ArcticNet 2025 in Calgary: Listening to Northern Voices, Building Hope for the Future

Last December, members of the FROST community gathered in Calgary for the ArcticNet Annual Scientific Meeting, one of the most important events bringing together people dedicated to understanding Arctic life and the challenges it faces. Thousands of participants attended, and what made this meeting especially powerful was that nearly 40% of attendees were Northerners. Their presence, leadership, and voices shaped the conversations throughout the week.

FROST Research group with member from Cambridge Bay, Coral Harbour and Chesterfield Inlet community.

From left to right Chelsi Mcneill-Jewer from Sapujiyiit Society alongside Willie and John from Coral Harbour and Simon and Naomi from Chesterfield Inlet. Last is Prof Milla Rautio.

Many sessions were chaired by Northern participants and highlighted Inuit-led initiatives, creating space for lived experience, knowledge sharing, and community priorities to guide research discussions. The message was clear: the future of Arctic research must be built with communities, not just about them.

Sharing Winter Stories from the North

FROST hosted a dedicated gathering with eight community members from three Inuit communities (Coral Harbour, Chesterfield Inlet, and Cambridge Bay) to talk about how changing winter conditions are affecting daily life. The discussion was honest, grounded, and deeply moving.

John Eetuk from Coral Harbour shared his experience:

“This is a pretty late winter this year. There are a lot of rapid changes. The ice is not as solid as we know it. It’s more fragile, and fewer people go out fishing.”

These words resonated strongly across the room, reminding everyone why year-round Arctic research, and listening to community knowledge, is so important.

The meeting ended on a lighter, hopeful note, with the distribution of beautiful FROST stickers featuring beaded plankton, Arctic char, and an ulu knife, designed by Danielle Nowosad. Small symbols, but powerful reminders of creativity, culture, and connection.

Stickers were distributed by Sapujiyiit Society and FROST during ASM25. The intertwined Arctic char and FROST logo were originally drawn by Lance Akoluk and adapted by Sian Ford. The beaded plankton, trout, and ulu were created by Danielle Nowosad, while the metallic char and caribou were illustrated by our communication officer, Marie-Christine Lafrenière.

Beadwork by Danielle Nowosad

We also took part in an engaging communication workshop led by our FROST communication officer, who shared practical tips on using Canva effectively for outreach and social media. It was a great reminder that strong science needs strong storytelling to reach communities and inspire action.

Later in the week, FROST researcher Professor Catherine Girard (Université Laval) was invited to give a plenary talk about Decoding the Arctic: Genomics in a Changing World, alongside Professor Jérôme Comte (INRS) and Srijak Bhatnagar (Athabasca University). The session was brought to life through live graphical recording by Yellowknife Graphical Recording, making complex ideas visually engaging and accessible.

Milla Rautio, Chelsi McNeill-Jewer and Catherine Girard right after Catherine's plenary talk.

Celebrating Research, Culture, and Community

FROST members Professor Laura Brown and her student Ernest Groh (University of Toronto) presented striking posters about ice phenology and formation that showcased the importance of Arctic research.

Laura Brown's poster on Ice phenology in Small Lake.

Ernest Groh, Laura Brown's student and his poster about white ice formation.

Beyond the science, ArcticNet is also about celebration and connection. The Cultural Night was a big highlight sharing traditional foods, and experiencing Inuit dance, song, and throat singing. It was magical, grounding, and deeply moving. Some FROST members also attended the ArcticNet Gala, an evening filled with inspiring performances, recognition, and a shared sense of purpose.

Looking Forward

ArcticNet 2025 reminded us that while the Arctic is changing rapidly, there is also strength, creativity, and hope rooted in community, collaboration, and shared knowledge. By listening closely to Northern voices and working together across cultures and disciplines, FROST continues to help shape a future where Arctic research supports both ecosystems and the people who depend on them, today and for generations to come.