Permafrost Thaw, Infrastructure and Indigenous Communities: Lessons from Alaska

Incubating Minnesota and Manitoba research collaboration: From art galleries to chocolate shops, creative leadership and climate entrepreneurship research supported by the Minneapolis College of Art and Design is bringing Manitoba, Minnesota and Nunavut communities closer together.
Incubating Minnesota and Manitoba research collaboration: From art galleries to chocolate shops, creative leadership and climate entrepreneurship research supported by the Minneapolis College of Art and Design is bringing Manitoba, Minnesota and Nunavut communities closer together. This is an example of climate change and arts research friendshoring.

The Permafrost Pathways Project with the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. will present for Arctic Congress 2024. Part of the Defense Resiliency Platform Against Extreme Cold Weather, this presentation documents the 3-D visualization and measurement of features in the CRREL permafrost tunnel in Fox, Alaska, using a Matterport Pro-3 LiDAR camera.

This exciting presentation, led by Dr. Olaf Kuhlke is part of Session: 2.1.2 Permafrost Thaw, Infrastructure and Indigenous Communities: Lessons from Alaska, will take place on May 31, 2024 from 11:00 to 12:30 in Hall Two at the Fram Cinema. 

The first planning meeting for Niriqatiginnga took place on July 1, 2022 at Chocolatier Constance Popp in St. Boniface, Winnipeg!

The presentation will also connect with other sessions that have been focusing on northern food security like Art Borups Corners, which have been taking place in Winnipeg since 2021. The Permafrost Pathways and Art Borups Corners projects have been collaborating for three years in places ranging from the Qaumajuq to St. Boniface chocolate shops, in Winnipeg Manitoba. The Niriqatiginnga sessions will include presentations from the University of Alaska Fairbanks such as:

Economic consequences of food spoilage in Alaskan rural supply chains by authors: Michael Jones – University of Alaska Anchorage and Genevieve Bostwick – University of Alaska, Anchorage. Their session: 3.5.4 Niriqatiginnga: Fostering Food Security and Innovation for Northern Supply Chains will take place at the Scandic Bodø Hotel – Room: Ambassadør 1, 31/05/2024, 13:30 – 15:00.

As well, the Alaskan and Canadian session will learn from a detailed analysis of seasonally dynamic food price disparities across Alaska. We model these large disparities in absolute and relative terms between Anchorage and remote Alaskan communities, providing key insight for food security and broader geographic cost differential analysis. This disparity underscores the unique economic and logistical challenges faced by remote Alaskan areas.

In summer 2022, established and emerging artists from British Columbia, Northwestern Ontario, Minnesota, Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and Manitoba were able to come together in Winnipeg to learn alongside an inclusive, diverse team of researchers, arts educators and culture sector workers. 
In summer 2022, established and emerging artists from British Columbia, Northwestern Ontario, Minnesota, Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and Manitoba were able to come together in Winnipeg to learn alongside an inclusive, diverse team of researchers, arts educators and culture sector workers. 

With Manitoba, Nunavut, Minnesota and Alaskan projects coming together for Arctic Congress 2024, there are many calls for enhancing collaboration with these world-class participatory and climate change adaptation initiatives.

To register for the 2024 Arctic Congress, visit their web site at: https://arcticcongress.com

Picture of Art Borups Corners

Art Borups Corners

Nestled in the heart of Melgund Township, Northwestern Ontario, Art Borups Corners is a dynamic participatory arts collective and living lab, where innovation and creativity thrive. The program was founded in 2014, with an arts incubator established in 2021 and 2022 with funding and support from the Canada Council for the Arts Digital Greenhouse. Today, working with students and faculty from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, we fuse traditional and participatory media arts with artificial intelligence, music, storytelling and community-driven, land-based artist residencies to cultivate new voices and bold ideas. Whether through collaborative projects or immersive experiences, our small but vibrant community supports creators to explore, experiment, and connect. Join us at the intersection of artistry, technology, culture and community—where every moment is a new opportunity to create.

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