Indigenous Youth Leadership for the Changing Arctic 

The International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry, UArctic EALAT Institute, and World Reindeer Herders in unique cooperation with the Arctic Initiative at Harvard Kennedy School of Government and Tufts University Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy are committed to empowering Reindeer Herding and Indigenous Youth to be leaders in their communities. 

The course on Indigenous Youth Leadership for the Changing Arctic is held between January 10 and 18, 2023 on the premises of the Harvard and Tufts Universities in Boston, MA, USA.

A collaboration between the International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry (ICR), the Harvard Arctic Initiative, and Tufts University, the course will feature lectures, workshops, and guest speakers on the issues of Indigenous knowledge, food systems, thawing permafrost, and wetlands. Indigenous Youth from the Circumpolar North focus on developing communication and negotiation skills and learning about ecosystem adaptation and resilience. 

Guest speakers introduce students to the pressing topics of climate change, social-ecological resilience, sustainable development, and knowledge co-production. Students share their experiences and knowledge with regard to environmental impacts, build competencies for future leadership in their communities, and advance their understanding of the negotiation and stewardship processes. 

The course is a result of the long-term partnership between ICR, Harvard Kennedy School Arctic Initiative, and Tufts Fletcher School that provides space for the Arctic Indigenous youth to acquire knowledge and skills, meet with their peers, network, and become confident leaders. 

COURSE PROGRAM

ICR Program coordinators:
Svein D. Mathiesen  
Marina Tonkopeeva