Indigenous communities and perspectives are often underrepresented, both within and outside academia. One important way to address this is by encouraging young people to assume leadership roles in research.
However, this is challenging to achieve. Many young people from Indigenous backgrounds choose not to pursue higher education, preferring instead to work in primary industries. Furthermore, structural, institutional, and linguistic barriers—such as the tendency to undervalue or overlook Indigenous knowledge systems, and a lack of understanding of Indigenous participation—can lead young talents to opt out of leadership roles in research.
At this side event, we gather representatives from institutions across the Arctic region and ask:
- How can more people from Indigenous backgrounds be recruited into higher education, and what will motivate them to pursue an academic career?
- How can academic institutions, organisations, and governments work to promote Indigenous leadership in research?
Moderator:
- Torjer Olsen, Professor in Indigenous studies, UiT Arctic University of Norway
Keynote:
- Ingvill Bjørnstad Åberg, Associate Professor at Nord University, and head of a Nordic network to strengthen Indigenous perspectives in research
Panel participants:
- Aaja Chemnitz, Chair of the Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region and Member of the Danish Folketing, representing Inuit Ataqatigiit
- Arne Flåøyen, Director, NordForsk
- Ivar B. Prestbakmo, State Secretary, Norwegian Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development
- Jan-Gunnar Winther, Pro-rector for Research and Development UiT Arctic University of Norway
- Liv Inger Somby, Rector, Sámi University of Applied Sciences
- Maren Benedicte Nystad Storslett, Member of the Governing Council of the Sámi Parliament, representing the Norwegian Sámi Association
