🇬🇱 🇨🇦 Kingdom of Denmark endorses north-to-north expedition by Students on Ice Foundation
The 2026 North-to-North Expedition is a multilateral ship-based expedition that brings together around 100 youth, Indigenous Knowledge Holders, scientists, and educators from across Canada, the Nordic region, and beyond. The expedition, organized by the Students on Ice Foundation (SOI) in partnership with the Nordic Council of Ministers and Global Affairs Canada, is endorsed by the Kingdom of Denmark’s Chairship of the Arctic Council.
“The Kingdom of Denmark’s Chairship of the Arctic Council has endorsed this year’s Students on Ice expedition because we believe it reflects the Arctic Council’s core values of cooperation, knowledge-sharing, and commitment to the Arctic’s future,” said Kenneth Høegh, Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials, Arctic Council. “By bringing together Indigenous Peoples, youth, scientists, and experts, combined with visits to communities in Kalaallit Nunaat/Greenland and Nunavut, the expedition strengthens partnerships needed to address challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss. As the Arctic Council marks its 30th anniversary, the North-to-North expedition highlights the power of collaboration across generations and borders.”
The 2026 North-to-North Expedition celebrates the 30th anniversaries of the Arctic Council and the Nordic Arctic Programme of the Nordic Council of Ministers by bringing together youth and leaders to strengthen cooperation across the Arctic through learning, dialogue, and relationship building. By connecting diverse global youth with elders, educators, scientists, artists, and policy leaders, the expedition will help advance understanding of Arctic policy and governance, climate change, biodiversity, sustainable development, and healthy, vibrant communities.
“We are honored to welcome two of the Arctic’s most important policy bodies as partners for our 2026 North-to-North Expedition,” said SOI founder Geoff Green. “Their leadership in fostering international cooperation, science, and sustainability in the Arctic will help create a powerful and dynamic learning environment for youth. Together, we are investing in ideas, dialogue, understanding, and the next generation of Arctic leaders.”
The expedition will take place from 10-22 July, starting from Nuuk, Greenland and concluding in Iqaluit, Nunavut. The expedition will sail aboard the ice-class vessel, MV Ocean Nova, and is endorsed by the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.
Several of those will be participating in their capacity of the Arctic Council. Gunn-Britt Retter of the Saami Council, Camilla Aviaja of the Arctic Council’s Sustainable Development Working Group, and Kenneth Høegh, Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials, will be participating as educators on board.
More information can be found here: https://soifoundation.org/en/youth/expeditions/nn26-expedition/
Originally published on June 29, 2026 by the Arctic Council.
