Healthy Arctic Communities

The healthcare systems of the five Arctic states are all well-developed, and yet many of their Arctic Indigenous communities face significant gaps in their health infrastructure. Due to the remote nature of most Arctic communities and inadequate funding from national governments, it is often difficult to access necessary healthcare, resulting in high infant mortality rates and increasing rates of suicide among indigenous youth. A history of colonialism in many of these regions has resulted in a lack of trust in national governments and healthcare workers, which in turn impacts the health of indigenous communities. In addition, the lack of sufficient internet access limits the ability to address community needs like infant health, mental health, and rebuilding trust with the government.

Many of the things we take for granted, like trust in a healthcare practitioner; wide spread internet access; easily accessible birthing centers or hospitals; and sufficient mental health support, are not realities for Arctic indigenous communities. While this is due in part to the remote nature of these regions, there are also major gaps in support from the governments of Arctic states. In order to address these issues, it is critical to learn more about the solutions and find ways to make a significant change.

We encourage you to take the time to learn more about the issue of indigenous health in the Arctic. To do a deep dive into more specific issues, check out the Arctic Issues and Policy Ideas page to learn more about infant healthinternet access, rebuilding trust in the healthcare system, and mental health in the Arctic.

If this topic piques your interest and you are inclined to learn more, check out our How to Learn More page for a list of helpful links and resources. If you now have a desire to get involved or help in any way, head over to our How to Get Involved in Arctic Policy page.

We will be using some words that may seem unfamiliar throughout this website. Should you come across a word you don’t understand, please visit our important terms page.

Any involvement, whether it be learning about the issues, taking time to educate others, donating to various funds, or reaching out to elected officials, makes a difference. We appreciate your support!