Arctic Indigenous Scholars Program

Rosemary, Lisa, Theresa The objective of this opportunity, led by the Arctic Research Consortium of the U.S. (ARCUS) and the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) Alaska, and supported by the National Science Foundation's Division of Arctic Sciences, is to create a space for Indigenous scholars to educate and inform policy- and decision-makers engaged in Arctic issues from the nation's capital, Washington DC. Funding for this program is provided to ARCUS by the National Science Foundation's Division of Arctic Sciences (PLR-1304316) with additional support from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Arctic Studies Center.

What is an Indigenous Scholar?

We define a scholar as an expert within their own knowledge system. This includes hunters, fishers, and gatherers; those that process and store food; health aides; and others. It includes youth, elders, and adults. Your education may have come from the land, the water, or a classroom.


Learn more about the program and experience of past scholars in the video below


Senator Dan Sullivan, Helen Aderman, and Andrew Aderman

Project Personnel

Project Co-leads:
Carolina Behe, Indigenous Knowledge/Science Advisor, Inuit Circumpolar Council Alaska
Helen Wiggins, Executive Director, Arctic Research Consortium of the U.S.

Project Manager:
Lisa Sheffield Guy, Project Manager, Arctic Research Consortium of the U.S.