This e-Journal is being curated by a volunteer team of Arctic scholars as a supplement to the fourth International Conference on Arctic Research Planning (ICARP IV) process and as a complement to the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC)’s annual report on Arctic research. As a Research Priority Team 5 (RPT 5) for IASC, we seek to address areas in Arctic research of Indigenous-led methodologies and co-production of knowledge. We intend to fill the research gaps and prioritize these topics across the global Arctic and publish a new e-Journal each year leading up to the next International Polar Year IPY (2032-2033). Leading up to the IPY, we envision this as the first Indigenous Polar Year that uplifts and carries the voices of the Arctic through effective and respectful community engagement and research. We aim to present this first e-Journal during the ICARP IV Summit / ASSW 2025 in Boulder, Colorado, USA (21 – 28 March 2025) as part of the supporting materials for the ICARP IV process for RPT 5.
Indigenous Peoples of the Arctic carry a wealth of generational knowledge essential for understanding the Arctic's environment and interconnectedness with socio-economic systems. Advancing non-Indigenous Arctic research forward requires collaborative efforts guided by Indigenous Knowledge holders, with knowledge co-production at the core. This approach requires ethical and equitable engagement, alongside recognition of Indigenous sovereignty.
This inaugural issue discusses Indigenous-led methodologies and how/whether knowledge can be co-produced by two or more individuals/groups with different knowledge systems, experiences, and methods for generating, sharing, and using knowledge. We invite submissions focused on Indigenous ways of knowing and research methodologies that focus on Arctic Peoples from a community perspective.
In this issue, we invite scholars to share their research experiences that support, highlight and uplift Arctic voices centred on Indigenous-led methodologies and sustainable co-production of knowledge within Arctic research contexts. It is our intention to highlight respectful, relevant and relational research practices. We encourage critiques of knowledge co-production and also recommend that knowledge co-production is defined and operationalized in submissions.
Based on feedback from Indigenous scholars and practitioners, we will not strictly adhere to the requirements of our ‘article types’ for processing submissions. It is acknowledged that knowledge is defined in different ways and that Western formats do not lend themselves well to such diverse ways of knowing. We encourage the submission of stories/poetry/photography/artwork that illustrate successes and challenges as well as provide practical or theoretical insights into engaging with Indigenous and co-produced methodologies.
- Academic articles, story work, and poetry: Word or RTF Format only (no PDF)
- Art and images must be high quality (300 dpi) TIFF, BMP or JPG, please accompany a brief summary or story with images (300-word count minimum).
- Images must be your own works.
- Articles and stories must be no more than 3000 words. We encourage shorter easy-to-read pieces (between 500 and 1500 words).
- All submissions must be submitted by the due date for consideration in the upcoming issue.
- Authors should submit a piece that is as close to print-ready as possible.
- Submissions should not have been previously published.
- We recommend all submissions involving Indigenous communities consider Gregory Younging’s Elements of Indigenous Style: A guide for writing by and about Indigenous people.
Full submissions are due on February 15, 2024. The inaugural Indigenous-led methodologies and knowledge co-production e-Journal special issue will be published in 2025 following feedback during the Arctic Science Summit Week 2025, Boulder, Colorado.
This issue editorial team consists of: Anita Lafferty (University of Alberta), Stacey Lucason (Kawerak, Inc.); Norma Shorty (Yukon University); Louise Mercer (Northumbria University); Chelsea Koch (American University); Amanda Young (University of Alaska Fairbanks).
If you would like to contribute to the work of the editorial team, please indicate your interest through this form.
The event is co-organized by the Arctic Centre of the University of Groningen and the Arctic Youth Network Indigenous Peoples Working Group.
Speakers TBA
