NNA Community Newsletter

Special Issue

Spring 2022

• Note from the NNA-CO: Looking back, Looking forward
• Save the Date: 2022 NNA Annual Community Meeting
• New NNA-CO Logo
• Launch of NNA-CO's Arctic Together Podcast
• NNA 2022 Photo Contest

Note from the NNA-CO: Looking back, Looking forward

The Navigating the New Arctic Community Office (NNA-CO) concluded its first year in February 2022. Like so many engaged in Arctic research, our team continues to be humbled by the challenges we face and inspired by the collaborative spirit of Arctic peoples and researchers alike. There remains so much opportunity to learn together, to support each other, and to make new connections to advance how NNA research addresses societal challenges.

During our first year, we successfully held our first NNA Community Meeting in November 2021, stood up our Community Extension Office at Alaska Pacific University, launched the Broader Impacts Network, grew our dedicated NNA-CO team, and broadly collaborated to hold numerous engagement events for the NNA Community. We thank all of those who contributed. In particular, we acknowledge the critical contributions of our Indigenous Advisory Board and Research Advisory Board members, who continue to advise our office on how we can support NNA research teams, be responsive to Indigenous and community concerns, reach new audiences, and strategically partner across the Arctic research community. 

This special newsletter, which is being offered in addition to our normal monthly NNA Community newsletter, highlights some exciting news, resources, and opportunities for your attention as many of us look to shift gears with the approaching summer.

Save the Date: 2022 NNA Annual Community Meeting

November 15-17, 2022

The NNA Community Office, in concert with NSF and our Advisory Boards, has identified the location and dates for the 2022 NNA Annual Community Meeting. The meeting will be held in Anchorage, Alaska, hosted by Alaska Pacific University, during November 15-17, 2022. 

The meeting will include in-person, hybrid, and virtual sessions and events. The meeting is for NNA researchers, research partners, Indigenous community and organization representatives, decision-makers, and others who have an interest in the NNA initiative. 

Later this month we will be soliciting meeting session proposals from the NNA community. Please look for more detailed information in the coming weeks, including through our website and other focused communications.

New NNA-CO Logo

In Fall 2021, members of the NNA-CO team, Alaska Native artists Joseph (Joe) and Martha Senungetuk, and graphic designer Sebastian Garber began a process to create a logo design that represents the mission, vision, and goals of the office. We are pleased to share a brief video "The Story of the Seal Design" featuring Joe and Martha, along with a detailed summary that describes the background, process, and meaning, and includes more information about the artists.

We aim to revisit the story and meaning of the seal to ensure we remain grounded in our Guiding Principles that shape our direction and sustained vision for supporting a connected NNA community. See more about the new NNA-CO logo here. 

Launch of NNA-CO's Arctic Together Podcast

The NNA-CO Community Extension Office at Alaska Pacific University is excited to share Episode 1 Part 1 of the Arctic Together quarterly podcast series—a podcast that centers Indigenous story, community-based research, and what it means to be Arctic Together. Episode one features guest speakers Dr. Jessica Black and Kendrick Hautula (NNA Project: Tamamta (All of Us) Transforming western and Indigenous Fisheries and Marine Science Together), an Intersections Segment with musician Stephen Qacung Blanchett and artist Apay'uq Moore, and an Indigenous Scholar Roundtable discussion with Haliehana Alaĝum Ayagaa Stepetin and Margaret Anamaq Rudolf. The episode features conversations surrounding co-production of knowledge and equity, the Alaska Native music and art scene, and working in relationship with community. We had so much great content in this episode that we decided to split up the first episode into two parts! 

The Arctic Together podcast is available on all streaming platforms and you can visit the podcast website to view the show notes and resource guide for further reading. The next episode will focus on different research topics and Arctic regions. Stay tuned for Episode 1 Part 2!

Have feedback, suggestions or comments for the hosts or ideas for future episodes? Contact Karli, NNA-CO Indigenous Engagement Coordinator, at [email protected].

The NNA-CO is hosting a photo contest to showcase the beauty of the Arctic and its peoples, along with all the remarkable work that goes into NNA research.  

We invite your photos of fieldwork, research stations and sites, communities and life in the Arctic (with permissions), wildlife, natural landscapes, and cultural landscapes. Though, all ideas are welcome! There will be prizes for the top three photo submissions, as well as for seven honorable mentions. The NNA-CO plans to use the submitted photos for outreach, engagement, and communications about NNA. 

Submission deadline: July 31, 2022

Read more about the contest rules, prizes, and how to submit your photo(s) here.