The arctic evokes ideas of pristine nature, remoteness, and ice. The complexity of an area inhabited for millennia and larger than either the United States or Canada transcends these perceptions. From the mid-1700s to the early 1900s, a number of explorers-including James Cook, Samuel Hearne, Alexander McKenzie, Roald Amundsen, and John Franklin, among others - sought not only to claim fame as the first to reach the North Pole, but also to lean moire about the Arctic.
Today, eight countries- Canada, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United States- have territory within the Arctic Circle. Eyes of the Arctic focuses on the stories of Americans and Canadians who live within the northernmost reaches of the globe, and underscores the accomplishments of the scientists, researchers, and individuals from both countries who have dedicated their lives to learning bout and planning for the future of this polar regions.
“Although there are various definitions, the Arctic is often described as the area that falls within the Arctic Circle, or the part of Earth’s northern hemisphere that at some point experiences 24 hours of continuous sunlight during the summer and of darkness during the winter.”
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Indigenous peoples inhabited the Arctic long before international borders were putinto place. For millennia, they have lived off the land and preserved it generation aftergeneration. Ingenuity and resilience have allowed them to build strong communities,closely tied to the land, the plants, and the animals that sustain them.
As neighboring Arctic nations, the United States and Canada collaborate in scientific research and expeditions in the Far North. Oftentimes, Inuit facilitate these endeavors by sharing their skills, wisdom, and observations. By exploring the depths of the hidden ocean, studying the ice, and surveying the land from above, Americans and Canadians work together and share resources to provide a greater understanding into the various animals, habitats, and features of the Arctic, as well as a clearer picture of the region’s role in the world.
A number of countries, organizations, and individuals have a direct interest in the Arctic and its future. At the government level, the Arctic Council assembles to discuss international cooperation and to determine policies that concern the region. Universities and colleges in the United States and Canada partner with one another and with research institutions to provide professional and transformative experiences while contributing to the latest scientific findings.
