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As climate change intensifies, Inuvialuit in Canada's Western Arctic are facing a rapidly changing environment and associated impacts on human health, safety, and food security. Learning to cope with these changes requires context-based and current information that can inform subsistence activities and environmental management, and no one is better positioned to acquire this information than Inuvialuit themselves. This paper presents findings from in-depth interviews conducted in 2012 with six knowledge holders and seasonal residents of Kendall Island (Ukiivik in Uummarmiutun), a traditional whaling camp situated along the Beaufort Sea coast bordering the Okeevik Tarium Niryutait Marine Protected Area. A transdisciplinary and Inuvialuit-led effort, this research documents observations of change at this culturally important site and explores how residents are adapting to changing conditions. Interview transcripts were analyzed using iterative rounds of qualitative coding in NVivo software. Findings reveal pervasive social and environmental change on Kendall Island and in adjacent harvesting areas and highlight how changing conditions are affecting residents’ lives. This study identifies benchmarks upon which to compare and evaluate subsequent changes at this site and documents Inuvialuit knowledge and perspectives that can inform local-scale environmental monitoring, management, and climate change adaptation planning.

The Cape Bounty Arctic Watershed Observatory (CBAWO), Melville Island, Nunavut (74°55′N, 109°34′W) was established in 2003 to examine Arctic ecosystem processes that would be impacted by climate warming and permafrost degradation. This paper provides a synthesis of how remote sensing has contributed to biogeophysical modelling and monitoring at the CBAWO from 2003 to 2023. Given the location and isolated nature of the CBAWO in the Canadian High Arctic, remote sensing data and derivatives have been instrumental for studies examining ecosystem structure and function at local and landscape scales. In combination with field measurements, remote sensing data facilitated mapping and modelling of vegetation types, % vegetation cover and aboveground phytomass, soil moisture, carbon exchange rates, and permafrost degradation and disturbance. It has been demonstrated that even in an environment with limited vegetation cover and phytomass, spectral vegetation indices (e.g., the normalized difference vegetation index) are able to model various biogeophysical variables. These applications are feasible for research sites such as the CBAWO using high spatial resolution remote sensing data across the visible, infrared, and microwave regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Furthermore, as the satellite record continues to expand, we will gain a greater understanding of the impacts arising from the expected continued warming at northern latitudes. Although the logistics for research in the Arctic remain challenging, today's technologies (e.g., high spatial resolution satellite remote sensing, automated in situ sensors and data loggers, and wireless communication systems) can support a host of scientific endeavours in the Arctic (and other remote sites) through modelling and monitoring of biogeophysical variables and Earth surface processes with limited but critical field campaigns. The research synthesized here for the CBAWO highlights the essential role of remote sensing of terrestrial ecosystems in the Canadian Arctic.

This paper explores cultural narratives and oral histories related to two examples of traditional northern transport – long seal hunting journeys in the Baltic region, and nomadic reindeer travel in northeastern Siberia. Ample material has been collected and reviewed regarding means of non-motorised transport in the polar regions. However, scientific literature concerning the experiences and perspectives of the Indigenous and traditional community members who took part in these journeys remains scarce. This article explores the recorded narratives of two people involved in the journeys described. It assesses how these long distance travels form significance, meaning, observations and belonging to landscapes for these people. This analysis reveals that, rather than inhabiting northern ice and tundra scapes that are often described as barren and devoid of life, seal hunters and reindeer herders live in story-scapes rich in meaning. The sacred places, surrender to ice flow dynamics and ways of living ‘inside’ northern habitats that emerge from these testimonies offer a skeleton key for re-reading the misunderstood homelands of arctic and tundra communities.

This Indigenous-led project aims to better understand historical and contemporary ways in which Alaska Native Peoples steward salmon and the values connected to salmon stewardship. Indigenous Peoples have stewarded Alaska lands and waters for thousands of years yet have been largely excluded from western science and management systems. In this project, we utilize a participatory approach that allows for the equitable valuing of ideas and knowledges to document the breadth and depth of Yup'ik and Athabascan knowledge and governance systems in southwestern Alaska. We reshape research methodologies by centering Indigenous frameworks and methodologies, including circle dialogues and multi-generational interviews led by Indigenous scholars and students in their home communities and regions. In this paper, we share the Yup'ik and Athabascan values, knowledge, management, and governance mechanisms that can improve the long-term sustainability and equity of Alaska salmon systems. This research elevates the voices of Alaska Native salmon stewards and experts from the Kuskokwim Bay and the Kuskokwim River. We elaborate on five key themes that emerged from this research, including traditional Indigenous ways of life, Indigenous stewardship, self-determination, food and livelihood sovereignty, and ecosystem changes, and identify a more equitable and sustainable path forward for salmon and people in Alaska.

The roles of Indigenous youth in environmental research remain largely unexplored with little practical guidance for achieving meaningful engagement in environmental research. This paper aims to characterize the varying types of Inuit youth engagement in environmental research conducted in Inuit Nunangat. Findings were derived from a community-engaged participatory research approach in Mittimatalik (Pond Inlet, Nunavut). Our typology of Inuit youth engagement in environmental research suggests three types of engagements: “participate”, “conduct”, and “control”. Results highlight that Inuit youth who are interested in undertaking their own environmental research projects expect to enhance their knowledge of natural and life sciences more than those who may seek short-term supportive research roles. Strategies employed by researchers seeking to enhance youth research capacity may also vary based on youth wants and expectations. Our findings suggest that there is no one-size-fits all solution. None of the engagement types identified were necessarily and inherently considered better than the others by project contributors, unlike what has been proposed in other, hierarchical, typologies. Our proposed typology contributes to a better understanding of the varying roles that Inuit youth can play in environmental research, as well as inform potential frameworks for enhancing Inuit youth engagement and leadership in research.

The roles of Indigenous youth in environmental research remain largely unexplored with little practical guidance for achieving meaningful engagement. This paper aims to characterize the varying types of Inuit youth engagement in Western environmental research conducted in Inuit Nunangat. Findings were derived from a community-engaged participatory research approach in Mittimatalik (Pond Inlet, Nunavut). Our typology of Inuit youth engagement in environmental research suggests three types of engagement: ‘participate’, ‘conduct’, and ‘control’. Results highlight that Inuit youth who are interested in undertaking their own environmental research projects expect to enhance their knowledge of natural and life sciences more than those who may seek short-term supportive research roles. Strategies employed by researchers seeking to enhance youth research capacity may also vary based on youth wants and expectations. Our findings suggest that there is no one size fits all solution. None of the engagement types identified were necessarily and inherently considered better than the others by project contributors, unlike what has been proposed in other, hierarchical, typologies. Our proposed typology contributes to a better understanding of the varying roles that Inuit youth can play in environmental research, as well as inform potential frameworks for enhancing Inuit youth engagement and leadership in research.

This Indigenous-led project aims to better understand historical and contemporary ways in which Alaska Native Peoples steward salmon and the values connected to salmon stewardship. Indigenous Peoples have stewarded Alaska lands and waters for thousands of years yet have been largely excluded from western science and management systems. In this project we utilize a participatory approach that allows for the equitable valuing of ideas and knowledges to document the breadth and depth of Yup’ik and Athabascan knowledge and governance systems in southwestern Alaska. We reshape research methodologies by centering Indigenous frameworks and research methodologies including circle dialogues and multi-generational interviews led by Indigenous scholars and students in their home communities and regions. In this paper, we share the Yup’ik and Athabascan values, knowledge, management, and governance mechanisms that can improve the long-term sustainability and equity of Alaska salmon systems. This research elevates the voices of Alaska Native salmon stewards and experts from the Kuskokwim Bay and the Kuskokwim River. We elaborate on five key themes that emerged from this research including: traditional Indigenous ways of life, Indigenous stewardship, self-determination, food and livelihood sovereignty, and ecosystem changes, and identify a more equitable and sustainable path forward for salmon and people in Alaska.