activities included conference sessions and questionnaires to gather feedback from more voices in diverse parts of the Arctic about their thoughts and experiences of implementing these recommendations. This session will present key messages from the documents and insights gained from this engagement process.