Indigenous

PI: Yuka Oishi (Kobe University)

The indigenous peoples of the Arctic have adapted flexibly to the harsh yet rich natural environment, developing their unique knowledge and skills. However, during the history of colonial rule, human connections and social and cultural infrastructure, which are essential for recovery from disasters, have been severely damaged. Furthermore, they currently reside in remote areas where public services and infrastructure are inaccessible, rendering their lives vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. At the same time, Arctic indigenous peoples have a significant voice in international forums, such as the Arctic Council, and their political activities and environmental movements have had a profound influence on governance and environmental management in the Arctic.

Previous studies have shown that as humans have modified the environment through development, thawing of permafrost and glaciers, disasters caused by extreme weather events, and ecological resource changes have become more severe, highlighting the importance of considering the interaction between humans and the environment. They also found that their well-being is affected by the global economy, international relations, information technology, migration and tourism, and that their well-being is realized in the framework of international partnerships between indigenous peoples, relationships with non-indigenous peoples, international law, and research ethics, in addition to the relationship between the state and indigenous peoples. Furthermore, in the academic world, as it aims for decolonization, indigenous peoples and researchers must engage in dialogue and collaboration, integrate traditional and scientific knowledge, and create new knowledge together about the Arctic environment, rather than having one-sided knowledge and data taken away by researchers.

Therefore, this research aims to clarify the impact of climate change on Arctic indigenous communities from the perspective of its interaction with the global economy and geopolitical changes, in collaboration with local people and natural scientists. We will then work with them to consider current social issues and evaluate current conditions and measures to achieve well-being. Specifically, our research will focus on the following three areas: (1) co-management of resources integrating TEK (Traditional Ecological Knowledge) and scientific knowledge, (2) evaluation of resilience through community development and informal economy, and (3) research ethics regarding open science and ethnographic material conservation. Through this research, we aim to uncover new possibilities and insights into how people should interact with nature by examining the diverse Arctic region.