Building resilient Arctic futures through Indigenous Knowledge and self-determination

This paper explores the critical role of Indigenous Knowledge and self-determination in advancing resilience within Arctic governance amid climate change and geopolitical shifts. Drawing on discussions from the Polar Early Career World Summit (PECWS) workshop, it underlines the importance of decolonial co-production frameworks that integrate Indigenous perspectives not as supplementary, but at the core of decision-making. It emphasizes political resilience, known as Indigenous communities’ sustained agency in governance, through active participation in governance, research, and international diplomacy, particularly through paradiplomacy. The analysis highlights ethical knowledge co-production and critically examines extractive research methodologies, underscoring pathways toward more inclusive and equitable Arctic futures. Using Greenland as an illustrative case, it demonstrates the urgency of Indigenous representation in the Arctic Council and broader governance structures. It shows that Arctic resilience must encompass political self-determination, cultural empowerment, and the meaningful integration of diverse knowledge systems to ensure long-term sustainability for Arctic communities.