Njuolla->Qarjuk: Connecting Best Practices for Co-Created Research across the Arctic

Climate change and biodiversity loss affect regions worldwide, but Indigenous lands exhibit significantly less biodiversity loss and are vital for reducing carbon emissions. Indigenous knowledge and Indigenous experts, including youth, are essential for addressing Arctic environmental challenges. But currently, these systems are often undervalued, with non-Indigenous organizations implementing initiatives on Indigenous lands and waters without understanding their context and colonial history. Njuolla->Qarjuk reflects and fosters conditions for truly co-creative, ethical work in the Arctic, benefitting communities, researchers, and practitioners.

Indigenous researchers and activists have long strived for anticolonial, equitable research practices. The broader Arctic research landscape increasingly recognizes the co-benefits of Indigenous-led and co-creative research, including improved quality and relevance of outcomes, efficient fund allocation, and enhanced problem-solving through diverse knowledge systems. Consequently, non-Indigenous researchers, funders, and decision-makers are seeking to improve their collaboration with Indigenous partners. However, without proper co-creation tools, even well-intentioned efforts can perpetuate colonialism and harm Arctic communities. There is a need for awareness and capacity building and for tools that ensure equitable practices in Arctic work. Njuolla->Qarjuk will provide researchers, organizations, and communities with easy access to existing ethics guidelines and protocols developed by Arctic Indigenous organizations and guide them in the co-development of research relationships and projects.

Indigenous knowledge at the centre

Njuolla->Qarjuk builds on the European Environment initiative (EURENI) project, Dávgi, which supported co-creation for biocultural diversity in the Arctic. Dávgi means 'bow' in Northern Sámi and was a metaphor for building bridges across knowledge systems. Taking the insights from Dávgi a step further, Njuolla->Qarjuk, meaning 'arrow' in Northern Sámi and Inuktitut, reflects a movement beyond the bow. Highlighting the connection between the regions of Sápmi and Nunavut, where these languages are spoken, the project is about the provision of guidance and direction and recognizes Indigenous Knowledge in ethical research guidelines and protocols, this project, and the larger research landscape.

Main goals of the project

1. Create a user-friendly, open-access, and centralized database of existing protocols and ethics guidelines developed by Arctic Indigenous organizations.
2. Develop a tool for Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners to develop their own protocols to guide high-quality Arctic research.
3. Share and make outputs broadly accessible, fostering capacity-building of Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners and Arctic Indigenous communities.
4. Support the development of a spotlight on "co-creation in research" during the first-ever Sámi Science Week.

A co-creative and transdisciplinary approach

Njuolla->Qarjuk applies a co-creative and transdisciplinary approach. In the first phase, project partners will collaboratively develop methods and approaches, plan outputs, and reflect on and plan self-evaluation. All activities and outputs are co-created by two Indigenous implementing organizations (Saami Council and Ikaarvik) and one German implementing organization (RIFS) to ensure that outputs will be beneficial for Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers, decision-makers, communities, and institutions. The project seeks the guidance of Arctic Indigenous youth to shape and inform the project's trajectory.