This week at UArctic Congress 2026 in Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, our director Dine Arnannguaq Fenger Lynge participated in this panel together with long-term collaborators in Northern Indigenous Futures and partners from across the Circumpolar North: Dr. Heather Igloliorte (University of Victoria), Alysa Procida (Arctic Arts Summit), Nivi Christensen (Director of Nuuk art Museum), and Laura Hodgins (Yellowknife Artist Run Community Centre).

The panel explored how Circumpolar Indigenous Peoples can strengthen sovereignty through the arts. The conversation addressed shared challenges across the North, including structural racism rooted in Arctic colonialism, chronic underfunding, geographic remoteness, and limited access to cultural institutions. With increasing pressure from extractive industries and the accelerating climate crisis, the discussion highlighted the urgency of Indigenous-led cultural futures.

The conversation centered on reclaiming control over narratives, resources, and cultural heritage, and on the importance of capacity-building, collaboration, and leadership among emerging Indigenous academics, artists, and arts professionals.

Through ongoing gatherings, exchanges, and collaborations throughout the year, we continue building Indigenous-led networks across Sápmi, Kalaallit Nunaat, and Canada.- grounded in art, duodji, research, curatorial practice, and knowledge-sharing.

At Dáiddadállu, birgejupmi is understood as resilience through relationships - between people, land, language, artistic practice, and future generations.

Giitu / Qujanaq / Thank you to everyone in this growing network and collaboration.