From Community Co-operation to Planning Preferable Futures for the Arctic Region

At the beginning of 2025, I had the opportunity to apply for an academic excursion just as I had started working as a project employee in the Cap-Share project at the University of Lapland. I was asked if I would be interested in participating in the selection process for an academic excursion that would take me from Greenland through the Canadian Arctic all the way to the southern coast of Alaska. The excursion, organised by the University of Tromsø, is called Arctic Future Pathfinders – A Journey Through the Northwest Passage. The studies conducted during the excursion focus on environmental changes in the Arctic and their socio-economic impacts from a multidisciplinary perspective. Participants develop both probable and preferable future scenarios for the Arctic region. The journey was planned to take place aboard a sailing ship, although at that time, the duration and full scope of the excursion were still unclear to me.

Thoughts of a sailing ship in the Arctic brought to mind old photographs from books featuring Ernest Shackleton sailing to Antarctica aboard the Endurance, and the voyages of Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, the first to navigate the Northwest Passage. Without much deliberation or concern for the unknown, I replied simply, “Yes, I’m interested.” I assumed the chances of being selected were relatively low, but the idea of experiencing Northern Canada and Alaska was incredibly appealing.

The first months in my new job during the winter of 2025 were filled with themes of Arctic futures, planning an international collaboration seminar for the project, and organising a session for the Arctic Spirit conference. As winter began to fade and spring inevitably approached, I received the news: I had been selected to participate in the Arctic Future Pathfinders study trip. The idea of traveling along the Northwest Passage felt surreal—I could already picture myself on the deck of the ship, wondering what I would encounter along the way. The journey would take place aboard the s/s Statsraad Lehmkuhl, a sailing ship that has crossed seas for over 100 years. I imagined what it would be like to sail aboard a steel-hulled, three-masted ship built in 1914, following in Roald Amundsen’s footsteps.

The Arctic Future Pathfinders route begins in Greenland before heading toward the Canadian Arctic Archipelago and continuing to the United States along the Alaskan coast. Participants were divided into two groups: Group 1 would sail the leg from Nuuk, Greenland to Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, Canada. Group 2, which I would be a part of, would travel from Cambridge Bay, Canada to Anchorage, Alaska, USA. The route follows the Northwest Passage and transitions through the Bering Strait to trace the Alaskan coastline to the small town of Whittier. Anchorage, the final destination, lacks a deep-water port, so we would travel there by land from Whittier. Whittier is known for its large apartment building where nearly all of its residents live. The building also houses essential services such as a school, a store, and a post office. The only land route to Whittier passes through a tunnel under Maynard Mountain.

The mountains and nature of Northern Canada and Alaska have been a dream destination of mine since childhood. I felt incredibly fortunate that my academic excursion would take place in these landscapes. Preparing for the journey required each participant to complete a long list of individual tasks, including vaccination certificates, a certificate from a maritime doctor, and travel permits such as a visa. The U.S. visa application is submitted online, followed by a visa interview. The interview at the U.S. Embassy in Helsinki, Finland was an interesting experience. Entry requirements for Canada, on the other hand, can be completed online in as little as 30 minutes.

One exciting detail revealed in the packing list was the ship’s accommodation: we would sleep in hammocks in a large hall with about 60 other participants. Although the hall is heated, it may be chilly at night. I had anticipated the voyage to be a traditional sailing experience with ship duties, watch shifts, and sail handling—but sleeping in a hammock was a pleasant bonus.

By summer, I had acquired the necessary items from the packing list, and my gear was ready. Group 1 had departed from Nuuk on 5 August 2025, and was already sailing toward Cambridge Bay. However, as August progressed, gray clouds gathered on the horizon of the study trip: the route of the Statsraad Lehmkuhl was changed.

We received a message from the ship stating that ice conditions made sailing through the Northwest Passage too dangerous, and the vessel would instead head toward Bermuda and the Panama Canal. Soon after, we received further updates from Tromsø: the excursion would still take place, but it would be conducted on land. We would travel from our home cities to Edmonton on 26 August, and from there fly to Cambridge Bay at the end of August. We would spend approximately a week in field conditions in Cambridge Bay and travel to Anchorage in early September. The planned return home is scheduled for mid-September.

As I write this blog post, there is only one day left until departure for Northern Canada. Despite the changes, the atmosphere is exciting and full of anticipation—I will experience many new things, and the journey will surely be unforgettable. This time, however, no wetsuit was needed. Reflecting on the connections between Arctic Future Pathfinders and the Cap-Share project, I can conclude with the following: Biodiversity is not only about the diversity of nature, but also about strengthening the bonds between people and places. When students, researchers, and communities from across the Arctic—from Northern Finland to Anchorage—share their experiences and learn from one another during this upcoming journey, new perspectives and hope emerge. Together, we can influence the future of the Arctic region.

Heikki Tiilikka, Junior Researcher, University of Lapland, CAP-SHARE