Arctic Indigenous Scholars Program (United States)

What is an Indigenous Scholar?

• They define a scholar as an expert within their own knowledge system. This includes hunters, fishers, and gatherers; those that process and store food; health aides; and others. It includes youth, elders, and adults. Your education may have come from the land, the water, or a classroom.

Cost Covered

• Travel expenses and per diem will be provided. While the selected scholars are in DC, ARCUS will arrange meetings with officials at relevant agencies and organizations, where scholars will be able to share their interests, learn of available resources, build toward collaborative relationships, and provide on-the-ground perspectives to key decision-makers.

Types of Activities

The selected scholars must be available for travel to Washington DC during for seven days during February 2023 (exact dates TBD based on scholar and host availability). Over the course of four to five days, the visiting scholars will be engaged in many formal and informal activities to connect with the Arctic research community located in Washington DC. Depending upon the Scholar’s specific expertise and interests, a customized agenda will be scheduled.

• Seminar (with live-streamed and recorded webinar);
• A full day hosted by the Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center;
• Formal and informal meetings with:
  • Senior Arctic research officials at agencies like the US Arctic Research Commission and the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee;
  • Non-governmental organizations like the National Academy of Sciences Polar Research Board and American Association for the Advancement of Science;
  • Federal agencies relevant to the Scholars’ work, such as in the Department of the Interior (e.g., USFWS, USGS, USDA, BLM), Department of Commerce, National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, Department of Education, or Environmental Protection Agency;
  • Policy-makers such as Congress (Alaska Delegation, Indian Affairs Committee members); and
  • Indigenous organizations such as the National Congress of American Indians.
• Participating Indigenous scholars will be selected by a volunteer committee composed of Arctic leaders from Alaska and from within Washington DC.

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates should be Indigenous persons at least 18 years of age, with US citizenship. Candidates must be available to travel for seven days during February 2024 (exact dates TBD based on scholar and host availability), willing to work with ARCUS to complete travel arrangements documents, and willing to share about the experience had through this program with ARCUS.
• Applicant Qualifications:
  • Must be Indigenous;
  • Must be US citizens at least 18 years of age;
  • Available to work with ARCUS and ICC Alaska in preparation for the trip;
  • Available to travel to DC during February 2024 for a seven-day trip;
  • Desire to build relationships with relevant people/agencies/institutions within DC to advance/address your and/or your community’s/region’s interests, concerns, or challenges; and
  • Willingness to share about the experience had through this program with ARCUS, ICC Alaska, and, if relevant, your community/region.

For more information, visit Arctic Research Consortium of the United States.