Arctic Peoples and Cultures

</p>In this, the 4th instalment of The Arctic MOOCs, we want to bring you closer to peoples and cultures in the Arctic. Therefore, this is more like a documentary than a classical course. Our hope is that by getting to know people living in the Arctic you gain a better insight and understanding of what the Arctic means to thousands of individuals, but also, that you by acquiring more knowledge, become a valuable advocate for environmental and other issues facing the future of the Arctic.</p> <p>The MOOC has 8 modules spanning 22 video chapters. Each module ends with a small quiz, and at the end of the course you will find a set of open-ended questions. As you watch the videos you will be prompted (the video stops) and given an opportunity to follow some links that point to external websites, scientific papers and organisations relevant to the content you are watching. You choose if you want to continue or explore more. All links and resources used/mentioned are available for you to explore at a later stage.</p><p>We hope you learn something new, and that you enjoy the experience.</p>&nbsp;<p style="font-weight:bold">TIP: Use the "Explore more…" opportunities added to all the videos. They will certainly add to the learning experience</p><p>PS: All videos have english subtitles. Turn on closed captions in video player to see.</p>

<p>We are going to start this course by introducing you to the people, the cultures and how it is to live in the arctic, but also to introduce you to some of the darker periods where official policies led to, motivated by a clear political agenda, things like the assimilation processes of indigenous peoples. We are also going to get an historic view on how these arctic cultures emerged into what we see today – both from a global perspective, and more specifically how the Norwegian and Russian indigenous politics treated the arctic peoples. Finally, a talk about how indigenous peoples managed to organize their struggle through e.g., the United Nations.</p><p>Module 1 contains 4 (1–4) chapters and has a small quiz at the end, but don't worry. It is our goal that you get to know the areas and the peoples of the Arctic – not that your quiz score is high.</p>

The first day of sunlight after the polar night. How does not seeing the sun for two months effect you as a person? Does it change you in any way? What kind of problems could you face during this period? In module 3 we are going to hear about research on these topics, and we will meet people talking about their experience during the long polar night – both good and bad.

<p>The temperatures in the Arctic continue to rise at three times the global annual average, driving many of the changes underway in the Arctic. Most prominently, snow and ice are melting at an increasing rate. This impacts both local ecosystems and the global climate system. Polar bears have had to adopt to decreasing sea ice, fisheries face more unstable weather, and those living on the tundra are witnessing changes in their access to areas where snow conditions are worsening.</p><p>Module 5 contains 2 chapters (11–12) and has a small quiz at the end, but do not worry. It is our goal that you get to know the areas and the peoples of the Arctic – not that your quiz score is high.</p>