September 11, 2025
Temperatures in the Arctic are rising more than twice as fast as the global average—a phenomenon scientists call Arctic amplification. But for Indigenous communities whose lives are deeply intertwined with the land, sea, and ice, these changes aren’t only environmental. They represent a profound loss of culture, identity, and a way of life.
For thousands of years, Indigenous peoples of the Arctic have lived in harmony with nature’s rhythms. But today, climate change is unraveling those long-standing ways of life. In northern Canada, for example, Inuit communities are witnessing the disappearance of reliable sea ice. What was once thick, predictable ice is now younger, thinner, and increasingly unstable. The seasons are shifting too — ice breaks up earlier in the spring and freezes later in the fall, stretching the melt season and making traditional hunting routes dangerous. These changes don’t just make daily life harder — they threaten the foundation of subsistence living, which many rural Arctic communities depend on for food, shelter, and cultural continuity.
As an Inuit elder stated in the Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada (2018), “When the land changes, so do we. There is a deep grief that comes from losing our way of life.”
For thousands of years, Indigenous peoples of the Arctic have lived in harmony with nature’s rhythms. But today, climate change is unraveling those long-standing ways of life. (Photo Credit: Canva)
Further west, in Alaska, entire communities are being forced to leave their ancestral homes. In places like Newtok and Kivalina, melting permafrost and coastal erosion are swallowing up villages. The cost of moving just one community can reach hundreds of millions of dollars. Still, people are determined to stay together and preserve their identity. A Newtok resident captured this spirit in The New Yorker’s An Alaskan Town is Losing Ground—and a Way of Life, stating, “We are starting over, but we are not starting from scratch.”
Beyond the physical destruction, the climate crisis is taking a toll on mental health in ways that are harder to see but just as painful. In many Indigenous communities, losing the land means losing a piece of yourself. This emotional distress — sometimes called ecological grief — can lead to depression, anxiety, and a sense of disconnection, especially among youth.
In Preparing for the Health Impacts of Climate Change in Indigenous Communities, a community member stated, “Nuna is so core to our being that we conceive ourselves to be part of the Nuna — we are part of the Nuna, and the Nuna is part of us.”
Although Nuna is the Inuktitut word for land, it carries a deeper meaning than just physical territory — it represents a way of life.
As the land transforms, so do the stories and skills that have been passed down for generations. In many places, young people are growing up less connected to their cultural roots. Elders worry that without hunting trips, storytelling around the fire, or language tied to seasonal changes, entire worldviews are fading. When those stories and practices disappear, so too does a sense of who people are.
As the land transforms, so do the stories and skills that have been passed down for generations. (Phoo Credit: Canva)
The Saami people, who live across parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia, are also feeling the strain. Their traditional way of life — centered around reindeer herding — is being disrupted by unpredictable snow and ice patterns.
Despite these challenges, Arctic Indigenous communities remain resilient — adapting, innovating, and working to safeguard their heritage. Inuit hunters are blending traditional knowledge with modern tools to monitor ice conditions and navigate changing landscapes. The Saami are raising their voices to defend ancestral lands and promote sustainable herding practices.
“We are not just adapting; we are asserting our right to exist as we have for centuries,” stated a Saami leader in Climate Change and Mental Health: A Snapshot of Arctic Indigenous People’s Resiliency and Suffering as the World Transforms (2021).
The experiences of Indigenous communities illustrate what is at stake when the climate crisis hits home. Their stories remind us that climate action isn’t just about reducing emissions—it’s about protecting lives, cultures, and ways of being that have existed for millennia. They also offer valuable insights into resilience, sustainability, and the importance of living in harmony with nature.
We need policies that recognize Indigenous rights, support their leadership, and respect their knowledge. As one Inuit elder stated in the Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada (2018), “If the ice goes, we go.”
