Rosemary, Lisa, Theresa

The ARCUS Indigenous Scholars Program has concluded. Co-developed by the Arctic Research Consortium of the U.S. (ARCUS) and the Inuit Circumpolar Council Alaska, this program created opportunities for Indigenous scholars to share their knowledge and perspectives with policy- and decision-makers working on Arctic issues in Washington, D.C.

This initiative was supported by the National Science Foundation’s Division of Arctic Sciences (Award PLR-1928794), with additional support from the Arctic Studies Center at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

What is an Indigenous Scholar?

A scholar is recognized as an expert within their own knowledge system. This includes:

  • Hunters, fishers, and gatherers
  • Those who process, prepare, and store food
  • Health aides and caretakers
  • Youth, adults, and elders

Education may come from the land, the water, or the classroom. This program honored the value of Indigenous knowledge in all its forms.

Learn More

Learn more about the program and the experiences of past scholars in the videos below.