ICASUS – Indigenous-Led Arctic Sovereignty and Climate Security in a Shifting US-Canada Strategic Landscape project directly advances two MINDS Policy Challenges: Strategic Competition, Alliances, and Global Issues and Defending the Arctic and the North. It delivers evidence-based, actionable recommendations for strengthening Canada’s Arctic sovereignty posture in the context of accelerating climate change, evolving U.S. defence commitments, and intensifying geopolitical competition.
Alignment with MINDS Challenges:
Under Strategic Competition, Alliances, and Global Issues, ICASUS examines the implications of reduced U.S. security guarantees, increased interest by other Arctic and non-Arctic states, and emerging multilateral dynamics in the circumpolar region. It will identify self-reliance pathways through regional cooperation, diversified alliances, and strategic partnerships that preserve Canada’s leadership role in the Arctic.
Under Defending the Arctic and the North, ICASUS focuses on two critical and under explored dimensions:
1. Indigenous leadership in Arctic governance – Analyzing governance models, co-management frameworks, and partnership strategies developed by Inuit, Gwich’in, Athabaskan, and Inuvialuit organizations to enhance sovereignty, defence readiness, and resilience, while aligning with DND/CAF’s Arctic and Northern Policy Framework commitments.
2.Climate and security dynamics – Assessing the operational, infrastructure, and strategic impacts of permafrost thaw, sea-ice decline, and extreme weather on CAF capabilities, domain awareness, and sovereignty enforcement capacity.
Relevance, Timeliness, and Collaboration with DND/CAF:
The project responds directly to the need for relevant, timely, and operationally applicable advice. With strategic competition in the Arctic intensifying, ICASUS will produce a targeted geopolitical risk assessment and set of policy options integrating CAF operational requirements with Indigenous governance priorities and climate adaptation strategies.
Collaboration with DND/CAF is embedded throughout:
Consultations – Early-stage stakeholder interviews will include DND/CAF representatives to shape the research focus.
Workshops – Two hybrid policy workshops (Winnipeg and Ottawa) will bring together DND/CAF officials, Indigenous leaders, and Arctic policy experts to review findings, refine recommendations, and foster mutual understanding.
Feedback loops – Draft deliverables will be shared with DND/CAF for review and operational input prior to finalization.
Tailored outputs – The final bilingual policy report, executive summary, and policy briefs will be structured for both strategic and operational use, ensuring recommendations are implementable within CAF planning and Arctic deployment frameworks.
Fostering the Next Generation of Experts and Scholars:
ICASUS will employ one academic advisor, one Rotarian advisor, one graduate research assistant (master’s or PhD level) who will be fully integrated into project activities. The student will gain practical skills in Arctic policy analysis, stakeholder engagement, qualitative research, and strategic communications. The RA will be mentored by CRRIC and interact directly with DND/CAF officials, enabling early-career scholars to understand the realities of defence policymaking. Indigenous and Northern youth will also be invited to participate in workshops, building their capacity to engage in sovereignty and security debates and to contribute to future Arctic governance. This structured mentorship model ensures lasting benefits beyond the project’s life cycle.
Contribution to Canadians’ Understanding of Defence and Security:
The project’s communication strategy is designed to extend well beyond academic and government circles. ICASUS will produce a bilingual final report, a concise executive summary for policymakers, and an open-access peer-reviewed article in a relevant journal. Multimedia outputs—infographics, and edited workshop footage—will convey complex issues in accessible formats. A dedicated ICASUS project webpage will host interactive maps, visualizations, and downloadable resources, ensuring public accessibility. Public briefings will be held in Canadian communities with Arctic indigenous groups presence, and podcast-style interviews will allow for ongoing public dialogue. Translations into Inuktitut and other Northern languages will further expand reach, supporting Canada’s commitment to inclusive communications.
Through this integrated approach, ICASUS will generate actionable insights for DND/CAF, strengthen collaboration between defence institutions and Indigenous governance systems, equip the next generation of Arctic security experts with practical skills, and expand Canadians’ awareness of the evolving security landscape in the North.