The goal of the Arctic Together podcast is to create a series that centers Indigenous community voices, shares Navigating the New Arctic (NNA) community stories, and different approaches to issues and solutions in Arctic-based research. The NNA Community Extension Office at Alaska Pacific University—content developer and host of the Arctic Together podcast—aims to build awareness, partnerships, opportunities, and resources for collaboration and equitable knowledge. From local to international scales, to supporting the next generation of Arctic researchers, Arctic Together offers stories and wisdom towards a more holistic understanding of Arctic natural environments, built environments, and diverse cultures and communities.
Arctic Together is a quarterly series with special guests, intersections of visual artists and musicians, or research and science communication perspectives, who will share gifts of wisdom, knowledge and lessons learned within their respective journeys through storytelling. Each episode in the series will focus on topics such as co-production of knowledge, equity, policy, or data sovereignty, and will focus on rotating geographic regions, countries, peoples, and spaces within the Arctic.
The target audience of this podcast is Peoples of the Arctic, NNA researchers, practitioners, local Indigenous communities, and those interested in learning from knowledge holders or who want to know more about the NNA program, research best practices, and methodology. It is our hope to improve communications and dissemination about research processes or project-specific stories, and to share personal testimony about what it means to be in relationship with one another—to be Arctic Together.
Each episode features a supplementary resource guide with links to further information, visuals from project highlights and data, or pictures of speakers and beautiful lands and waters of the Arctic. News or live coverage of events, international features, and ongoing issues may be featured.
Episode 6
Convergence research engages with vexing and complex research challenges that are pivotal for addressing societal needs. It is a major focus for the Navigating the New Arctic (NNA) program and the NNA Community Office. The NNA-CO’s Convergence Working Groups (CWGs) bring together diverse experts and perspectives that engage with the Arctic to work together towards newly formed and shared goals. There are 3 CWGs supported by the NNA-CO: Fostering Indigenous-led Research CWG, Infrastructure Futures CWG, and Arctic Observing Systems and Technology CWG.
Episode 6 features the Fostering Indigenous-led Research CWG Experienced Co-leads Mary Beth Jäger and Heather Jean Sauyaq Kwamboka Gordon, who share their insights to the group, what it means to foster Indigenous-led research, and how this benefits not only the group members and researchers, but Arctic communities and peoples.
Part 1 gives listeners an introduction to our guests, their position within Arctic Research, and insight into Arctic Research from two Indigenous perspectives.
Episode 6, Part 1 (January 2025):
Episode 5
As we move forward with research in the Arctic, many agencies and researchers are looking at their research practices critically to be more inclusive, equitable, and practical. Indigenous Knowledge (IK) and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) are included more often, leading to new questions such as “How can we ensure IK is included in Arctic research?” The FAIR and CARE principles, the new NSF tribal consultation requirement, and the upcoming ICARP IV in Boulder, Colorado in 2025 showcase this shift toward Arctic inclusion.
Arctic Together Episode 5, a special episode with guests Varvara Korkina Williams, Dalee Sambo Dorough, and Matthew Druckenmiller, explores Indigenizing Arctic Science. These expert guests have decades of experience between them as well as different perspectives that enhance the discussion of Indigenizing Arctic Science. This is a continuation of the dynamic, forward movement toward Indigenizing Arctic Science. Check out the show notes for more information.
Episode 5 (September 2024):
Episode 4
Fisheries techniques and innovations as well as innovations in technology that work in Greenland could work elsewhere in the Arctic and Antarctic. Cold weather batteries, fish preserving technology, and moving toward community-collaboration with research and policy are explored in this podcast. Join us as we dive into aspects of Greenland fisheries, scholarly activities, and visual and musical art.
Arctic Together Episode 4, part 1 and part 2 are now available to stream on Podbean and your favorite streaming platform! Tune in to discover insights to the Innovations in Early Technologies and Empowerment in Arctic Fishing Communities, also known as the Qulleq project, hear from scholars Edna Lyberth and Jay Kim about Greenland fisheries, and dive deep with artists Nive Nielsen and Erin Gingrich. This episode is split into 2 parts, part one features the Qulleq project and Greenland Inuit recording artist and actor Nive Nielsen of Nive and the Deer Children. Part two features the scholars Edna Lyberth of Greenland, Arctic Resilient Communities Youth Fellow, and Jay Kim, a Systems Approaches to Understanding and Navigating the New Arctic (SAUNNA) fellow at the University of Maine, and Alaskan multi-media artist Erin Gingrich. Check out the show notes for more information.
Episode 4, Part 1 (January 2024):
Episode 4, Part 2 (January 2024):
Episode 3
The 2022 Navigating the New Arctic Annual Community Meeting occurred November 15-17 on Dena’ina homelands (Anchorage, Alaska). The hybrid meeting brought together over 175 participants, collaborators, project members and partners to discuss themes of strengthening collaboration, coordination, and inclusivity within the National Science Foundation’s NNA initiative. The overarching meeting goals included sharing NNA science and research, strengthening equity in research, and identifying opportunities or areas for collaboration.
Tune into this episode to hear meeting highlights, quotes and clips from guest speakers, and stick around to hear from the Alaska Teen Climate Communicators who conducted mini-interviews with the NNA Community and filmmakers during Newtok Film Screening at the Anchorage Museum. Be sure to check out the annual meeting website and the show notes for more resources.
Episode 3 (July 2023):
Episode 2
For millennia, Indigenous nations have governed and cared for their territories according to their own laws - actively stewarding the land and water to sustain their communities and all beings. This is Indigenous law.
This episode features discussion with Rayanna Seymour-Hourie and Summer Tyance, both Anishinaabekwe, who are transforming environmental decision-making and strengthening legal protection for the environment through collaborative legal strategies that bridge Indigenous and Canadian law. We discuss Indigenous law, traditional law, and Tribal governance. They are also a part of the Moonstone Drum Group; a group of 8 singers and hand drummers. Be sure to check out the episode show notes for more resources, videos and links to further reading.
Episode 2 (March 2023):
Episode 1
This episode includes conversations surrounding co-production of knowledge and equity, the Alaska Native music and art scene, and working in relationship with community. Episode 1 features guest speakers Dr. Jessica Black and Kendrick Hautula (NNA Project: Tamamta (All of Us) Transforming western and Indigenous Fisheries and Marine Science Together), an Intersections Segment with musician Stephen Qacung Blanchett and artist Apay'uq Moore, and an Indigenous Scholar Roundtable discussion with Haliehana Alaĝum Ayagaa Stepetin and Margaret Anamaq Rudolf
We had so much great content in this episode that we decided to split up the first episode into two parts! Click here to view the Episode 1 Resource Guide.
Episode 1 - Part 1 (June 2, 2022):
Episode 1 - Part 2 (June 8, 2022):