Open AccessFrom Resilient to Thriving: Policy Recommendations to Support Health and Well-being in the Arctic
Author(s) -
Katie Cueva,
Elizabeth Rink,
Josée N. Lavoie,
Gwen Healey Akearok,
Sean Guistini,
Nicole Kanayurak,
Jon Petter Stoor,
Christina Viskum Lytken Larsen
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
arctic
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1923-1245
pISSN - 0004-0843
DOI - 10.14430/arctic73953
Subject(s) - thriving , indigenous , arctic , general partnership , reciprocity (cultural anthropology) , political science , thematic analysis , metis , public relations , environmental resource management , economic growth , environmental planning , geography , sociology , qualitative research , social science , ecology , environmental science , world wide web , computer science , law , economics , biology
In 2018 – 19, eight Indigenous and non-Indigenous individuals from Canada, Greenland/Denmark, Sweden, and Alaska/United States came together to address research questions relevant to Arctic nations’ shared challenges and opportunities. Our work incorporated critical, community-based perspectives on Arctic health and well-being and promoted strengths-based approaches developed in partnership with Arctic communities. In this article we describe the group’s 16 action-oriented policy recommendations to support health and well-being in the Arctic in four thematic areas: 1) acknowledge and integrate Indigenous rights and knowledges, 2) implement meaningful action to address Indigenous determinants of health, 3) expand health-oriented monitoring and assessment programs, and 4) implement community-led, critical research approaches that focus on partnerships, reciprocity, adherence to ethical guidelines, and funding community-based research. Our recommendations are actionable guidelines for policy and research aimed at reducing inequities, supporting Indigenous expertise and existing knowledge, and promoting thriving communities in the Arctic.