Canadian UArctic Northern Members Strengthen Collaboration at Workshop St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada | February 2026
In February 2026, Canadian Northern members of UArctic met in St. John’s to strengthen collaboration, advance Indigenous-led and community-driven education and research, and develop joint initiatives addressing shared Northern priorities, such as food security, land-based learning, governance, and Arctic security.
Representatives from Northern member institutions of the University of the Arctic (UArctic) gathered at the Marine Institute of Memorial University in St. John’s last week for a Northern Member’s Network meeting and workshop focused on strengthening relationships, sharing institutional priorities, and advancing collaborative initiatives across the North.
The meeting brought together institutions from across Northern Canada and the circumpolar region (including Yukon University, Aurora College, Nunavut Arctic College, College Nordique, University College of the North, and Labrador Campus, Memorial University) as part of an ongoing commitment to enhance Indigenous and Northern leadership and perspectives in education, research, and community engagement. Participants shared updates on their current programs and explored opportunities to work together on initiatives aligned with shared Northern priorities.
A central theme throughout the discussions was the importance of community-driven, Indigenous-led education and research. Institutions highlighted initiatives grounded in Indigenous knowledge, including land-based learning programs, language revitalization efforts, and community-developed research agendas that reflect local needs and priorities.
While participants celebrated significant progress in building research capacity and community-based programming, they also acknowledged common challenges, including limited capacity, infrastructure constraints, and the need for improved coordination and information-sharing mechanisms.
Importantly, the meeting marked a step forward in developing a shared plan for future collaboration. Participants agreed to work together in the coming months to develop joint initiatives focused on priority areas such as Northern food security, Indigenous knowledge and land-based education, research governance, and Arctic security.
The Canadian Northern Member’s Network continues to play an important engagement role within UArctic by connecting institutions, strengthening Northern voices, and supporting collaborative approaches that advance education and research for the North, by the North, and about the North.
The St. John’s workshop reflects the growing momentum among Northern UArctic members and their shared commitment to working together to support strong, resilient, and self-determined Northern communities.