Belonging to a certain place. Indigenous people are distinct ethnic groups that have historic connections to people who lived in a territory prior to the area being colonized or coming under control of a nation state. Examples of indigenous peoples are the Maori of New Zealand, North American Indians  and – in the Arctic – the Inuit and Saami. Indigenous people often retain long traditions, cultures, languages and knowledge.

There are over 40 different ethnic groups living in the Arctic. They include:

  • the Saami in circumpolar areas of Finland, Sweden, Norway and Northwest Russia
  • Nenets, Khanty, Evenk and Chukchi in Russia
  • Aleut, Yupik and Inuit (Iñupiat) in Alaska
  • Inuit (Inuvialuit) in Canada
  • Inuit (Kalaallit) in Greenland
  • This is a map of indigenous groups based on language groups.

Indigenous (or traditional) knowledge is the collective knowledge of indigenous people, often passed on from generation to generation verbally, in stories and in songs, rather than in written form. In connection to the Arctic environment, the term Traditional Ecological Knowledge is used to refer to specific knowledge regarding the natural environment.

  • > Western Arctic Research Centre

    Field Sites

    NAME AND OWNER The Western ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific perspectives. Some scientists define the Arctic as

    > Read more
  • > Canadian High Arctic Research Station CHARS

    Field Sites

    STATION NAME AND OWNER The Canadian High ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific perspectives. Some scientists define the Arctic

    > Read more
  • > Netherlands’ Arctic Station

    Field Sites

    STATION NAME AND OWNER The Netherlands ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific perspectives. Some scientists define the Arctic

    > Read more
  • > Numto Park Station

    Field Sites

    Collaborator in the project until spring 2022 STATION NAME AND OWNER The Numto Park Station belongs to the UNESCO Chair on Environmental Dynamics and Climate

    > Read more
  • > The Arctic Research Station (former Labytnangi Ecological Research Station)

    Field Sites

    Collaborator in the project until spring 2022 STATION NAME AND OWNER The ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific

    > Read more
  • > INTERACT – part of the EU Arctic Cluster

    News

    INTERACT builds together with the other Horizon 2020 ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific perspectives. Some scientists define

    > Read more
  • > Two job opportunities at Arctic Circle Secretariat

    News

    Arctic CircleA line of latitude currently at 66° 33? 44? (66.5622°) north of the Equator. It is the southern limit of the region of the

    > Read more
  • > Call for interns at UArctic for autumn 2021

    News

    UArctic is searching for two motivated and enthusiastic interns for the fall 2021 who are interested in ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental,

    > Read more
  • > INPA at Arctic Passion first annual meeting

    News

    INTERACT non-profit Association (INPA) is participating in ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific perspectives. Some scientists define the

    > Read more
  • > ASSW 2022 Travel Funding available

    News

    Wanting to go to the ASSW this spring? The  International ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific perspectives. Some

    > Read more
  • > Funds available to attend ASSW2019

    News

    The Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) in cooperation with the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) is pleased to announce the availability of travel support for

    > Read more
  • > Sámi guidelines for tourists

    News

    Work Package 9 (The ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific perspectives. Some scientists define the Arctic as areas

    > Read more
  • > Travel Stipends Available

    News

    Application deadline: Sunday, 23 April 2017  Travel Stipends Available ICASS IX Conference International ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and

    > Read more
  • > Webinars for Arctic Science Ministerial

    News

    INTERACT partner European Polar Board is organising a webinar series as preparation of the next ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political,

    > Read more
  • > Aurora College is hiring

    News

    Three research chair positions are open at INTERACT partner Aurora College in Canada: Climate ChangeAccording to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, climate

    > Read more
  • > Save the date – EU Arctic Forum and Indigenous Peoples’ Dialogue

    News

    The next edition of the EU ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific perspectives. Some scientists define the Arctic

    > Read more
  • > CALL FOR CONTENT: ARCTIC BIODIVERSITY CONGRESS 2018

    News

    CALL FOR CONTENT: ARCTICDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific perspectives. Some scientists define the Arctic as areas having

    > Read more
  • > INTERACT adaptation work package published in Nature Climate Change

    News

    WP 9 (Adapting to environmental change) published an article in Nature Climate ChangeAccording to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, climate change is

    > Read more
  • > INTERACT Session at Arctic Circle 2023: Aligning Arctic Research to ICARP IV Process

    News

    INTERACT organised a session with European Polar Board on “Aligning ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific perspectives. Some

    > Read more
  • > Towards an increasingly biased view on Arctic change – paper in Nature Climate Change

    News

    As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues, the resulting geopolitical tensions may impact our ability to understand ongoing ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to

    > Read more
  • > Call for proposals- Arctic Week 2019

    News

    The “ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific perspectives. Some scientists define the Arctic as areas having a high

    > Read more
  • > Arctic Awareness

    INTERACT aims to inform and interact with the public, stakeholders and primary, secondary and tertiary students. In particular, we will work with people living in

    > Read more
  • > Tourism

    The Arctic Resort: increasing benefits and reducing impacts from developing Arctic tourism The ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and

    > Read more
  • > Collaborations

    APECS The Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) is an international and interdisciplinary organization for undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, early career faculty

    > Read more
  • > AC

    Glossary

    ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific perspectives. Some scientists define the Arctic as areas having a high latitude,

    > Read more
  • > AMAP

    Glossary

    ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific perspectives. Some scientists define the Arctic as areas having a high latitude,

    > Read more
  • > Mycology

    Glossary

    The study of fungi. Fungi are fundamental for life on earth, and important in all environments, including in the ArcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according

    > Read more
EU Logo