Indigenous women in the Circumpolar North face significant disparities in maternal and child health, shaped by colonial legacies, geographic isolation, and systemic inequities. The Circumpolar Maternal and Child Health (CMCH) working group was formed under the International Union for Circumpolar Health and UArctic’s Thematic Network on Health and Well-being to address these challenges. The group promotes culturally grounded, community-informed approaches to maternal and child health across Arctic regions.
Purpose
This project aims to make Indigenous knowledge and research on maternal and child health more accessible across the Arctic. Through a podcast series and participation in international conferences, the project seeks to amplify community voices, share best practices, and promote culturally informed care. It also supports collaboration among researchers, practitioners, and Indigenous knowledge holders to strengthen values-based health services in circumpolar regions.
Method
The project combines in-person collaboration and digital storytelling. It includes monthly partner meetings, participation in the ICARP IV conference, and the production of a podcast series featuring Indigenous and non-Indigenous voices. Recordings took place in Yellowknife, Nuuk, and Copenhagen, with seven episodes completed. The podcast will be launched at the 12th NUNAMED conference in 2025 and distributed across Arctic regions. The project also involves ongoing communication planning, publication efforts, and future podcast development to include additional regional perspectives.
Project period
June 2023 – March 2026
October 2025 – Launch of the podcast at the NunaMed Greenlandic Health conference
Collaboration and Funding
Ilisimatusarfik – University of Greenland (Nuuk, Greenland)
Institute for Circumpolar Health Research (Yellowknife, NWT, Canada)
University of Alberta (Canada)
UiT – The Arctic University of Norway (Tromsø, Norway)
NAPA – The Nordic Institute in Greenland