In the vast expanse of the Arctic, the U.S. Coast Guard confronts an urgent challenge: how to check and manage the rapidly changing maritime domain while respecting the rights and knowledge of its indigenous communities.1 There is potential to integrate indigenous knowledge into Coast Guard operations, using technology and collaboration to achieve more comprehensive maritime domain awareness while safeguarding the Arctic’s ecosystems and cultures.
Untapped Wisdom
Indigenous communities, having thrived in the Arctic for generations, have a deep understanding of the region’s ecological nuances. Indigenous ecological knowledge is a repository of lived experience, a living document passed down through the oral tradition and daily interactions with the land and sea. It encompasses ice conditions, animal behavior, weather patterns, and a host of factors critical to maritime operations. Consider, for example, indigenous hunters’ ability to read subtle signs in the ice to predict its stability. This skill, honed over centuries, is invaluable in guiding safe navigation through treacherous ice drifts.
By recognizing and incorporating indigenous knowledge, the Coast Guard could not only enhance its operational effectiveness, but also honor the custodians of this knowledge. It would be a step toward a more inclusive approach to maritime operations that acknowledges the importance of traditional wisdom as well as modern expertise.
Tradition + Innovation
While indigenous ecological knowledge is a treasure trove of regional insight, it could be even more valuable coupled with modern technology. Satellite imagery, for example, offers a bird’s-eye view of ice formations and wildlife patterns that can corroborate indigenous observations. This would extend the reach of observation beyond what is visible from the ground.
Data analytics can distill vast amounts of information into actionable insights. Imagine a team that could analyze indigenous hunters’ reports on animal migration patterns alongside satellite imagery to predict potential areas of human-animal interaction. This would enhance safety for both indigenous communities and Coast Guard personnel.
Predicting ice movements, identifying hazardous conditions, and refining weather forecasts are essential components of maritime safety and operational success in the region. A system that combined indigenous knowledge of the thickness and stability of sea ice with satellite data on its movements could provide early warnings on areas prone to rapid ice shifts, enabling safer navigation and more effective planning for Coast Guard operations.
In the context of search-and-rescue missions, indigenous knowledge of the area and environmental conditions could improve response times and success rates.
Build Partnerships
The success of such an endeavor hinges on respectful partnerships. Recognizing indigenous sovereignty and the indigenous communities’ contributions and perspectives is paramount.2 Joint training programs and knowledge exchange initiatives could create a bridge between traditional wisdom and contemporary methodologies, transforming the relationship between the Coast Guard and indigenous communities from one of consultation to genuine collaboration.
Engaging with indigenous communities is an investment in mutual understanding and trust. Such collaborations could extend beyond operational considerations to encompass broader issues, including environmental protection, cultural preservation, and community well-being. The Coast Guard could become not only a guardian of the Arctic, but also a steward of its values and heritage.
Language, stories, and rituals hold profound significance for indigenous communities. Weaving these elements into Coast Guard operations would demonstrate a commitment to the preservation of Arctic cultural diversity. Language, for example, is a carrier of unique perspectives and ways of understanding the natural world.3 Incorporating indigenous languages in operational protocols and communication when appropriate reinforces the idea that diversity is not just a checkbox, but a part of effective maritime governance.
The Path Forward
The first step in this effort is respecting indigenous communities’ right to control access to their knowledge. This is done by crafting policies that treat traditional knowledge not as a commodity, but as part of revered heritage, and by establishing mechanisms for obtaining free, prior, and informed consent for its use.4
The Coast Guard should prioritize training programs that facilitate the exchange of knowledge between its personnel and indigenous communities. This could include cultural sensitivity training to foster an environment of genuine understanding.
The service also should consider providing financial and logistical support for indigenous-led initiatives, such as community-driven research projects, knowledge-sharing platforms, and mechanisms for reciprocal learning.
The culmination of these efforts would be the incorporation of indigenous perspectives in decision-making at all levels of Coast Guard operations. Indigenous representation on advisory boards, joint operational planning sessions, and policy discussions could ensure the Coast Guard would benefit not just from traditional knowledge, but also from diverse viewpoints that could enhance its resilience and adaptability.
By pairing indigenous knowledge with modern infrastructure, the Coast Guard could establish a new paradigm of inclusivity, environmental stewardship, and operational excellence in the Arctic. The strength of the U.S. Sea Services lies not just in their warfighting capabilities or technological advances, but also in the ways they embrace the United States’ rich diversity of knowledge. The Arctic, with its challenges and opportunities, is a stage for a new era of maritime governance, in which tradition and innovation can coexist for the betterment of both the environment and its people.
1. World Wildlife Fund, “Arctic Connected: The Arctic’s Indigenous Communities Under Threat,” arcticwwf.org, 19 December 2022.
2. “What Is: Indigenous Sovereignty and Tribal Sovereignty,” Indigenous Environmental Network, ienearth.org; and Urban Native Collective, “Indigenous Sovereignty: Understanding and Advocacy,” urbannativecollective.org.
3. U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs, “Why Indigenous Languages Matter: The International Decade on Indigenous Languages 2022–2032,” UN.org, 10 February 2023.
4. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, “Indigenous Peoples: Free, Prior and Informed Consent,” www.fao.org; and Institute for Human Rights and Business, “What Is Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC)?” ihrb.org, 13 December 2022.
