DeskIndigenousA record $163 million lease sale in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve sparked legal disputes over the inclusion of protected Teshekpuk Lake land and the Nuiqsut right‑of‑way, highlighting conflicts between energy development and Indigenous and environmental interests.
The ARCRISK project in the Mackenzie River Basin combines scientific modeling and Indigenous knowledge to develop actionable mercury risk‑reduction plans, supporting food security and ecosystem health in Arctic communities.
Critics file lawsuits seeking to delay a March 18 oil lease sale that would open 5.5 million acres of Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve to development, citing loss of protection for Teshekpuk Lake and subsistence rights.
Ten conservation groups sued the Trump administration for revoking protections on 2.1 million acres of interior Alaska, arguing that the move violates federal law and threatens wildlife and subsistence communities between Gates of the Arctic NP and ANWR.
With the High Seas Treaty taking effect in 2026, Arctic States and Indigenous groups are expanding MPAs, OECMs, and IPCAs to protect biodiversity, support cultural livelihoods, and advance the 30x30 conservation goal in the rapidly changing Arctic Ocean.
The Polar Collaborative Research Action (CRA), originally proposed as Arctic 3, has been approved for scoping and broadened to include Antarctica, with a planned launch in 2027. Led by Norway’s Research Council and Canada’s NSERC, the CRA will integrate Indigenous knowledge, address climate‑change impacts on ecosystems and communities, and support the Fifth International Polar Year and the UN Ocean Decade.
Kenneth Høegh, Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials, outlines the Arctic Council’s resilience, its 30th anniversary achievements, and upcoming science and connectivity events amid evolving geopolitics.
The Arctic Council celebrated its 30th anniversary in Tromsø, underscoring its enduring role in fostering Indigenous participation, scientific cooperation, and policy guidance for Arctic resilience.
Arctic Council’s new podcast episode discusses the salmon crisis on the Deatnu River, exploring how declining stocks affect food security, cultural identity, and governance for Indigenous communities.
Virginia Mearns, with extensive Inuit community experience, has been named Canada’s Senior Arctic Official and Arctic Ambassador to advance human‑centered governance in the Arctic.
Finland faces a UN complaint alleging climate‑change inaction that harms Sámi traditions.
The article discusses efforts to preserve the Skolt Sami language, an indigenous language in the Arctic region.
Expanding military activities in the Arctic are encroaching on Sámi traditional lands, undermining their livelihoods and cultural practices.
Snorri Sigurðsson, an evolutionary biologist from Iceland, has been named Chair of the Arctic Council’s CAFF Working Group, where he will lead efforts to integrate Indigenous Knowledge and advance the Action Plan for Arctic biodiversity in alignment with global frameworks.
NSIDC’s AROSS study shows that Arctic precipitation is shifting toward more rain in summer, especially over the North Atlantic, increasing the frequency of rain‑on‑snow events that threaten reindeer herders and alter sea‑ice dynamics.
A 16‑day 2,500‑mile cruise on the Sikuliaq will deploy wave buoys, seafloor sensors, and drones along Alaska’s coast, gathering data to improve storm forecasts and hazard assessments for Arctic communities.
Arctic Council released an early episode of its new podcast, “This Way Up,” titled “The Arctic on Fire,” highlighting rising wildfire regimes, their global effects, and the role of Indigenous fire practices in mitigation.
Denmark, newly chairing the Arctic Council, convened its first meetings with Indigenous Permanent Participants and subsidiary bodies in Tromsø, Norway, to advance collaborative priorities and knowledge sharing.
Denmark’s new Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials, Kenneth Høegh, outlines a chairship focused on Indigenous Peoples, youth, and human‑centered sustainable development in the Arctic.
The Arctic Council is urged to add Russian Indigenous groups living in exile to its working groups, broadening representation and ensuring their perspectives influence Arctic policy decisions.
At the 14th Arctic Council meeting, Norway’s chairmanship concluded and Denmark’s began, with participants issuing a joint statement affirming commitment to peace, Indigenous rights, and climate action.
The Arctic Council’s Permanent Participant Youth Network united Indigenous youth to design projects and lead a session on cultural preservation at the Arctic Youth Conference, emphasizing governance and climate resilience.
Gwich’in Council International actively includes youth in Arctic governance delegations, offering them speaking roles, mentorship, and cultural exchange experiences.
Arctic Council’s EPPR project produces animated videos to build oil spill preparedness in small Arctic communities, engaging Indigenous groups and addressing rising environmental risks.
Denmark will chair the Arctic Council and its Sustainable Development Working Group from 2025‑2027, prioritizing Indigenous Peoples’ interests, sustainable economic growth, and human health in Arctic governance.
