Exchange for Local Observations and Knowledge of the Arctic (ELOKA)

With the help of the amazing web team at NSIDC, we have a beautiful new website! Come check out our fresh new look: https://eloka.nsidc.org/eloka

The ELOKA program makes a move By Agnieszka Gautier

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eloka.nsidc.org

TCT’s last training for the summer is coming up in September! Find more details and the registration link on our website. Hotel and flight discounts are provided after registering. Special note: the deadline to use the hotel discount is tomorrow, 7/23, so register now!

www.anthc.org/what-we-do/community-environment-and-health/tribal-capacity-and-training/

We have an exciting graduate student recruitment announcement from colleagues at Syracuse University. Please share and distribute widely!

The project: This collaborative project employs diverse methods, including story mapping, repeat photography, oral history interviews, and photovoice to advance understanding of environmental change and foster intergenerational dialogue among Indigenous communities. Project activities include workshops and cultural exchanges, and community knowledge curation by Iñupiaq and Ainu community participants, co-authoring and co-editing a catalogue of historical photographs, and co-publishing peer-reviewed articles. This project advances Indigenous research sovereignty and cultural heritage repatriation efforts through knowledge co-production and builds collaborative relationships among the circumpolar communities.

Job Description:
Do you have both Japanese and English proficiency, training in Native American and Indigenous studies and are interested in graduate school? If so, the Department of Geography & the Environment at Syracuse University is accepting special applications for one graduate student position (at either the M.A. or Ph.D. level) which includes a Graduate Research Assistantship funded by the Department and a research grant from the National Science Foundation titled Indigenous Northern Landscapes, Visual Repatriation, and Collaborative Knowledge Exchange (https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2330922&HistoricalAwards=false). M.A. applicants would be committing to two years (four academic semesters and a summer) and Ph.D. applicants would be committing to four years (eight academic semesters and three summers) under the supervision of Principal Investigator (PI) Chie Sakakibara, Associate Professor of Geography & Native American and Indigenous Studies. This position is slated to begin in January 2025, and due to the nature of the project, proficiency in both English and Japanese and prior academic training and background in Native American and Indigenous studies are strongly desirable.

The successful candidate will join the Department of Geography and the Environment at Syracuse University and will work directly with and report to PI Chie Sakakibara, and are expected to work closely with the NSF project team members including Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) Danika Medak-Saltzman (Assistant Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies and Native American and Indigenous Studies faculty affiliate), as well as the Project Coordinator, Information Curator, undergraduate student research assistants, and Indigenous community partners. The graduate research assistant will be joining this team to facilitate this NSF funded collaborative Indigenous community heritage repatriation project (2024-2027) and along the way will develop their own project (MA thesis or PhD dissertation) under the direction of the PI and Co-PI.
Primary responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, assisting the PI and Co-PI in organizing events such as domestic/international workshops and advisory board meetings, hosting Indigenous visitors at Syracuse University, coordinating research trips, acquiring and securely managing data, and participating in data analysis and the drafting of reports for publication. The successful candidate will contribute to field and archival research, and in so doing, develop their own research projects (i.e., their masters thesis or doctoral dissertation topic) in consultation with the PI, Co-PI, and other key project contributors. The selected research assistant will also have opportunities to collaborate with the faculty, students, and staff of the Center for Global Indigenous Cultures and Environmental Justice, as well as with those of the Native American & Indigenous Studies Program at Syracuse University. The selected applicant will be required to successfully complete the Department of Geography and the Environment degree program requirements, including relevant coursework and the production of either an MA thesis (https://www.maxwell.syr.edu/academics/geography-and-the-environment-department/graduate-studies/master-of-arts-in-geography ) or a PhD dissertation (https://www.maxwell.syr.edu/academics/geography-and-the-environment-department/graduate-studies/ph-d-in-geography).

Project Summary:
Historical landscape photographs in museum and archival collections are critical resources for identifying and characterizing environmental shifts due to climate change and other factors. Repatriation or return of these cultural heritage resources to Indigenous communities assists local stakeholders in assessing changes over time, formulating plans to address and respond to future changes, thus reducing risk and enhancing community resilience. This project, in collaboration with the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) and the Exchange for Local Observations and Knowledge of the Arctic (ELOKA), creates a unique opportunity for the Iñupiat of Arctic Alaska and Ainu peoples of northern Japan to participate in a visual repatriation project and engage in community-centered heritage resource management. This project advances understanding of the processes of social and environmental change and resultant impacts on Indigenous peoples and fosters collaboration and knowledge exchange among researchers and Indigenous communities in Alaska and Japan.

Job title: Graduate Research Assistant

Location requirements: Syracuse, New York (occasionally requires domestic/international travel for research)

Time requirements: 20 hours per week from January 1, 2025 and ending May 15, 2025 for Spring 2025.

Compensation and benefits: The position includes 24 tuition credits per academic year. PhD students will receive a stipend of $14,000.00 and MA students will receive a stipend of $12,000. Stipends will be received in 9 semi-monthly disbursements of $1,555.56 (less applicable withholding taxes) for PhD students and $1,333.33 for MA students. Stipends will be paid on the fifteenth (or the closest business day) and on the last business day of the month, beginning January 15, 2025 and ending May 15, 2025. The positions are renewable up to 2 years for MA and up to 4 years for PhD.

Qualifications:
Fluency in both English and Japanese is strongly preferred.
Strong background in Native American and Indigenous studies is essential.
Experience collaborating with Indigenous communities is ideal.
Prior research experience in archives (physical, digital, image and text) is expected.

How to Apply: All candidates are strongly encouraged to communicate with Chie Sakakibara ([email protected]) via email prior to application. Any questions should also be directed to Sakakibara.

In Canada it's Indigenous Peoples Day, and we want to honor all of our incredible Indigenous partners who are doing amazing work to honor and serve their communities. Happy Indigenous Peoples day!

ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒋᑦᑎ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐅᓪᓗᖓᓂᒃ! quviasugitti nunaqaqqaaqsimajut ullungani!

Happy Indigenous Peoples Day! A day honor and celebrate the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of Indigenous peoples.

It's been a busy conference year for ELOKA! Back in March we traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland to attend the Arctic Observing Summit and help organize two panels on Indigenous data sovereignty. Weren't able to AOS this year? Well, we missed you, and we also just posted recordings from both panels on YouTube! Both panels discuss Indigenous data sovereignty and share important insights on why implementing this concept builds trust and creates transparency.

Panelists on the first panel on capacity sharing include Dr. Cana Itchuaqiyaq, Hannah Marie-Garcia, Dr. Camilla Brattland, and Roberta Glenn.

The second panel on technical capacities includes Vanessa Raymond, Sophie Crump, Bruce Robson, and Dr. Peter Pulsifer.

Watch now!
AOS Panel Indigenous Data Sovereignty - Capacity Sharing: https://youtu.be/kEiYoJYCnIU?si=ioKSlGlsujIAe0Pm
AOS Panel Indigenous Data Sovereignty - Technical Capacities: https://youtu.be/UpMXR6n74FI?si=p3ftCloao7rTpeNk

Arctic Observing Summit 2024 Panel: Indigenous Data Sovereignty Panel - Technical Capacities During the Arctic Observing Summit hosted in Edinburgh, Scotland March 27 to 29, 2024, the AOS Data Sharing working group organized two sessions on Indigenou...

✨New StoryMaps Published!✨Our partners at Snowchange just announced the launch of new Indigenous knowledge hubs and ArcGIS StoryMaps! The StoryMaps include:

❄️First-ever detection of microplastics in the Sámi rivers and lakes. https://storymaps.arcgis.com/collections/08637ed263d64496b7e0f06282216892

❄️Gwich’in knowledge reaching back to Myth Time unveiled. https://storymaps.arcgis.com/collections/6c0aab1928e641568964e93cc9db6e6f

❄️Local observations of marine species, fish and birds shows priorities for Western Greenland. https://storymaps.arcgis.com/collections/839c7f91d6694f2b88ac32fd448835c0

❄️Faroe Islands communities share their 20-year-long observations of pilot whales, marine pollution and sea birds. https://storymaps.arcgis.com/collections/c11a2e9cd2b94ba79ef03fae138783fb

Check out the full article here! https://www.snowchange.org/2024/06/a-major-northern-indigenous-hub-and-databases-launched-documented-observations-and-knowledge-widen-the-understanding-of-arctic-change-but-offer-also-potential-new-novel-responses/

Faroe Islands Climate Events Database Observations of climatic, ecological and cultural change from the Faroese People.

During Arctic Congress held in Bodø, Norway May 29 - June 1st, Tatiana Degai, advisory committee member for ELOKA, co-convened the session with Noor Johnson titled "Strategies from Indigenous-led and collaborative projects for knowledge sharing and data sovereignty in Arctic research." During this session, we heard from 9 different projects about data use and knowledge sharing in the Arctic, and how to effectively work across different knowledge systems. Many of the presentations shared their personal connection to their work, and it was an honor to be able to hold that space at an academic conference. We are looking forward to continuing these conversations and learning from the work of others.

Noor (ELOKA Lead) and Tash (Communications Manager) just spent the last several days in Bodø, Norway, sharing about ELOKA and Indigenous Data Sovereignty at Arctic Congress https://www.arcticcongress.com/. We're thrilled to have seen many familiar faces and have had the chance to share about the amazing work our partners are doing! We're excited to keep this conversations going about Indigenous data sovereignty and self-determination in research, as we continue to self-reflect and learn what others are doing. If you saw us at Arctic Congress, drop a line!

Today is the first day of Arctic Congress in Bodo, Norway, and we are excited to hear from the scientists and change-makers attending the conference! Are you also attending Arctic Congress? Let us know what sessions are you are most looking forward to! Full program: https://www.arcticcongress.com/program-details

Will we see you in Bodo, Norway next week for Arctic Congress? Let us know if you will be there! We are co-convening two sessions that focus on strategies for and lessons from Indigenous-led and collaborative research in the Arctic. Come join us at our sessions! We hope to see you there! https://www.arcticcongress.com/program-details

Check out the amazing work our partners at AAOKH are doing!

A sea ice monitoring project is a climate adaptation tool for Utqiaġvik whalers The project partners Western science and Indigenous knowledge to help the community prepare amid declining sea ice.

Now that's a big one! We love to see it! 😍

Informational webinar for Sea Grant Community Partnership Development Grant opportunity Alaska Sea Grant invites proposals for seed grants that support the planning of community-based research partnerships and engagement of communities on research teams. Join us for an informational webinar to assist prospective investigators on Wednesday, May 1, at 10 a.m. Alaska Time. Following the w...

"Indigenous Peoples are rights holders, not stakeholders"

“Indigenous Peoples are rights holders, not stakeholders and the lack of our direct engagement in these spaces violates UNDRIP article 41 and ultimately, will lead to a treaty that creates more issues, rather than solving them.”

Above is a quote from ICC’s first intervention at the INC-4 plastic pollution negotiations this week. ICC requested the Arctic be recognized in the text as a sensitive region, as it is in the Minamata and Stockholm Conventions.

It also asked that the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples be recognized in the operative text of the document.

ICC Vice Chair Lisa Qiluqqi Koperqualuk emphasized, “When the text acknowledges human health and the environment, it needs to include the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.”

The need for a rights-based approach was emphasized by the Vice-Chair at the plenary.

Photo credit: IISD/ENB - Kiara Worth

Literature Monday! (Can we make this a thing?) During the Arctic Observing Summit in Edinburgh, we discussed community-based monitoring in the Arctic, and how this can impact decision making. Check out this highly relevant paper, "Connecting community-based monitoring to Arctic environmental decision-making and governance: A systematic scoping review of the literature" (Wilson et al., 2024). How can we support community-led research in the Arctic, that directly influences regional and national decision making? Start your Monday off right:

Connecting community-based monitoring to Arctic environmental decision-making and governance: A systematic scoping review of the literature Arctic community-based monitoring (CBM) programs have proliferated in recent decades. While the desire to influence decision-making is frequently listed as a motivation for CBM, there is a dearth of literature examining whether and how this goal is achieved in the Arctic. We draw on a systematic sco...

Are you passionate about making a positive impact in Alaska? As part of our grant applications team, you'll have the opportunity to secure funding for vital projects that benefit our shareholders and NANA regional communities!

Atautchikun, NANA’s public benefit company, is seeking grant application professionals to join our team.

Apply today to help us continue to better the lives of our shareholders!

Join us online today at the Community and Citizen Science in the Far North 2024 Conference, organized by Arctic Research Consortium of the United States (ARCUS)! Today at 9:30 Alaska, Tash our communications manager, will be speaking about Indigenous Data Sovereignty and sharing examples of how researchers and communities can implement Indigenous Data Sovereignty. Hope to see you there, registration is free!

Community & Citizen Science in the Far North 2024 Conference The Community and Citizen Science in the Far North 2024 Conference is set for 17-18 April 2024. The 2024 conference builds on the efforts from the first conference in 2021 and a subsequent webinar. The focus will be continuing to share, network, and discuss the various aspects of conducting communit...

Wow, what an amazing week in Edinburgh, Scotland at the Arctic Observing Summit held March 27-29! The best part of conferences is getting so much in-person time with our friends and partners from across the Arctic! With partners and colleagues at Alaska Arctic Observatory and Knowledge Hub, Indigenous Sentinels Network, Nunatsiavut Sea Ice Observer Program and Tū’desē’cho Wholistic Indigenous Leadership Development, we held a 2 hour session on community-led monitoring in the Arctic, and it was attended by over 50 people! During this session, we led group discussions on how to foster greater coordination between programs, how to implement Indigenous Data Sovereignty, and how data from observing programs can inform local and regional decision making. We will be sharing our learnings and recommendations soon through the Arctic Observing Summit conference statement - stay tuned!

We are so excited and honored to announce that we have been selected as a winner of the "OTSP Year of Open Science Recognition Challenge." We are pleased to share the incredible work of our partners.

This challenge "engaged researchers, community scientists, educators, innovators, and the broader public to highlight efforts to expand access to research for the benefit of science and society." We are proud to be recognized for the work with our partners on co-developing tools for sharing Arctic Indigenous knowledge.

White House Office of Science & Technology Policy Announces Year of Open Science Recognition Challenge Winners | OSTP | The White House Today, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is announcing the winners of the OSTP Year of Open Science Recognition Challenge. This challenge engaged researchers, community scientists, educators, innovators, and the broader public to highlight efforts to expand access to res...

So proud of our ELOKA team and our amazing partners! Learn more about ELOKA and what we do here: https://eloka-arctic.org/
A passage from the White House press release: "By opening up the processes and products of research to all, open science can build bridges between teams of researchers and members of diverse communities across the country and around the world. This bridge building can ground research questions in local challenges, while creating opportunities for communities to contribute to the research process, co-creating evidence-driven solutions. The Exchange for Local Observations and Knowledge of the Arctic (ELOKA) project exemplifies this power."

White House Office of Science & Technology Policy Announces Year of Open Science Recognition Challenge Winners | OSTP | The White House Today, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is announcing the winners of the OSTP Year of Open Science Recognition Challenge. This challenge engaged researchers, community scientists, educators, innovators, and the broader public to highlight efforts to expand access to res...

Sunny spring days call for ice fishing and sii patties. Give this recipe a try!

Final Call for Abstracts: Community & Citizen Science in the Far North 2024 Conference! Abstracts are due by Friday, 8 March 2024, 5:00 p.m. Alaska Standard Time.

Submit Abstract: https://www.arcus.org/ccs/meetings/2024-conference/submit-abstract

Registration to the conference is also open until Friday, 12 April.
https://www.arcus.org/ccs/meetings/2024-conference/registration

We are hiring! To learn more about the positions and apply, click on the links below.

Finance Officer:
https://www.inuitcircumpolar.com/job.../finance-officer/

Read more about all our current opportunities on our website: https://www.inuitcircumpolar.com/job-opportunities/