Ten “simple” rules for non-Indigenous researchers engaging Indigenous communities in Arctic research

Climate change continues to disproportionately affect the Arctic, contributing to a pressing need for research in Arctic systems.As a result, more scientists are conducting fieldwork in Arctic regions, where Indigenous people have lived on lands and territories for time immemorial.This necessitates that the scientific community conduct research ethically and inclusively [1,2] given that research in the Arctic historically was (and often still is) based on colonial frameworks that are highly exclusive, extractive, and invasive, as well as physically and mentally damaging to generations of Arctic Indigenous people.For example, between 1955 and 1957, Dr. Kaare Rodahl administered radioactive iodine to Arctic Indigenous peoples without their knowledge to determine if they were physiologically adapted to cold conditions [3,4].Other examples include using blood samples from Indigenous individuals for additional unconsented purposes, disrespect for Indigenous property, and blatant disregard for Indigenous peoples and their consent and advice [3,5,6].In ecological research, misconduct on the part of the researcher may manifest in ways more subtle to the non-Indigenous researcher.Examples include, but are not limited to, taking credit for Indigenous knowledge and discoveries, neglecting to use original Indigenous names for organisms, places, and people, and failing to seek and receive approval to work on Indigenous lands [7,8].Given the historical legacies between non-Indigenous scientists and Indigenous communities, Indigenous communities often remain cautious when interacting with researchers.Likewise, some researchers are hesitant to engage with Indigenous communities based on perceived challenges and unfamiliar cultural barriers [9], despite the growing availability of resources and guides developed by both Indigenous communities and non-Indigenous researchers regarding research collaborations [10][11][12][13][14][15][16].It is likely that the history of unethical engagements and mistrust contribute to the underrepresentation of Indigenous researchers in STEM fields, and American Indians and Alaska Natives combined make up less than 1% of STEM professionals in the US [17,18].The hesitancy of non-Indigenous scientists to approach Indigenous communities impedes progress towards addressing the pressing social, infrastructural, and environmental challenges associated with Arctic climate change that affect local Indigenous communities.