Program Overview

UArctic Assembly Meeting / Inari, Finland /
6-9 June 2025

The program of the UArctic Assembly 2025 includes breakout sessions, Thematic Networks' and new members' presentations together with other program highlights.

The Program-Agenda provides an overview of the Assembly meeting program, including breakout sessions, business meeting sections, and social events. Please note, that minor changes to the program are still possible.

The program is subject to change. Last update: 06.05.2025.

Thursday, June 5, 2025

Arrival of Participants in Inari

Accommodation Options:

Inari Hotel (the discounted rate available June 4 - 10, 2025, promo code: SAKK25)

Wilderness Juutua Hotel (the discounted rate available June 3 - 12, 2025, promo code: Uarctic2025)

Friday, June 6, 2025

UArctic Pre-meetings at SAKK Facilities

07:00 - 08:30	Assembly Officers (Toyon) meeting (Closed, Wilderness Juutua Hotel)
08:30-11:00	Registration open (Sámi Educational Institute) Coffee and tea available through the morning
09:00 - 10:00	Tour of SAKK (Sámi Educational Institute) Welcome by Janne Näkkäläjärvi, Development Director, SAKK In two groups, led by Janne Näkkäläjärvi and Mika Aromäki, Coordinator, SAKK Introduction videos on Sámi culture
10:00 - 12:00	UArctic Pre-meetings (SAKK)
10:00 - 10:30	New Member applicants meeting (Luoppal room; Open; New member applicants, Natalia Nikolaeva, Member Engagement Coordinator and Outi Snellman, UArctic Secretary General)
10:30 - 11:00	Introduction to north2north (Tipšop room; Open, Isabelle Guissard, Vice-President Mobility)
11:00 - 12:00	UArctic Strategic Focus Areas (Neppir room; Open; Lars Kullerud, UArctic President, and Jouko Niinimäki, UArctic Executive Vice-President)
11:00 - 12:00	Building Circumpolar Studies in UArctic (Raidu room; Open, Diane Hirshberg, UArctic Vice-President Academic and Heather Nicol, Lead of the Leara Institute for Circumpolar Studies)
12:00 - 13:45	Lunch at Aanaar Restaurant (Wilderness Juutua Hotel) Regional Centres lunch meeting (invitation only) U.S. and Canadian members lunch meeting (open to all Canadian and U.S. member representatives)
13:30 - 15:00	Registration for UArctic Assembly at Sámi Cultural Center Sajos
14:00	Guided tour of Sajos Presentation on the work of the Sámi Parliament, Tauno Ljetoff, member of Sami Parliament
15:15	Visit to The Sámi Museum and Nature Centre Siida and guided tour Welcome speech by Director Taina Pieski
17:00 - 19:30	Lake Inari Cruise including light snacks (Weather permitting) (Inari Harbour (Siida - Sámi Museum and Nature Center side)

Saturday, June 7, 2025

08:30 - 15:00	Registration and information desk
09:00 - 10:00	Meet UArctic at Sajos (Dolla Auditorium)
10:00 - 10:15	Coffee break
10:15 - 11:20	UArctic Assembly Meeting at Sajos (Dolla Auditorium) 1 Opening of Assembly Presenters: Liisa Holmberg, Assembly Chair Eeva-Liisa Rasmus-Moilanen, Rector of Sámi Education Institute Tauno Ljetoff, member of Sami Parliament Petteri Vuorimäki, Ambassador for Arctic and Antarctic Affairs Tommi Kasurinen, Municipal Director 2 Introduction to meeting rules & Voting Procedures: Validity, rights, proposals & voting procedures Presenter: Janette Peltokorpi, Director of Governance and Finance Support 3 Approval of meeting Agenda and Selection of Examiners Presenter: Liisa Holmberg, Assembly Chair 4 UArctic Reports 4.1 Report from the Board Presenter: Frederik Paulsen, Board Chair 4.2 Report from the President Presenters: Lars Kullerud, President; Jouko Niinimäki, Executive Vice-President
11:20 - 12:20	Lunch at Café-Restaurant Čaiju Congress International Steering Committee lunch meeting (invitation only) Canadian members lunch meeting (open to all Canadian member representatives)
12:20 - 14:00	UArctic Assembly Meeting at Sajos (Dolla Auditorium) 5 UArctic Membership 5.1 Introduction to new member applicants Presenter: Liisa Holmberg, Assembly Chair and representatives of new member applicants
14:00-14:05	Group Photo
14:05 - 14:30	Coffee break
14:30 - 15:30	UArctic Assembly Meeting at Sajos (Dolla Auditorium) 5.2 Approval of new Arctic members of UArctic Presenter: Liisa Holmberg, Assembly Chair 5.3 Approval of new Non-Arctic members of UArctic Presenter: Liisa Holmberg, Assembly Chair 5.4 Removal of UArctic Membership Presenter: Liisa Holmberg, Assembly Chair 6 Election of Board members 6.1 Election of the Board Chair Presenter: Lindsay Whaley, Chair of Nominations Committee 6.2 Election of Board members Presenter: Lindsay Whaley, Chair of Nominations Committee 6.3 Election of Board student representative Presenter: Lindsay Whaley, Chair of Nominations Committee
15:45-19:50	Reindeer Farm Visit (Inari Reindeerfarm, 14 km from Inari) -- two groups, buses leave from Sajos. This excursion includes stops at Näkkäläjärvi Gift Shop and Jäniskoski Rapids, with light refreshments for participants.
20:00	Dinner at Ukko Restaurant (Wilderness Hotel Inari)
21:00-23:00	Concert by Áilu Valle & Mikkâl Morottaja (Amoc) at Ukko Restaurant Bus back to Hotel Inari and Wilderness Juutua Hotel after dinner (around 23:00).

Sunday, June 8

8:30-15:00	Information and Registration Desk at Sajos
09:00 - 10:00	UArctic Assembly Meeting at Sajos (Dolla Auditorium) 7. UArctic Finances 7.1 Approval of Financial Statements and Auditor’s Report 2024 Presenter: Lars Kullerud, President 7.2 Approval of UArctic Annual Report 2024 Presenter: Lars Kullerud, President 7.3 Verification of UArctic Operating Budget Presenter: Lars Kullerud, President 7.4 Approval of UArctic Membership Fees 2026 Presenter: Lars Kullerud, President 8 Plans for the UArctic Congress and Assembly 2026 Presenter: Outi Snellman, Secretary General and representatives of the University of the Faroe Islands
10:00 - 10:30	Coffee break
10:30 - 11:30	UArctic Assembly Meeting at Sajos (Dolla Auditorium) 9 Impact study Presenters: Stephen Heal, member of the President’s Circle; Jouko Niinimäki, Executive Vice-President 10 Breakout session info Presenter: Outi Snellman, Secretary General
11:30 - 12:30	Lunch at Café-Restaurant Čaiju Founders lunch meeting (invitation only)
12:30 - 14:00	Breakout sessions in Sajos (rooms announced before lunch) 10 Breakout sessions UArctic Membership Impact Leads: Stephen Heal, Jouko Niinimäki Small and Northern Members Leads: Sheila Downer, Janne Näkkäläjärvi, Liv Inger Somby UArctic and the Geopolitical Situation Leads: Melody Burkins, Lars Kullerud UArctic Regional Centres Lead: Outi Snellman Improving UArctic member communication: the role of the Assembly representative Leads: Natalia Nikolaeva, Lisa Goulet, Hannele Palviainen Antarctic Research and opportunities for collaboration Lead: Keith Larsen Growing Academic Cooperation across UArctic Leads: Heather Nicol and Diane Hirshberg
14:00 - 14:30	Break + walking back to Sajos
14:30 - 15:30	Breakout session reports at Sajos (Dolla Auditorium)
16:00 - 21:00	Optional Evening Excursion: Sulaoja Nature Trail (Kevo Nature Park). Duration: 4-5 hours. Bus departs from Sajos.
16.00 / 16.45 / 17.45	Optional visit to Paarma Design Shop, sign-in at the registration desk, three groups or more (8 persons / group). Departure from Hotel Inari.
18:00-20:00	Optional Evening dinner buffet at Hotel Inari for those who do not go to Sulaoja Excursion

Monday, June 9

8:30-12:00	Registration and Info Desk at Sajos
09:00 - 10:00	UArctic Assembly Meeting at Sajos (Dolla Auditorium) 11 Endorsement of UArctic Thematic Networks 11.1 Introduction to New Thematic Network Applications Presenter: Heli Niittynen, Manager of Thematic Networks and New Thematic Network Applicants 11.2 Approval of new Thematic Networks 2025 Presenter: Heli Niittynen, Manager of Thematic networks 11.3 Endorsement of provisional Thematic Networks 2024 Presenter: Heli Niittynen, Manager of Thematic networks 12 Approval of Amendment to Bylaws Presenter: Outi Snellman, Secretary General 13 Election of Assembly Secretary Presenter: Lindsay Whaley, Nominations Committee
10:00 - 10:30	Break
10:30-11:00	Project presentations from the host institution (Sajos)
11:00 - 12:00	UArctic Assembly Meeting at Sajos (Dolla Auditorium) 14 Election of Nominations Committee member Presenter: Outi Snellman 15 Invitation to Join the Friends of UArctic Presenter: Outi Snellman 16 Other Business / Announcements 17 Closing
12:00 - 13:00	Lunch at Café-Restaurant Čaiju
13:00 - 20:00	Afternoon Excursions Motorboat Trip to Ravadas Waterfalls (Lemmenjoki River) Paltto Elämysretket Website. Duration: 7 hours Self-Guided Hikes: Otsamo Fell Trail Juutua Trail Tuulijärvi Trail Pielpajärvi Wilderness Church (9 km round trip). Duration: 5 hours
	Departures

UArctic Assembly 2025 Program Overview

UArctic Assembly Meeting / Inari, Finland / 6-9 June 2025

UArctic Assembly 2025
Program Overview

UArctic Assembly Meeting / Inari, Finland /
6-9 June 2025