2025 Iceland and Arctic Circle Assembly Delegation recap

The Students on Ice Foundation’s Alumni delegation to the 2025 Arctic Circle Assembly brought together Indigenous youth from Canada’s North—Fort Simpson’s Abigail, Beau from Kugluktuk, Pond Inlet’s Robert, Grace from Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Kangiqsualujjuaq’s Kathy, and Melissa from Nain—each bringing their own unique perspectives and lived experiences to create a collective purpose rooted in a common interest in a thriving Arctic future. 

After an early morning arrival on Oct. 14, we all met each other in downtown Reykjavik for breakfast and spent the day taking in the city’s sights, settling into our accommodations, and adjusting to the time change. We began our second full day in Iceland by grounding ourselves in the landscapes, stories, and natural forces that define the Arctic region. We were led on a tour of Iceland’s Golden Circle region by our expert guide, Harold, whose storytelling blended Icelandic mythology, natural history, and cultural insight. 

Together, we visited some of the country’s most iconic geological and cultural landmarks, gaining a deeper appreciation for the powerful interplay between people and place. From peering into the vibrant blue waters of the Kerið volcanic crater to soaking in the geothermal warmth of the Secret Lagoon, the group witnessed firsthand how Iceland’s land and energy are shaped by forces deep within the Earth. 

At Geysir, a geothermal field in south-western Iceland, we stood among bubbling mud pools and witnessed the powerful Strokkur Geyser eruption, which sent steam and boiling water upwards of about 40 metres. At Gullfoss, a powerful two-tiered waterfall in southwest Iceland that plunges into a rugged canyon, our guide told us of the legacy of Sigríður Tómasdóttir, whose early 20th-century activism saved the waterfall from industrial development—a powerful reminder of the role individuals can play in protecting natural heritage. 

The day concluded at Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates visibly diverge and where Iceland’s first parliament (and the oldest surviving parliament in the world), the Althingi, was established more than a millennium ago. Walking through this site of both geological wonder and democratic history offered a profound sense of connection to the natural and political foundations of the Arctic.

That evening, we gathered at the Embassy of Canada to Iceland for a welcome event hosted by Minister Rebecca Chartrand and Canada’s Arctic Ambassador Virginia Mearns, where they discussed the importance of youth engagement, Indigenous leadership, and international collaboration with our group of alumni. 

The day on the land and making connections at the embassy provided powerful entry points to the learning and dialogue to follow at the Arctic Circle Assembly—reminding us that understanding the Arctic’s future begins with experiencing its land, history, and people.

DAY 1: Indigenous Knowledge is knowledge

On the opening day of the Arctic Circle Assembly, our youth delegation attended several thought-provoking sessions that deepened our understanding of Indigenous leadership, equitable research, and sustainable Arctic futures.

At “Reimagining Arctic Research: Centering Indigenous Knowledge, Equity, and Justice,” speakers highlighted the urgent need to shift Arctic research toward community-led approaches that honour Indigenous knowledge, lived experience, and data sovereignty. A particularly resonant moment came when Iñupiaq panellist Corina Qaaġraq Kramer shared her perspective on what it means to hold and value different forms of knowledge.

Corina, who works to promote Iñupiaq language, culture, and well-being, reflected on her own educational path—she has a Grade 8 education, while her sister and fellow panellist, Dr. Cana Uluak Itchuaqiyaq, is an assistant professor and founding director of the Center for Sustainable Engagement in the Arctic (CSEA) at Virginia Tech. Despite their different academic backgrounds, the sisters now work together through their co-founded consultancy, Respectful Research, to guide organizations, researchers, and educators in engaging with Indigenous communities in equitable and culturally grounded ways.

Corina’s words—“I’m not stupid. There are things that I have not learned, but I am learning them. I have a knowledge that you can’t go to school for.”—captured the essence of the session’s message: that Indigenous knowledge, rooted in land, culture, and lived experience, carries its own intellectual rigour and value, and must stand alongside Western science as an equal and essential way of understanding the world.

“This was my favourite session,” Beau said later, noting Corina’s advocacy for not only preserving but honouring Indigenous Knowledge Systems connected with him. “That was powerful.”

In “Buckle Up or Let Go: Arctic Conservation and the Global Biodiversity Framework,” panellists explored pathways for aligning global biodiversity goals with Inuit-led management and local conservation initiatives. The discussion emphasized how the protection of Arctic ecosystems must be guided by Indigenous knowledge and leadership to be effective and just. 

Finally, “Inuit Autonomous Economic Governance in Nunavik, Nunavut, and Kalaallit Nunaat” brought together leaders, including some from longtime SOI partners like Qikiqtani Inuit Association’s President Olayuk Akesuk and Makivvik’s Treasurer George Berthe, who shared how Inuit organizations are advancing economic self-determination and regional autonomy through locally driven governance models. 

Together, these sessions offered the SOI youth valuable insights into the interconnectedness of culture, governance, and environmental stewardship across the Arctic.

DAY 2: SOI alumni in action

On the second day of the Assembly, our delegation attended a range of sessions exploring climate resilience, sustainable shipping, Indigenous-led research, and mental health in the North. At “Forecasting Arctic Tipping Points: Building an Early Warning System for Everyone,” researchers and policymakers discussed new approaches to anticipate and respond to accelerating environmental change, emphasizing the need for collaboration between science, governance, and communities. 

Some members of our SOI delegation also joined “Managing the Northwest Passage,” where speakers explored the balance between economic opportunity and cultural and environmental protection in one of the world’s most geopolitically sensitive regions. Shipping expansion in the Arctic sparked a lively debate about the threat to Canada’s sovereignty (while Canada regards the Northwest Passage as domestic water, many nations consider it an international waterway), and the potential impacts on coastal and Indigenous communities.

“It impacts our communities and the marine mammals that we hunt and rely on,” Robert said, noting that his community of Pond Inlet is particularly affected by changing shipping routes in the North. “These are animals that used to come seasonally, in a predictable way. But that’s been affected a lot by all the ships that go through the Northwest Passage. And it’s not just my community, it’s all the other communities too.”

Grace, on the other hand, came away from the talk with a more nuanced perspective. With a warming Arctic, the waters of the Northwest Passage will inevitably open up to more international traffic. Therefore, conservation alone will not be enough to deter increased shipping, meaning Canada needs to play a role in governing these routes.

“Part of being Indigenous is resilience, and so resilience to what is going on in today’s world necessarily means a focus on the economic and political (issues),” she said, noting that the development of civil and military infrastructure in the North is a crucial aspect of protecting the waterway—and Indigenous sovereignty.

“We need to do something about it now or we’re just going to get left behind… we’re actually going to have our sovereignty diminished by outside agents.”

In “Zero Emission Shipping: Accelerating the Green Transition in the Arctic,” panellists highlighted progress toward decarbonizing maritime transport through renewable fuels, innovation, and cross-Nordic cooperation.

“The talk that Priscilla(Frankson) did, Indigenous Arctic knowledge Pedagogies from Land to Sea, was amazing,” said Kathy. “It really showed how learning in Indigenous communities comes from being in relationship with the land and water—they’re not just resources, they’re teachers. It reminded me that protecting Indigenous knowledge means protecting the land and waters that hold it.”

A particularly meaningful session for many was “Breaking Barriers: Addressing the Mental Health of Young Men in the Arctic,” featuring 2023 SOI alum Justin Langan, who joined panellists from across the circumpolar world to discuss the importance of culturally grounded, community-based mental health supports. Some of us also attended “Indigenous-led Research and Monitoring Using Apps for Project Management,” where 2013 SOI alum Candice Sudlovenick, now with the Arctic Eider Society, showcased the SIKU app, a digital tool advancing Indigenous knowledge-sharing and conservation leadership. 

Later in the day, several delegates attended the launch event for a new book presented by Mads Qvist Frederiksen, a 2005 SOI alum and Executive Director of the Arctic Economic Council. Featuring contributions from over 200 experts across 36 countries, the Arctic Encyclopedia offers a visionary reimagining of how the Arctic is understood globally. 

“The Arctic is my home, but it means many things to many people,” Mads explained. “Each contributor was invited to define one word that connects them to the region.” The result is a patchwork of voices and visions that together create a richer understanding of the Arctic.

Delegates came away from the day inspired by the leadership and continued engagement of SOI alumni who are actively shaping Arctic research, policy, and innovation.

DAY 3: Architects of the Arctic’s future

On the last morning of the Arctic Circle Assembly, Canada’s Arctic Ambassador Virginia Mearns joined members of the Arctic Youth Futures Workshop, a Fulbright Arctic Initiative–supported gathering that brought together 14 young leaders from across the circumpolar North in Reykjavik to imagine what youth well-being and empowerment could look like in 2050.

Their collective work culminated in the Futures Workshop Letter 2025 – Letter for the Future of Arctic Youth Well-being and Empowerment, a youth-authored vision statement and policy brief addressed to Arctic leaders. The letter outlines key recommendations for building a strong, inclusive, and resilient Arctic—one where youth have a permanent voice in governance, equitable access to education and culturally grounded mental health care, and opportunities to connect with their land, language, and heritage. It calls for the protection and revitalization of Indigenous knowledge systems and languages, affordable housing and food security, and technology that bridges—not widens—gaps in access and communication. Rooted in the principle of “Nothing about us, without us,” the document underscores that Arctic youth are not just future leaders but essential partners in shaping decisions today that will define the region’s sustainability and well-being for generations to come.

Opening the discussion, the Honourable Rebecca Chartrand, Canada’s Minister of Northern Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, reflected on her own experiences growing up as a young Anishinaabe woman in Winnipeg and the importance of creating opportunities for young people to thrive in their communities. 

Workshop members and youth panellists Naja Theresia Høegh and Lemet Mihkkal Hætta emphasized that youth well-being in the Arctic is inseparable from cultural identity, environmental stewardship, and inclusive governance, underscoring the urgent need for policies that empower youth to shape the Arctic’s sustainable future. 

“For many Arctic youth, we’re so caught up by events and crises of today that it becomes difficult to think about the future, or even tomorrow,” said Naja Theresia, a youth advocate and law student from Southern Greenland. But this workshop made her realize now that “I, too, can imagine my own future in the Arctic.”

Birgitta Larsson, the mayor of Gällivare in Sweden, encouraged the youth—both on the panel and in the room—to persist and insist on an institutionalized role in Arctic decision-making.

“You are the architects of the Arctic’s future,” she said.

As the conversation drew to a close, Ambassador Mearns reflected on the shared responsibility of governments, institutions, and communities to nurture and support the next generation, reminding the audience that, “The current state youth exist in is a reflection of ourselves. And if they’re not well, we’re not well.”

SOI delegates also attended several other sessions on the final day of the Assembly that explored pressing social, environmental, and cultural issues shaping the North. 

“I’ve never been to a conference that has such a diverse group of attendees,” Abigail said after attending a session titled Uncharted Waters: The Risk of Deep Sea Mining in the North, during which the panel examined the growing international debate around deep-sea mining and its potential impacts on fragile Arctic marine ecosystems. Panellists, including representatives from the Saami Council, Oceans North, and Ocean Conservancy, called for precautionary approaches and Indigenous leadership in ocean governance, emphasizing that the push for critical minerals must not come at the cost of ecological or cultural integrity.

“It’s really interesting how they blend science, politicism, governance, and business into this conference because all of those factors matter, of course, when it comes to sovereignty in the Arctic, maintaining the Arctic, and growing the Arctic both industrially and economically.”

In the final session, “Connecting the Poles – Lessons from Early Career Science Networks,” our SOI delegation showed up en masse to support SOI’s Alumni Team Lead and delegation leader, Lynda Brown.

Moderated by Conor Savage of the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS), panellists representing international research and education organizations shared insights on how collaboration, mentorship, and community can strengthen opportunities for emerging scientists in polar fields. The discussion highlighted the importance of global cooperation among early-career researchers in addressing complex challenges in the Arctic and Antarctica.

Lynda spoke about the power of experiential education and alumni engagement in sustaining youth pathways into science, policy, and leadership. She reflected on how SOI’s alumni network connects thousands of young people who have taken part in polar expeditions, many of whom have gone on to careers advancing environmental research, Indigenous knowledge exchange, and sustainability initiatives. She also emphasized that building lasting communities of practice—across disciplines, cultures, and generations—is essential to fostering inclusive and impactful science.

Speakers from Korea, Finland, Canada, and the University of the Arctic shared examples of student-led initiatives and cross-institutional collaborations that are breaking down barriers between natural and social sciences, as well as between generations of researchers. Together, the panel explained that building resilient, inclusive, and interconnected polar research communities is essential for advancing science and for strengthening the shared stewardship of the planet’s northern and southern regions.

The Assembly was also a powerful reminder of how connection can open unexpected doors and create moments of shared inspiration. Kathy enjoyed the opportunity to perform twice during the Assembly—first on guitar, sharing original songs after an impromptu invite to sing at the Quebec Arctic Gathering hosted by her home province of Quebec, and later (through an invitation that grew directly from that performance), throat singing on the final evening at Chairship Night alongside Greenlandic electronic pop artists Ivaana and Andachan.

Her journey from one stage to the next reflected the spirit of the Assembly itself: a space where relationships form organically across borders, generations, and disciplines, and where cultural expression becomes a bridge between communities. For Kathy and her co-delegates, these moments captured the essence of the week—the power of connection, collaboration, and creativity to amplify Northern voices and strengthen the bonds that sustain the Arctic community.

“It has been so rewarding in the sense of being a small town Inuk girl having the privilege of going to a big conference with important people from all over the world, but also people I know from home. It shows how small the world truly is!”