Transforming Education in the Arctic: Co-creation, Decolonization, and Participatory Approaches

Abstract

Rapid environmental change, social inequities, and colonial legacies are all factors that drive a pressing need for more meaningful and collaborative education in the Arctic that supports community resilience and self-determination. Meaningful and inclusive education strategies in the circumpolar context are challenging due to both the colonial history and top-down approaches often used in practice. While each Arctic region has its own cultural context, general themes have emerged to support the transformation of education in the North, specifically as it relates to environmental change and resilience. This short paper focuses on environmental education and hones in on three interrelated themes: 1) circumpolar education research and policy priorities, 2) co-creation and participatory approaches in education, and 3) decolonization of Western education. By exploring these themes, we aim to identify next steps for co-creating a collaborative and inclusive framework for future Arctic education programs on environmental change and resilience.