A Milestone in Realizing a Vision for Canadian Leadership in Arctic Science: New exhibition about Indigenous Knowledge App opens at Canadian High Arctic Research Station

From: Polar Knowledge Canada

News release

June 4, 2025-Cambridge Bay, Nunavut

Today, a vision for Arctic science realizes a major milestone. Polar Knowledge Canada marks 10 years since its creation through a knowledge-sharing collaboration with the Canadian Museum of Nature and the Arctic Eider Society.

On display at the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS) in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, is a new exhibition co-developed by the Canadian Museum of Nature and the Arctic Eider Society with support from Polar Knowledge Canada. The exhibition showcases SIKU: The Indigenous Knowledge App, as a practical application of Indigenous Knowledge taking a leading role in science.

SIKU is the Inuktitut word for sea ice. SIKU, the mobile and online technology platform created by and for Indigenous communities provides a platform for communities to manage their own programs for harvesting, guardians and community-driven research and monitoring.

The exhibition at CHARS, which is open to the public and will be on view until the end of 2025, tells the story of how SIKU was developed on a framework of self-determination and data sovereignty piloted by the Arctic Eider Society. With stunning imagery and interactive displays, visitors can learn how individual harvesters, as well as communities, use their own language and knowledge systems to document environmental changes and observations in marine and terrestrial ecosystems.

The exhibition is a symbol of the vision that began almost 20 years ago to establish a world-class research facility in the Canadian high Arctic. Polar Knowledge Canada was created in June of 2015 with the Royal Assent of the Canadian High Arctic Research Station Act. CHARS was built over the first five years and is now fully operational, hosting and collaborating with researchers from across Canada and around the world.

The scientific program strives to advance knowledge of ecosystems in the North – terrestrial, freshwater, marine and air – to monitor and understand the effects of changes to the climate in the Arctic, where the earth is warming at a rate four times faster than the rest of the planet. To examine and test sustainable energy technologies and infrastructure solutions and how they work in the extreme Northern environment, in an effort to reduce the use of fossil fuels in the North and the impacts it has on communities and the environment. And to understand the connection between community wellness and environmental health, such as the impact of diseases in animals that are traditionally harvested, as well as to communicate to Northern communities about how to protect themselves when consuming country food with the changes the mammal, fish and bird populations are experiencing.

More about the exhibition: SIKU: The Indigenous Knowledge App

Divided into five sections, the exhibition, includes information panels and testimonials, as well as three videos, two activities for children and a feature presentation of the film People of a Feather.

The first section introduces SIKU including a video The second and third sections delve into the importance of SIKU as a tool for Indigenous self-determination and for sharing Indigenous knowledge. Five project case studies from Nunavut, Nunatsiavut, Nitassinan and Eyou Itshee are featured in more detail. There are also videos about the SIKU Ice Watch and Goose Watch campaigns, which engage users in sharing knowledge about ice conditions and the spring goose migration.

The fourth section zeroes in on projects around Cambridge Bay that use SIKU. One monitors the prevalence of biting insects, and the other is SmartICE, a well-established ice-monitoring program across the Arctic.

The final section delves into the creation of SIKU by the Arctic Eider Society, an Inuit organization in Sanikiluaq, including its use as part of the Qikiqtait Protected Area initiative for the Belcher Islands Archipelago. Visitors can then grab a seat in the Knowledge Centre at CHARS and enjoy the award-winning feature film, People of a Feather, which portrays the unique relationship between Sanikiluaq Inuit and eider ducks.

A comprehensive exhibition about the Inuit of Sanikiluaq, the Arctic Eider Society and the Qikiqtait Protected Area (including the SIKU App) will open September 26 in the Northern Voices Gallery at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa. This exhibition is also presented with the support of Polar Knowledge Canada.

Quotes

"The Arctic is a critical region for Canada. In order to be responsible stewards of the land, the wildlife and the resources, we all must work together to develop and share knowledge and solutions, collectively addressing the impacts of a changing climate and ensuring both an environment and communities that are thriving and healthy."

– The Honourable Rebecca Chartrand, Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs

“Polar Knowledge Canada is a committed to co-developing research with Indigenous communities and Traditional Knowledge-holders and continually consulting and collaborating to focus scientific resources to address the needs of the unique environment in the North and the people who live and thrive in Northern communities. We are so very proud to celebrate the first 10 years of Polar Knowledge Canada and are looking forward to what’s to come. And we are very pleased to host a beautiful exhibition that captures the spirit and the success of scientists and communities working together. And we welcome everyone to CHARS to come and experience it for themselves.”

– Sue Kerr, Acting President and Chief Executive Officer, Polar Knowledge Canada

“This exhibition is a powerful testament to the strength of collaboration and the importance of weaving Indigenous knowledge with scientific research. Through SIKU, we see how technology can honour traditional ways of knowing while empowering communities to lead in environmental stewardship. The Canadian Museum of Nature is proud to partner with Polar Knowledge Canada and with the Arctic Eider Society to support this initiative about SIKU, and to share these stories more widely through this exhibition.”

– Danika Goosney, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Museum of Nature 

“Inuit were talking about climate change when it wasn’t even being mentioned in the scientific community.

"SIKU is part science and part Inuit knowledge. It can work both ways, instead of one dominating the other."

– Lucassie Arragutainaq, Founder/Director, Arctic Eider Society/Sanikiluaq HTA Manager

Quick facts

  • Polar Knowledge Canada is a Government of Canada agency responsible for advancing Canada’s knowledge of the Arctic, strengthening Canadian leadership in polar science and technology and promoting the development and distribution of knowledge of circumpolar regions. Polar Knowledge Canada operates the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS) in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. CHARS is a world-class hub for science and technology in Canada’s North and is a major node in the network of national and international research infrastructure across the circumpolar North.

  • The Canadian Museum of Nature is Canada's national museum of natural history and natural sciences. The museum provides evidence-based insights, inspiring experiences and meaningful engagement with nature's past, present and future. It achieves this through scientific research focused on biological and geological diversity, a scientific collection of more than 15 million specimens, education programs and workshops, signature exhibitions and a dynamic web site, nature.ca.

  • The Arctic Eider Society is an Inuit-led charity based in Sanikiluaq, Nunavut, supporting Indigenous-driven solutions for thriving communities through community-driven research, place-based education and environmental stewardship initiatives. Following the release of the 16x award winning film People of a Feather, the Arctic Eider Society was created by the community of Sanikiluaq to support collaboration among Indigenous communities across jurisdictional boundaries in order to address long-outstanding priorities and cumulative impacts for the region as a whole.

Associated links

Contacts

Polar Knowledge Canada
Email: communications@polar-polaire.gc.ca

Canadian Museum of Nature
Dan Smythe
Head Media Relations
dsmythe@nature.ca
613-698-9253

Arctic Eider Society
Kassina Ryder
Communications Manager
kassina.ryder@arcticeider.com

Page details

Date modified: