Ikaaġvik Sikukun —Iñupiaq for ice bridges— is a research effort in Kotzebue, Alaska that connects the community with scientists to understand sea ice change in Kotzebue Sound. Under guidance from an advisory council of Elders, the project uses state-of-the-art observing techniques including unmanned aerial systems —commonly known as drones— to answer questions related to sea ice, ocean physics, and marine mammal biology. Several aspects of Ikaaġvik Sikukun set it apart from other scientific research. Most importantly, the advisory council was established from the beginning to define the research questions. This ensures that the science pursued by Ikaaġvik Sikukun is led through Indigenous knowledge and responds to local community concerns related to rapid sea ice and snow cover changes in Kotzebue Sound.
Join Alex Whiting, Environmental director at Native Village of Kotzebue, Donna Hauser, Research scientist at University of Alaska Fairbanks, focusing on marine mammal ecology, and Elders from the Native Village of Kotzebue for a presentation and open conversation on bridging the scientific and Indigenous communities' knowledge of sea ice change in the Alaskan Arctic.