publication – Alaska Arctic Observatory & Knowledge Hub

AAOKH Indigenous Knowledge and observations improve Arctic Ocean model skill and relevance

By donnahauser | September 22, 2026

Diagram illustrating collaboration between observers and modelers. The inner circle represents the core practices that enable respectful and effective collaboration, including cultural learning, self-reflection, and knowledge exchanges that create safe spaces for dialogue and mutual understanding. The outer circle shows how Indigenous observations and model-based insights inform one another: place-based Indigenous observations ground model results in lived experience, while the model offers broader spatial and temporal perspectives that connect local and pan-Arctic processes. Through this iterative exchange, Indigenous Knowledge and observations enhance the model’s relevance and accuracy, and the model in turn supports decision-making and stewardship at both community and regional scales.

For the past two years, AAOKH observers have been sharing their observations and knowledge of sea ice, ocean conditions, and marine life with the Arctic Ocean modeling team at UAF’s International Arctic Research Center, and that knowledge has been used to check and improve their computer model. Here’s what they found: the model got something…

Winter 2026 Newsletter

By Krista Heeringa | February 23, 2026

We are excited to share our latest edition of AAOKH News! In this issue Bobby Schaeffer offers his observation and reflection of ex-typhoon Halong alongside Rick Thoman’s weather and climate highlights. We highlight results from graduate student Meaghan Conner research exploring spotted seal haulout behavior near Utqiaġvik and introduction to one of our new collaborations…

Winter 2025 AAOKH newsletter

By Krista Heeringa | February 4, 2025

Sunset on beach with ice wall and sea ice.

We are excited to share the Winter 2025 edition of AAOKH News, from the Alaska Arctic Observatory & Knowledge Hub (AAOKH). Highlights in this additional include:

Trails to the Whale: a new book documenting nearly 20 years of mapping sea ice trails near Utqiaġvik, Alaska

By donnahauser | December 6, 2024

Cover of "Trails to the Whale" with image of skin boat on lead edge.

Each spring, Iñupiat hunters route and build trails across the shorefast sea ice off Utqiaġvik, Alaska to access hunting sites along the lead edge as they pursue the bowhead whale during its spring migration to the Beaufort Sea. Since 2007, an ongoing collaboration between whalers, scientists, and local organizations have worked together to map and…

Summer 2024 Newsletter

By tuurraq | July 29, 2024

We are excited to share the latest edition of AAOKH News, from the Alaska Arctic Observatory & Knowledge Hub (AAOKH). This Summer 2024 newsletter is being mailed in print to all mailbox-holders in AAOKH communities. Another packed edition with exciting updates, highlights include:

Winter 2024 AAOKH newsletter

By donnahauser | January 26, 2024

We are excited to share the Winter 2024 edition of AAOKH News, from the Alaska Arctic Observatory & Knowledge Hub (AAOKH). Another jam-packed edition, highlights include: And you can always track the latest observations on our Facebook page.

New children’s book Natchiq Grows Up weaves Indigenous Knowledge, Iñupiaq terms, & scientific findings about ringed seals

By donnahauser | December 20, 2023

Photo of book cover "Natchiq Grows Up" by Donna Hauser.

A new children’s book, Natchiq Grows Up: The Story of a Ringed Seal Pup and Her Changing Home, was released in December 2023. Check out this cute little seal pup, Natchiq, and her story of growing up in her snow cave (or “lair”) on the sea ice in northern Alaska with her mom Siku. Indigenous…

AAOKH puts Indigenous perspectives front and center in essay for the international Arctic Report Card

By donnahauser | December 14, 2023

AAOKH contributed to the international 2023 Arctic Report Card supported by the US National Oceanographic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In our essay “Nunaaqqit Savaqatigivlugich: Working with communities to observe the Arctic”, AAOKH Project Coordinator and Commuity Liaison Roberta Tuurraq Glenn-Borade took the lead to describe environmental changes reported by observers, impacts to their communities and…

Hot off the press: check out our Winter 2023 newsletter!

By donnahauser | February 21, 2023

Polar bear walking through water with seagulls in front.

We are excited to share the latest edition of AAOKH News, from the Alaska Arctic Observatory & Knowledge Hub (AAOKH). This will be sent in print to all mailbox-holders in AAOKH communities, but you can read it online here! This edition is jam-packed, featuring summaries of:

Explore our new StoryMap to learn about Arctic change from the perspective of AAOKH observers

By donnahauser | August 5, 2022

Billy Adams standing on sea ice during sunset.

Announcing the launch of a new online product sharing ‘Insights from Coastal Arctic Indigenous observers,’ expertly curated by Roberta Tuurraq Glenn as part of her M.S. degree at University of Alaska Fairbanks. As explained in the StoryMap: “Community-based observations from AAOKH observers offer insight into the impacts of rapid Arctic environmental change from a local…