The Earth Elders in Reykjavík: Indigenous Leadership in a Changing Arctic

Written by Mindahi Bastida, Guadian of the Otomi-Toltec Tradition, Founder and Convenor of The Earth Elders

(Ariel view of Crater in Icelandic Landscape. Photography by Gylfi Gylfason)

Masaaki Nagai and Mindahi Bastida represented The Earth Elders in Reykjavík from 8–10 October at the 2026 Arctic Circle Assembly. The gathering brought Indigenous communities, scientists, governments and organisations together to discuss the future of a region where climate change is transforming environments and livelihoods.

For Arctic Indigenous Peoples, these changes are experienced through daily relationships with land, ice, water and wildlife. Sea ice supports ecosystems, food sources and cultural life. Its changing extent and seasonal timing affect communities whose knowledge and livelihoods depend on the ocean. The latest Arctic Report Card from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recorded the lowest winter sea ice maximum in the satellite record in March 2025, against a longer trend towards younger, thinner ice.

(Masaaki Nagai speaking at the Arctic Circle Assembly. Photography provided by Masaaki Nagai)

Indigenous climate perspectives bring close observation across generations to these challenges. Harvesters recognise changes in animal behaviour and seasonal timing; Elders hold knowledge of winds, weather patterns, fish stocks, currents and ecological relationships. This knowledge helps communities interpret environmental change and decide how to respond.

(Volcanic eruption and lava flow in Reykjavík. Photography by Mindahi Bastida)

On St. Paul Island in Alaska’s Bering Sea, the Indigenous Sentinels Network offers a practical example. Founded and led by the Aleut Community’s Tribal Government, it supports observations of weather, wildlife and environmental conditions. Traditional Knowledge works alongside scientific tools, with communities retaining control of their data and guiding research priorities. Its work includes monitoring coastal erosion and assessing the safety of traditional foods.

(Masaaki and Mindahi by Arctic Waterfall in Reykjavík. Photography provided by Mindahi Bastida)

These questions of knowledge, authority and responsibility were reflected in this year’s Assembly programme, which included an “Indigenous & Expert Assessment of Climate Intervention” session. Its inclusion highlighted the importance of Indigenous participation in assessing proposed responses to climate change.

News from the gathering also revealed the growing overlap between climate, science and geopolitics. European Commissioner Jozef Síkela called for faster climate action and investment that benefits Arctic people, while the closing plenary, “Science in the Play of Power and Politics,” examined science’s role in guiding Arctic decisions. The potential collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) was elevated by the Icelandic government to the level of a national security crisis.

For The Earth Elders, Masaaki and Mindahi’s presence connects our work with these urgent Arctic conversations. As international attention turns towards northern resources, shipping and security, Indigenous rights, nature, and leadership must remain central.

The challenge is to support responses shaped by the peoples who live there: respecting their knowledge, strengthening their ability to care for their territories, and ensuring that climate action sustains both ecosystems and cultural continuity for generations to come. The Earth Elders Arctic representative is Gwitchin Elder, Cindy Dickson. 

For more information, ways to support or be involved email us at comms@theearthelders.org