Addressing Power Imbalances in Arctic Research: Moving from Awareness to Action

Power dynamics in Arctic research are real.
They are not accidents, and they are not neutral.
They are the result of histories—and ongoing realities—of colonialism, extractive research practices, and systemic inequities in science, funding, and policy.

If we want to build truly equitable, respectful research relationships with Indigenous communities in the Arctic, we must first be willing to see these power dynamics clearly, acknowledge where we stand within them, and commit to moving differently.

These ideas were first shared with our EAR community through a series of emails. We’ve gathered and expanded them here into one place, offering a lasting resource for those committed to addressing power imbalances and practicing cultural humility in Arctic research.

This is not theoretical work for us. It is personal.
We have both experienced how power imbalances shape the way Arctic research unfolds—not just in formal settings like grant reviews or publications, but in everyday conversations, opportunities, and relationships.
And we have seen how even well-intentioned researchers can unintentionally reinforce hierarchies unless they move carefully, with humility.

Recognizing and addressing these power imbalances is not a new call.

It is a perennial issue—one that our father, Caleb Lumen Pungowiyi, and his colleagues in Arctic Indigenous advocacy have been raising since at least the 1980s, and well before.

In 1990, the first Principles for Conducting Research in the Arctic were published by the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC). These early principles highlighted “the need to promote mutual respect and communication between scientists and northern residents”—an acknowledgment that inequities in Arctic research needed to be actively addressed, not ignored.

That work continues today.
In 2023, Cana contributed to the reimagining and rebranding of these guidelines into the SHARE Principles for conducting research in the Arctic. (Fun fact: Cana’s eldest child, Dylan Paisaq Itchuaqiyaq [Crosby], a graphic designer working in Alaska, designed the SHARE logo!)

These efforts across generations reflect a simple truth:

Respect, equity, and community leadership must be at the center of Arctic research—not as a new idea, but as a returning commitment.

If we want to build truly equitable, respectful research relationships with Indigenous communities in the Arctic, we must first be willing to see these power dynamics clearly, acknowledge where we stand within them, and commit to moving differently.

Why Naming Power Matters

You cannot address something you refuse to name.

One of the first and hardest steps in practicing equitable Arctic research is acknowledging that as researchers—especially those coming from outside communities—we often hold positions of power that we did not “earn” through community relationships.

Power shows up in many forms:

• Institutional affiliation and credentials.

• Access to funding streams and publication platforms.

• Control over research questions, timelines, and outputs.

• The ability to extract stories, knowledge, and labor under the guise of “data collection.”

We remember times when people arrived in our home community of Kotzebue without introducing themselves beyond their honorifics. They would lead with “I’m Dr. So-and-So,” as if that credential—Doctor—alone should grant them trust.

But in our communities, trust is not built by degrees. It’s built by relationships, accountability, and humility.

Pretending these dynamics don’t exist doesn’t make them go away. It only deepens distrust.
Naming the imbalance is the beginning of earning trust.

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Five Principles for Addressing Power Dynamics in Arctic Research

1. Acknowledge the Power You Hold

It’s not comfortable to admit that you may have more access to education, financial resources, or social capital than the people you are working with.

But refusing to acknowledge it only widens the gap.

We have seen researchers become defensive when Indigenous community members questioned the benefits of a project or asked for clarity about ownership of data.

Instead of meeting those questions with humility, some researchers reacted as if their authority was being challenged—and closed off conversation entirely.

True humility begins by saying:

“I recognize that I come from a place of privilege. I am committed to not letting that privilege harm or silence the people I work with.”

Acknowledging privilege doesn’t make you less of a researcher.
It makes you more accountable—and more trustworthy.

2. Trusting Relationships Help Address Power Imbalances

Trust is not granted by degrees or institutions.
Trust is built—slowly, carefully—through cultural humility, respect, and consistency.

When Corina works with outside researchers visiting Kotzebue, she often notices the difference between those who come willing to listen versus those who come assuming they already know what matters.
The ones who build lasting relationships are the ones who show up for community events—basketball tournaments, bake sales, cultural happenings—and who pay attention to and learn from the rhythms of Arctic community life, not just research protocols. When the community sees you showing up and caring about their lives, it is a method of sharing power with them through building relationships based on trust.

In Arctic research relationships:

• Listen more than you talk.

• Welcome perspectives that challenge your own.

• Let community members shape your understanding, not just your methods.

Humility isn’t self-deprecation. It’s an active choice to prioritize community voices, needs, and ways of knowing over your own agendas.

Hot Tip: Approach every interaction with the question: “What can I learn here?” instead of “What can I get here?”

3. Be Approachable, Not Extractive

People are far more willing to share their stories, experiences, and knowledge when they feel you see them as human beings—not just as “informants” or “participants.”

One small but powerful example:
When Cana first began working in her home community after years of living “outside,” she made it a point to reconnect first through personal relationships. Sitting at kitchen tables. Visiting camps. Listening to Elders share their experiences of changing times.
These conversations weren’t “data collection.” They were relationships.
And through them, doors to deeper, more meaningful partnerships opened naturally.

Relationship-building isn’t extra work. It is the work if you’re committed to equitable Arctic research.

4. Be Aware of Your Biases

Every researcher, no matter how well-intentioned, carries biases shaped by their upbringing, education, and cultural context.

Biases can:

• Influence which voices you believe or dismiss.

• Shape what you notice and what you overlook.

• Affect how you interpret data, actions, and relationships.

We have seen Arctic research proposals where community knowledge is treated as “anecdotal” while institutionalized scientific measurements are treated as “objective truth.”
This is a clear bias—and it undercuts the validity and richness of Indigenous Knowledge systems.

If you are unaware of your own biases, they will lead you.
If you are willing to examine them, you can move with greater responsibility and care.

Hot Tip: When you feel discomfort, pause. Discomfort is often a signal that your assumptions are being challenged—and that growth is possible.

5. Move Toward Collective Action

Understanding and addressing power imbalances and dynamics isn’t a one-time checklist.
It’s a continuous commitment that demands reflection, action, and accountability.

Some ways to move forward include:

• Incorporating Indigenous Knowledge and leadership from the earliest stages of research planning.

• Supporting Indigenous-led research initiatives rather than trying to “lead” all projects yourself.

• Prioritizing consent, data sovereignty, and long-term benefit for communities.

• Advocating for systemic changes in funding, publication, and academic recognition structures.

• Measuring success by relational trust and collective outcomes—not just by personal career advancement.

None of this is “extra work.”
It is the real work of moving research toward equity.

Remembering Forward

Addressing power imbalances is not about guilt—it is about responsibility.
It is about choosing again and again to act with humility, relational accountability, and a deep commitment to honoring the people and places you work with.

When we:

• Name power dynamics,

• Move with humility,

• Prioritize Indigenous sovereignty,

• And commit to collective action,

we build a future where Arctic research strengthens communities rather than extracting from them.

We build a future where research is not about taking knowledge away, but about standing with communities in the work they define.

Learn More: Strengthen Your Community Engagement Practice

If you’re looking to deepen your skills in effective community engagement, we invite you to explore our online, on-demand course: Effective Community Engagement in Arctic Research.

Learn practical strategies rooted in Indigenous perspectives, real-world experience, and a commitment to building partnerships that endure beyond the project timeline.

👉 Learn more about the course here.