Wants to Strengthen Indigenous Health Across the Arctic
Gunn-Britt Retter, Head of the Arctic and Environmental Unit at the Saami Council, believes it is time for a greater focus on Indigenous health challenges in the North. (Photo: Trine Jonassen)
Indigenous organisations in the Arctic are joining forces to establish a new health forum to strengthen cooperation on health challenges in the North. "Indigenous Peoples are always vulnerable to geopolitical challenges," says Gunn Britt Retter of the Saami Council.
Indigenous communities in the Arctic are facing several challenges: long distances to health services, increasing climate impact, a high degree of mental health issues, and a lack of culturally adapted services.
Now, Indigenous organizations in the Arctic are planning to establish a new health forum to gather experts, decision-makers, and Indigenous representatives from across the region. The aim is to strengthen cooperation on health challenges that disproportionately affect Indigenous Peoples.
Indigenous health across the Arctic
"It is very important to view health and Indigenous Peoples from a climate and environment perspective, and that is a challenge we perhaps have not done enough with," says Gunn-Britt Retter, Head of Arctic and Environmental Unit in the Saami Council.
The forum, scheduled to launch in 2026, is being developed by the Saami Council in cooperation with the Arctic Council's Indigenous Peoples' Secretariat and the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC). It will function as a joint arena to highlight health issues in Arctic policy design.
Retter says that the work has already led to a new pan-regional network of health workers.
"When we appointed our health experts, they said it would be useful to discuss across borders. Health issues are linked to individuals, but common features can also be seen across northern regions. It has been very valuable for those who work with this," she explains.
Hard to talk to anyone about anything but the Trump Administration's plans.
Vulnerable to geopolitical challenges
The work takes place amid weakening state-level cooperation in the Arctic. Russia's war against Ukraine and the changed conditions for the Arctic Council have led to delays in several processes.
In addition, the Trump Administration has demanded the Arctic island of Greenland and previously threatened to impose increased tariffs against its European allies.
"At the moment, it is hard to talk to anyone about anything but the Trump Administration's plans. Most have their focus entirely elsewhere," she says.
Rutter reveals that the situation is demanding.
"We have talked about eco-grief. Arctic cooperation also grieves when hurdles such as these come into play. It is sad that cooperation on soft topics has been halted due to geopolitics. Indigenous Peoples are always vulnerable to geopolitical challenges."
"Talking about Arctic Indigenous health may not be at the top of anyone's agenda, other than our own," she adds.
Despite this, the Indigenous organisations have maintained dialogue and cooperation across country borders. Retter hopes the Arctic Frontiers conference in Tromsø, Northern Norway, at the beginning of February can be an arena for more clarity and progress for the project.
