28 March 2026 | 10:00 - 12:00 CET
Open Session - HYBRID
Room: Mødelokale 1
Organiser: Co-organized by the Arctic Council Permanent Participants with support of the Arctic Council Indigenous Peoples’ Secretariat
Session Description:
Join us for a panel discussion exploring the vital role of Indigenous Peoples’ Knowledge and ethics in Arctic research and decision-making. This session highlights the Knowledge of Indigenous Peoples as a living, dynamic knowledge system rooted in long-standing relationships with Arctic lands, waters, and communities, and as essential for understanding Arctic change. Indigenous Peoples’ Knowledge provides an ethical framework for research, emphasizing respect, reciprocity, responsibility, and meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities. The session discusses how Knowledge of Indigenous Peoples is understood, applied, and respected in Arctic research, and why ethical engagement with Indigenous Peoples is fundamental to credible, responsible Arctic science.
This session brings together representatives from the Arctic Council Permanent Participants to share perspectives on how Indigenous Knowledge is applied in Arctic research, discuss ethical considerations, and reflect on future pathways for its meaningful inclusion in Arctic science and governance. The panel discusses the ethical guidelines, protocols, roadmaps, recommendations, and other key documents developed by the Permanent Participants to guide responsible and respectful Arctic research.
The Arctic Council is a unique international forum that brings together Arctic States and Indigenous Peoples to address common concerns, such as environmental protection and sustainable development. Since its establishment, the Arctic Council has valued Indigenous Peoples’ Knowledge, recognizing its importance alongside scientific research. The Ottawa Declaration (1996) recognized “the [T]raditional [K]nowledge of the [I]ndigenous [P]eople[s] of the Arctic and their communities” and took note “of its importance and that of Arctic science and research to the collective understanding of the circumpolar Arctic.” Arctic Indigenous Peoples are represented in the Council through the six Permanent Participants organizations, whose leadership has ensured that the Knowledge of Indigenous Peoples informs both expert-level work and the Council's political processes.
Indigenous cooperation in the Arctic has a long history, dating back more than 50 years, and continues to strengthen Indigenous voices in shaping research agendas and ethical standards today. Through the leadership of Arctic Indigenous Peoples and the six Permanent Participants organizations, Indigenous Peoples’ Knowledge has informed environmental protection, sustainable development, and ethical research practices across the Arctic.