OceanWise

Purpose

Ikaarvik: Barriers to Bridges is a program that is based in Pond Inlet, Nunavut, and administered by the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre. Ikaarvik’s mandate is to work with Arctic youth to be the bridge between research and their communities. In the process, youth develop the capacity, confidence and skills to work with researchers, government and industry while representing their communities’ needs and interests. This results in research that is more relevant to northern communities and that better incorporates local Traditional Knowledge. Ikaarvik develops the capacity of the communities to identify and act on their own research priorities, while at the same time creating stronger relationships with professional researchers, government, and academia.