Arctic Robust Communities - Navigating Adaptation to Variability Interview Data (2021-2025)

This Arctic Robust Communities – Navigating Adaptation to Variability (ARC NAV) project focused on the following themes: How do we design better and more flexible governance and infrastructure to adapt to changing Arctic sea ice conditions in Beringia? Sivuqaq (Gambell), St. Lawrence Island, Alaska is the focal community for the research. Pan-Arctic sea ice is declining, but here we center Sivuqaq Yupik residents of Gambell: how are local sea ice conditions changing, what does this mean for Gambell residents, and how are associated community priorities communicated across governance structures? The Native Village of Gambell (NVG) was a funded partner and collaborator on the project, and community priorities drove the team's choice of methods and process for conducting the work.
The team interviewed community members and decision-makers in Gambell and Nome. Participants were asked about their observations of changing sea ice and weather conditions and associated local impacts, as well as how their local-level organizations are adapting to changes. Decision-makers were asked about their connections and collaboration with other organizations and communities, with a specific focus on connections between local, regional, national, and international organizations and entities.
This project documented diverse narratives and critical policy challenges around the meaning of sea ice change, such as subsistence patterns, erosion, safety, co-management of marine mammals, increased shipping and security concerns, and Arctic economic development. Through this research, the project will derive new understandings of community and institutional responses to change that may be applied to other regions as they navigate climate change transitions around the globe.