Show Notes
Welcome to This Way Up, the new Arctic Council podcast. In this introductory episode, hosts Jessica Cook and Rosa-Máren Magga set the stage for the season ahead. They share their own Arctic journeys, put Arctic Council representatives to the test with elevator-pitch challenges and answer questions from curious students about everything from Indigenous participation to navigating political tensions. With a mix of storytelling and behind-the-scenes insights, this episode introduces listeners to the people, priorities and spirit of cooperation that define the Arctic Council, and what you can expect in future episodes of This Way Up.
More from This Way Up
Thirty years after the Arctic Council was established, has it stood the test of time?
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In the Arctic, salmon is more than a fish. It's food, connection, culture and identity. In this episode, we travel to the Deatnu River on the border of northern Norway and Finland in Sápmi, where declining Atlantic salmon stocks have led to fishing bans and disagreement on how to move forward in the future. We speak to a fisher from Alaska, where declining salmon stocks in rivers there raise similar questions about food security and what it means when the very foundation of a culture is in crisis.
How does one advocate for one of the most rapidly changing regions on Earth? In this episode of This Way Up, we bring together three voices with unique perspectives on Arctic advocacy:
The Arctic isn’t just warming, it’s on fire. From the record-shattering 2023 wildfire season in Canada to the zombie fires smoldering beneath the boreal forests, Arctic wildfires are reshaping landscapes, threatening communities and accelerating global climate change. In this episode, learn about the changing fire regime and how Arctic wildfires impact everyone across the globe from Edward Alexander of Gwich’in Council International and Sue Natali and Brendan Rogers of the Woodwell Climate Research Center. Hear from Edward Alexander, Chief Bill Erasmus of Arctic Athabaskan Council and Vladimir Klimov of RAIPON, who share both the devastating impact wildfires have had on their communities, as well as the beneficial uses of fire practiced by their ancestors until colonization put a stop to Indigenous cultural burning. Finally, explore how restoring Indigenous fire practices and integrating knowledge systems could be part of the solution to improving wildfire management, promoting healthier ecosystems, revitalizing culture and building resilience.