Throughout the Greenland Science Week, focus has been on the integration of Indigenous knowledge in everything from science to policy-making. This is also a focus of the Arctic Council.
Vivian Motzfeldt stated during the transfer of chairship from Norway to the Kingdom of Denmark that Indigenous knowledge will be prioritized on equal footing with Western science in all aspects of the council’s work. How will you do that?
“We do that by continuously shedding light on it,” answers Høegh.
“I think it’s important for people to be told about Indigenous knowledge and for people to understand that it is useful. Some might think it sounds mystical, but it is not. It is common sense, inherent in the Indigenous Peoples that have lived here for thousands of years,” he explains and continues:
“It is about knowing how the wind works in the fjords, where the whales and hares are located and when, for example. People have not necessarily created evidence for these observations, but they are often correct anyway.”
“That knowledge should be respected, and not only that, it should be utilized as part of the overall research. Combining Western research and indigenous knowledge means that you get a much better end product.”
Upcoming activities
What can you say about upcoming activities during the Kingdom’s chairship?
“The Ocean Connectivity Conference will take place in Tórshavn, the Faroe Islands, in May 2026 in connection with the UArctic Congress,” says Høegh.
A workshop will also be held in Greenland next year, focusing on sustainable economic development. In addition, the chairship has plans for a conference on biodiversity in 2027.
“The Arctic Council’s Chairship Youth Committee will also organize a conference at the beginning of 2027, for which they are solely responsible. Our job is to guide and facilitate, but they will make all the decisions,” adds Olsen and continues:
The Youth Committee is elected by the current chairship, as well as Sweden and Canada, who will be chairs in 2027-2029 and 2029-2031, respectively. The Kingdom has appointed three representatives, while Sweden and Canada have elected one each.”
In addition, organisations that the council cooperates with, such as UArctic, the Inuit Circumpolar Council, the Permanent Participants Youth Network, and the Sami Council, have appointed representatives. The committee consists of a total of 10 young people between 20 and 30 years old.
The Youth Committee was established during the Norwegian chairship, and the Kingdom of Denmark wants to continue to strengthen young people’s role in the Arctic Council, concludes Høegh.