Stories & Events

Environmental change in the Arctic over recent decades is increasingly at the center of international interest. Local observations and place-based knowledge systems offer fine-grained, nuanced and holistic understanding of the Arctic system and how it is changing over time. By working together, Arctic residents and researchers can contribute to a deeper understanding of the Arctic and the social and environmental changes ongoing in the region. Read about ELOKA research, collaborations, and events.

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Connecting to the land beneath one’s feet: The Tahltan Atlas

ELOKA Spotlight

May 6, 2025

With the support of Tu’dese’cho Wholistic Indigenous Leadership Development (TWILD), co-founder Curtis Rattray created a digital atlas of Tahltan land in British Columbia with the Exchange for Local Observations and Knowledge of the Arctic (ELOKA), a program at NSIDC. The map serves as an interactive way for communities and especially youth to learn ancestral knowledge.

ELOKA planning retreat

ELOKA Event

December 5, 2024

On November 11 and 12, 2024, ELOKA’s Advisory Committee, ELOKA’s core team, and long-term ELOKA partners met to reflect on ELOKA’s successes, areas for growth, and goals for the future.

Colourful and varied nylon nets at Snowchange headquarters

My visit to the Festival of Northern Fishing Traditions in Finland

ELOKA Spotlight

October 16, 2024

Melissa Van Veen, a member of our partner Tu’dese’cho Wholistic Indigenous Leadership Development (TWILD), spent several days in Finland during Snowchange’s Festival of Northern Fishing Traditions. Read more about her experience.

Arctic Observing Summit 2024 group photo

ELOKA at the Arctic Observing Summit in Scotland

ELOKA Event

April 3, 2024

The Exchange for Local Observations and Knowledge of the Arctic (ELOKA) team members Noor Johnson, Tash Haycock-Chavez, Joshua Brown (virtual attendance), and Matt Druckenmiller attended the Arctic Observing Summit (AOS), a biannual meeting focused on Arctic observing, at the end of March in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Indigenous Data Guardians Data Roundtable in Northwest Territories, Canada photo

ELOKA co-hosts Northern Guardians Data Roundtable in Northwest Territories, Canada

ELOKA Event

March 4, 2024

On January 30 and 31, 2024, the Exchange for Local Observations and Knowledge of the Arctic (ELOKA) worked with the Northern Indigenous Stewardship Circle and the Geomatics and Cartographic Research Centre (GCRC) of Carleton University to co-host

ELOKA partners meeting in Fairbanks, Alaska, August 21 to 24, 2023

ELOKA Event

October 4, 2023

The Exchange for Local Observations and Knowledge of the Arctic (ELOKA) works to foster collaboration between Arctic residents and researchers.