Youth Networking, Education and Communications Channels Across the Circumpolar Region

The report identifies a lack of youth-specific mainstream media in the circumpolar North and highlights the critical importance of in-person interaction and experiential learning over formal education. It notes significant barriers to formal schooling in Canada, including curricula that lack Northern content and a lack of home internet access in remote communities. While various youth networks exist, the report finds that engagement is often dependent on external champions and that networks frequently suffer from a 'hub and spokes' model, limiting their sustainability.

• In-person interaction is the most valued communication mechanism for engaging Northern youth, with face-to-face meetings and informal talks with community leaders being more important than electronic means. While phone and fax are often preferred over e-mail for efficiency, establishing a personal relationship first is considered essential.
• There are no mainstream media vehicles that specifically target a Northern youth demographic; most existing media target a general age bracket of 18 to 54.
• Internet access in remote Northern communities is often limited to shared facilities in schools or community centres, as home broadband was only becoming available in a few areas by 2005. This lack of home access creates barriers for distance education and networking.
• There is a strong preference for experiential 'learning by doing' under the guidance of elders and parents across the North, particularly in Canada and Iceland. In contrast, Russian informants noted that formal schooling, including evening schools, is more universal.
• Formal education in Canada faces several barriers: high school curricula are often based on Southern provinces (Alberta or Quebec) and lack Northern culture and history, school schedules conflict with seasonal traditional learning, and teachers often lack cultural awareness of Northern communities.
• Youth networking in the region often follows a 'hub and spokes' model, where one or two core individuals are responsible for all outreach. This structure threatens the sustainability of networks if the central 'hub' leaves.
• The term 'young leader' was found to be problematic and uncomfortable for many informants, who viewed leadership in strictly political or bureaucratic terms or believed all youth were on the same level.

APA

Creech, H., Dongtotsang, D., Davis, L., Greenland, B. J., Koinov, S., Mayville, J., McKenna, M., Pankratz, R., & Urquhart, R. (2006). Youth Networking, Education and Communications Channels Across the Circumpolar Region. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/networks_youth_net.pdf

Chicago

Creech, Heather, Dolma Dongtotsang, Linda Davis, Bobbie Jo Greenland, Serge Koinov, Jennifer Mayville, Meghan McKenna, Rhonda Pankratz, and Robin Urquhart. Youth Networking, Education and Communications Channels Across the Circumpolar Region. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2006. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/networks_youth_net.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Creech |first1=Heather |last2=Dongtotsang |first2=Dolma |last3=Davis |first3=Linda |last4=Greenland |first4=Bobbie Jo |last5=Koinov |first5=Serge |last6=Mayville |first6=Jennifer |last7=McKenna |first7=Meghan |last8=Pankratz |first8=Rhonda |last9=Urquhart |first9=Robin |title=Youth Networking, Education and Communications Channels Across the Circumpolar Region |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=2006 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/networks_youth_net.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{creech2006youth, author = {Creech, Heather and Dongtotsang, Dolma and Davis, Linda and Greenland, Bobbie Jo and Koinov, Serge and Mayville, Jennifer and McKenna, Meghan and Pankratz, Rhonda and Urquhart, Robin}, title = {{Youth Networking, Education and Communications Channels Across the Circumpolar Region}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2006}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/networks_youth_net.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }