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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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.

Sitting at the feet of Chevak Elders: Video stories for the Nunaput Atlas

ELOKA Spotlight

August 3, 2023

In November 2022, videography experts from the organization See Stories taught videomaking skills to a classroom of Chevak sixth graders in Alaska. Fifteen short videos will eventually make it the online Nunaput Atlas, which NSIDC's Exchange for Local Observations and Knowledge of the Arctic (ELOKA) program helped create.

observers and team gather at Observer Meeting in November 2022

Weaving a web of knowledge: Supporting observers of the Arctic

ELOKA Spotlight

May 22, 2023

Working with Indigenous communities takes time, resources, and patience, but a shift is needed in science to include community voices and observations to widen and deepen our collective breadth of knowledge. The Exchange for Local Observations and Knowledge of the Arctic (ELOKA), a NSIDC program, continues to collaborate with the Alaska Arctic Observatory and Knowledge Hub (AAOKH) to support an online community-led observational data hub.

ELOKA partner meeting

ELOKA Event

January 30, 2023

On December 6 and 7, 2022, ELOKA met with partners at the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage, Alaska, to make plans for partner involvement in ELOKA’s work through the end of the current National Science Foundation (NSF) award in early 2026.

Noor Johnson and Tash Haycock-Chavez explore Yellowknife under cotton candy sunset skies.

ELOKA team is growing

ELOKA Update

January 23, 2023

The ELOKA team is growing! In the fall of 2022, we added two new positions to our team: an outreach and network manager and postdoctoral researcher.

ELOKA intern, Benjamin Brown in Healy Alaska 2021

ELOKA opens doors: A profile of an intern

ELOKA Spotlight

October 17, 2022

Under the ELOKA program, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), principal investigators Noor Johnson and Matthew Druckenmiller recognized the potential to train and build the capacity of students.