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A blog post on the Sharing Our Knowledge project and the Arctic Congress in Bodø 2024
by Randy Bruin
With the start of 2024, Dalhousie University, Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources, the Atlantic First Nations Water Authority, the Arctic University of Norway (UiT) and the Deatnu Institute partnered up in a new research project. This blog introduces the Sharing Our Knowledge project and its upcoming, and exciting project plans. And aside from this introduction, reflections on the Arctic Congress in Bodø are shared.
Sharing (Our) Knowledge
The ones mostly affected by climate change are the people who live not in, but with nature. Both Indigenous and local communities experience heightened harm from climate change due to their interconnectedness to, and reliance on, their lands and waters. In recognition of this, there is a global movement to acknowledge Indigenous peoples’ rights and responsibilities to participate in decision-making and governance of their traditional lands and natural resources including those related to water resources. Steered by Indigenous scholars and partners, with support from universities, the Sharing Our Knowledge project will facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration between two groups of Indigenous peoples: Mi’kmaq in Unama’ki, Atlantic Canada, and Sámi in the Deatnu watershed valley (bordering on Norway and Finland). The aim is to build a shared understanding of climate change risks, based on Indigenous and scientific knowledge systems, and co-develop risk assessment and action frameworks to address emerging risks. The approach in this project is rooted in the concept of ‘Two-Eyed Seeing’ which embraces the contributions of both Indigenous and Western ways of knowing (Reid et al., 2021).
Two-eyed seeing emphasizes the importance of the uniting of knowledges and ways of knowing for a more holistic understanding (Reid et al., 257) . When reflecting on the recent Arctic Congress in Bodø, this approach proved invaluable in addressing the complex environmental and social issues of the Arctic region. Yet, the blend of perspectives highlighted once again that Indigenous rights and knowledge are suppressed despite the fact that Indigenous communities face numerous challenges and experience the most harm from climate change. For example. climate change has made it increasingly difficult to sustain their traditional food systems. See the most recent blog of the Máhtut project. A must read!
Which voice, what power?
Examples of climate change effects and risks on food sovereignty were plentiful at the Arctic congress. Aside from food sovereignty and food systems, themes such as Indigenous entrepreneurship, collaborative Indigenous research and science communication were identified. In exploring power dynamics and pressing realities of climate change and risks, it becomes clear that transformative, structural shifts are needed to mitigate and/ or adapt to these risks. Within our educational frameworks for example.
One congress session stressed the importance for a nuanced approach concerning Indigenous cultural entrepreneurship as pragmatic thinking, exemplified by initiatives like the Green Deal, can spark conflicts across sectors and cultures. These conflicts can undermine the power play at hand in fostering sustainable solutions.
“We need a change of education on how to view and understand Indigenous cultural entrepreneurship” – Dorthe Eide, Professor at the Nord University Business School
Panu Itkonen, Senior researcher at the Arctic Centre – University of Lapland, quoted the Finnish Sámi Parliament “Land is the question, land is the answer”. Emphasizing the deep-rooted importance of land stewardship in Indigenous worldviews. As the dialogue further unfolded, the presenters concluded hopefully “(..) these are the first steps of collaboration in Arctic Europe in the field of Indigenous entrepreneurship”.
Moving on to another European collaboration: The “Comprehensive Policy Brief to the EU Commission – Roadmap to Decolonial Arctic Research” was published in June 2023 (Hermann et al., 2023). The roadmap is a toolkit to support EU policymakers with the aim to make Arctic research fairer and more respectful to Arctic Indigenous communities. Co- authors Aslak Holmberg, Stephan Dudeck, Gertrude Saxinger, and Annette Scheepstra stressed the need for institutional capacity building for collaborative Indigenous research. This call for capacity building signals an urge to rectify past injustices of knowledge extraction from Indigenous Peoples, Lands and Waters.
“Knowledge itself is far from neutral – it is interwoven in legal policies, politics and part of a pervasive power game” – Aslak Holmberg, Saami Council, and Gertrude Saxinger, University of Vienna
Embracing frameworks like the Two-eyed seeing approach underscores a pathway to harmonize diverse perspectives, acknowledging the cultural embeddedness in knowledge systems across researchers and beyond academia.
And what about science communication? Words and language-use wield enormous power. For example, in communicating with Indigenous Peoples, the significance and articulation of world views demand for “thoughtful thinking and careful consideration” – Amber Web, Yu'pik Alaskan artist. A culturally sensitive approach. And amidst all discussions, dialogues, and cultural activities a strong reflection by Stephanie Russo Carroll was shared by Tatiana Degai, Itelmen scholar, University of Victoria:
“Data is not a foreign concept in Indigenous world. Indigenous Peoples have always been data creators, data users, and data stewards. Data was and is embedded in Indigenous instructional practices and cultural principles.” – Stephanie Russo Carroll, Associate Research Professor, University of Arizona
Stephanie eloquently encapsulates the resilience, innovation, and enduring wisdom embedded within Indigenous knowledge systems; urging us to reevaluate our approaches to climate change, sustainability, and power dynamics in the themes discussed above – food systems, food sovereignty, Indigenous entrepreneurship, and science communication – with a critical, decolonizing eye towards the past and the future.
Moving on and Takeaways
So, what is next, you might think. The Sharing Our Knowledge project will co-organize a series of webinars with the International Indigenous Salmon Peoples Network (IISPN) that lead towards a 2nd International Indigenous Salmon Peoples Gathering. The Gathering will be held in Kárášjohka, Norway from September 30 until October 2 2024, organized by the Sámi Parliament and Saami Council. The event will bring together Indigenous Peoples representatives from around the Northern Hemisphere to celebrate their connection with salmon, share knowledge around Indigenous Peoples engagement in salmon management systems, and discuss principles for Indigenous Peoples salmon management. The program will include side-events and cultural contributions. The first International Gathering of Indigenous Salmon Peoples was held in 2022 on the lands of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) people in Vancouver, Canada. The three-day gathering was centered on Indigenous-led ceremony, culture, governance, and academic discussions around Indigenous experiences in salmon management at national and international levels. Read more about the first gathering here. The second gathering is a follow-up on the first Gathering and aims to bring forward principles for salmon governance from Indigenous Peoples’ perspectives. And aims to be one of several Gatherings on the topic of sharing knowledge around Indigenous Peoples engagement in salmon management.
By integrating these project plans, we can draw attention to critical insights that emphasize the unique and essential role of Indigenous and local communities in addressing climate change:
Interesting and relevant links
News announcement by Saami Council on 2nd International Gathering of Indigenous Salmon Peoples:Large International Gathering of Indigenous Salmon Peoples in Sápmi this fall — Sámiráđđi
More news towards 2nd International Gathering of Indigenous Salmon Peoples: https://www.iispg.com/home
Blog on DISCUSSING AND EXPERIENCING INDIGENOUS AND SÁMI FOOD SYSTEMS – MÁHTUT AT THE ARCTIC CONGRESS IN BODØ/BÅDÅDDJO by Eli-Anita Øivand Schoning
Sources
Reid, A. J., Eckert, L. E., Lane, J. F., Young, N., Hinch, S. G., Darimont, C. T., ... & Marshall, A. (2021). “Two‐Eyed Seeing”: An Indigenous framework to transform fisheries research and management. Fish and Fisheries, 22(2), 243-261.
Herrmann, T. M., Brunner Alfani, F., Chahine, A., Doering, N., Dudeck, S., Elster, J., ... & van der Schot, J. (2023). Comprehensive Policy-Brief to the EU Commission: Roadmap to Decolonial Arctic Research. Accessible on:
Author notes from Arctic Congress in Bodø 2024
Sessions attended from 29 May - 3 June 2024:
Session 3.1.5. Innovation and entrepreneurship in Sámi businesses
Session 5.24 The Roadmap to Decolonial Arctic Research
Plenary 1 People of the North
Session 5.14 Strategies from Indigenous-led and collaborative projects for knowledge sharing and data sovereignty in Arctic research
Session 2.0.5 Arctic resilience: socio-ecological change and adaptive capacity needs
Session 4.1.11 Restoring sustainable food systems, livelihoods and ecosystems in the Arctic
Session 4.1.12 Indigenous-led Research Methodologies