European Environment Initiative (EURENI)

Project background

Climate change and biodiversity loss affect regions worldwide, but Indigenous lands experience significantly less biodiversity loss and are vital for reducing carbon emissions. Indigenous knowledge and Indigenous experts, including youth, are essential for addressing Arctic environmental challenges. However, these systems often remain undervalued: Non-Indigenous organizations frequently implement initiatives within Indigenous lands and waters without fully understanding their context or colonial histories. 

Indigenous researchers and activists have long strived for equitable research practices. The broader Arctic research landscape increasingly recognizes the co-benefits of Indigenous-led and co-creative approaches, which improve the quality and relevance of outcomes and enhance problem-solving through diverse knowledge systems. Consequently, non-Indigenous researchers, funders, and decision-makers are seeking to improve their collaboration with Indigenous partners. However, without proper co-creation tools, even well-intentioned efforts risk perpetuating colonialism and harming Arctic communities.

To address this challenge, Indigenous organisations across the Arctic have developed ethical research guidelines and protocols. There is a need for more awareness of these guidelines, increased capacity to use them, and complimentary resources that ensure equitable practices. 

Building on the preceding “DÁVGI” project, which highlighted the importance of awareness-raising, capacity development, and practical tools to support equitable practices in Arctic collaboration, “NJUOLLA->QARJUK” will provide researchers, organizations, and communities with easy access to existing ethics guidelines and protocols developed by Arctic Indigenous organizations. The aim is to foster conditions for genuinely co-creative, equitable work in the Arctic that benefits communities, researchers, and practitioners alike.

Project goals and measures

The project offers guidance for researchers and practitioners of Arctic conservation aiming to establish equitable cooperation relations. The name NJUOLLA->QARJUK combines the Northern Sámi and Inuktitut words for “arrow”, symbolizing the guidance and progress toward co-creative practices. It acknowledges the Indigenous Knowledges embedded in these tools and reflects cross-regional collaboration (by connecting Sápmi and Nunavut), thus embodying the project’s essence.

It is a partnership of three organizations: 

• Ikaarvik, an Indigenous-led organization based in Mittimatalik (Nunavut, Canada) that creates opportunities for Northern Indigenous youth to empower their communities for self-determination in Arctic research and decision making; 

• The Saami Council, a voluntary organization that promotes Sámi rights and interests;

• And the Research Institute for Sustainability, which conducts transdisciplinary research about understanding, advancing, and guiding processes of societal change towards sustainable development. 

The project is embedded in CO-CREATE Arctic, a collaborative of Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners focused on co-creation in Arctic research. This allows the inclusion of diverse perspectives from regions, age groups, and backgrounds across the Arctic. 

“NJUOLLA->QARJUK” will create an open-access database of existing ethical guidelines created by and with Arctic Indigenous Peoples from regions where the partners operate. Further, it will develop a guidance document to support Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners in co-developing their own ethical protocols. By widely sharing these resources with decision-makers, researchers, and other actors working in the Arctic, the project strives to build capacity for and foster meaningful and just collaborations. In addition, the project will support the inaugural Saami Science Week in 2025, hosted by the Saami Council, by highlighting "co-creation in research." 

The project is co-creative and transdisciplinary, beginning with a collaborative phase for the partners to co-develop the research agenda, methods, outputs, and self-evaluation plans. The project will provide comprehensive insights on Arctic cooperation and conservation. Results will benefit Indigenous and non-Indigenous research institutions, funders, government ministries, resource developers, and civil society by facilitating more meaningful and effective collaborations.