Native Nation Institute (NNI) Research Analyst, Mary Beth Jäger (Citizen Potawatomi) presented and moderated a virtual panel at the International Congress of Arctic Social Sciences (ICASS X) on June 15^th-20^th. This meeting happens every three years and brings together social scientists from around the world to focus on human existence in the Arctic.

Jäger and Kaare Sikuaq Erickson (Iñupiaq) presented work from the Indigenous Foods Knowledges Network (Office of Polar Programs (OPP) Award #1745499) and the process and early data stories from the Impact of COVID-19 on Food Access in Indigenous Communities in the Arctic and U.S. Southwest: A Comparative Landscape Analysis study (NSF-OPP Award # 2035161) project. Their presentation was titled Bridging Arctic and US Southwest Indigenous Knowledge Systems for Food and Knowledge Sovereignty. Althea Walker (Akimel O’otham), Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center and Noor Johnson, University of Colorado were also co-authors of this presentation Also at ICASS X Jäger and Johnson co-chaired two part panel titled Indigenous Food and Knowledge: Intersections with Governance and Health.

First it was exciting to hear presentations of how Indigenous communities in the Arctic are either co-developing or leading research projects particularly around food that benefit their communities and planning for future generations. Second, it is amazing to hear stories about how Indigenous communities are improving their governance around food and health. Finally, I’m really appreciative to all the Alaska Natives who had to be up at 4 am and 6 am to present on the two part panel since ICASS X was an international conference.

-Mary Beth Jäger