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The indigenous populations of the Arctic region possess an immense knowledge of their environments, based on centuries of living close to nature. Living in and from the richness and variety of complex ecosystems, they have an in-depth understanding of the properties of plants and animals, the functioning of ecosystems and the techniques for using and managing them in a sustainable way. However, when the subject is sea ice prediction and ice retreat there are potential hazards triggering the exposure of communities to extreme climatic events dependent on specific geographical patterns that, consequently, restrict their economic, social and cultural activities. Traditional knowledge can benefit immensely from western science research and communication to minimise the exposure of Arctic local communities to climatic adversities. For this reason, it is fundamental that the sea ice predictions research teams design and provide effective communication strategies to translate relevant data of research findings to address local social needs and priorities. In this sense, it is essential to make Arctic science accessible to indigenous communities by improving as much as possible cross-community communication, multi-cultural dialogue and the communities’ understanding of useful data about ice, ocean and atmospheric processes. Cross-cultural understanding is fundamental to investigate and transplant concepts from the indigenous world to the western culture and vice-versa in order to contribute effectively to more consistent patterns of adaptation.