Programme  Conference Chair: Pia Hansson, Director, Institute of International Affairs, University of Iceland  Rapporteurs: Sasha Tiaglei, Cooper Roy, and Liou Van Tichelen, Political Studies, University of Manitoba  08:30 Registration and coffee  Welcome  Pia Hansson, Director, Institute of International Affairs, University of Iceland  09:00 Opening Remarks  Martin Eyjólfsson, Permanent Secretary of State, Ministry for Foreign Affairs  09:20 Opening Session  Fireside chat with Heather Richardson, Director General of Cyber Resilience, Communication Security Establishment Canada  Moderated by Guðmundur Arnar Sigmundsson, Director of CERT-IS (Computer Emergency Response Team – MFA)  10:00 Panel 1: Geopolitics in the Arctic  Andrea Charron, Professor and Director, Centre for...

This event page holds password-protected ASWG presentations for future reference. 25-may-28-Lackenbauer-ASWG-infra 25-may-29-NAADSN-brief-ASWG 2025 ASWG NEM Presentation 2025-05-29-YAFN-Brief-ASWG-Meeting 20250528 ASWG CCASOCE ASWG Agenda – 28-29 May – final ASWG NSS Update – 28 May 2025 V1 ASWG-28-29May25-Cdr_Price-NAVRES_Pres-UUUU cias-presentation-deck May25 Presentation 17- TC Update – ASWG Spring 2025 UNCLOS Program Update ASWG May 28-29 2025 ver2  

An early-career research symposium, co-organized with the Department of Applied Military Sciences at the Royal Military College of Canada.   This event is by invitation only.

NAADSN and the Centre for Defence and Security Studies (CDSS) is hosting MGen Chris McKenna, Commander of 1 Canadian Air Division in Winnipeg, to discuss the Arctic and future considerations for continental defence. MGen McKenna will answer questions from students who are studying Arctic and Canadian defence and security and members of the interested public. This event will be recorded and posted on NAADSN's YouTube.

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has sent shockwaves across the Arctic, and resurgent competition between the great powers has reinforced how Russia and the other seven Arctic states are not like-minded and are engaged in competition for international legitimacy. This competition also extends to non-Arctic states, including China, which seek to shape the region in terms advantageous to them. This short workshop, consisting of three 15 minute presentations followed by a general discussion with audience participants, will bring together academic and government representatives to share insights on strategic communications (StratCom) and the Arctic information environment,...

By registration only. Please contact Whitney Lackenbauer at pwhitneylackenbauer@trentu.ca or Nick Glesby at nicholasglesby@trentu.ca for more information.   Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has sent shock-waves across the Arctic, and resurgent competition between the great powers has reinforced how Russia and the other seven Arctic states are not like-minded and are engaged in competition for international legitimacy. This competition also extends to non-Arctic states, including China, which seek to shape the region in terms advantageous to them. This workshop brings together academic and government representatives to share insights on strategic communications (StratCom) and the Arctic...

This summer, the governments of Canada, Finland, and the United States announced the ICE Pact, an effort to support icebreaker design and construction across all three countries. While ambitious in scope, the pact remains a statement of intent. Currently, the three governments are working to define the pact and determine what it will include, and how cooperation will unfold. It is expected that a memorandum of understanding will be released in November, offering at least some initial direction. This workshop is designed to inform that process by bringing together relevant academic, government, and industry representatives to offer fresh thinking into...

This student-led workshop on Emerging Arctic Security Threats will be held at Yukon University in Whitehorse on Friday, 29 November 2024. The primary audience for this workshop will be young scholars and policy practitioners who will have an opportunity to discuss emerging Arctic security issues with established North American experts. This will enhance awareness amongst future leaders and facilitate discussion on how diverse stakeholders and rightsholders in the like-minded Arctic states can best promote cooperation and stability across the Circumpolar North.   Panelists will be invited to deliver 3-5 minute introductory reflections followed by a question and answer period, with...

The current geopolitical environment is characterized by the shaping trends of autocracies, disruptive technologies, and climate change, which is changing how decision-makers and experts think about defence and security vulnerabilities. Working in tandem, Russia and China pose proximate and pacing threats to the North American Arctic and European High North. This workshop, hosted by the North American and Arctic Defence and Security Network (NAADSN) and the Fridtjof Nansen Institute (FNI), seeks to share lessons learned, knowledge, and expertise on Chinese and Russian tactics across domains, threat vectors, and perceptions of differing scales.   Potential guiding questions: NATO expansion and the...

Canada’s April 2024 defence policy update asserts that the “most urgent and important task” is to “assert sovereignty in the Arctic, where the changing physical and geopolitical landscapes have created new threats and vulnerabilities.” Canada commits to increase its military presence in the Arctic and to work cooperatively with partners. Norway places a similarly high priority on partnering with allies to realize its Arctic policy goals centred on security, stability, and interest-based cooperation. What lessons can allies and partners learn and apply from diverse experiences in a time of intensifying great power rivalry? How does strategic competition and posturing affect...

This event page holds password-protected ASWG presentations for future reference. Presentation 3 – ASWG_PermIntro_SVK_2024-11-05 Presentation 4 – 2024Autumn-ASWG _CanadianCoastGuardArcticUpdate Presentation 5 – Emergency Management and Climate Change Planning 2024 Presentation 6 – Cyber Security Readiness Goals – ASWG Nov 2024 Presentation 7 – Northern Operational Support Hub (NOSH) Brief_ASWG_Nov24 Presentation 8 – ASWG 2024 Climate Change and NOSH_Astles Presentation 9 – 20241024-U-2000-ASWG NIIWG Update Presentation 10 – HWF Jacynthe Baker ASWG Presentation Presentation 11 – ASWG NSS Update – 7 Nov 24 Presentation 12 – NAADSN PPT brief ASWG – Lackenbauer (002) Presentation 14 – UNCLOS Program Arctic Security WG...

The NAADSN Ideas Series for September 2024 features Colonel Alain Veilleux, Canada's defence attaché in Mexico since 2021. Col. Veilleux will deliver remarks for 20 minutes, followed by a 40 minute Q&A session moderated by Dr. Athanasios Hristoulas, Professor of International Relations at Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México. The goal of this discussion is to provide a primer on the general understanding of the Canada-Mexico defence relationship. To register, please click on the following MS Teams link: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/7217e407-a305-45c8-a4ed-91688e897d55@96b3e9df-6155-4dac-aed2-782885812aec.

NAADSN, the Fridtjof Nansen Institute (FNI), the Arctic Council Secretariat, and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Ottawa are pleased to present a panel discussion on Arctic Governance - The Role of the Arctic Council. The panel features keynote presentations from Mr. Mørten Haglund, Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials, Norwegian Chairship of the Arctic Council (SAOC) and Mr. Rob Sinclair, Senior Arctic Official for Canada. Following the keynote, discussions moderated by Dr. Andreas Raspotnik (FNI) will take place with Dr. P. Whitney Lackenbauer, Dr. Heather Exner-Pirot, Dr. Mathieu Landriault, Dr. Jennifer Spence, Dr. Svein Vigeland Rottem, and Ms. Serafima Andrea....

NAADSN, the Fridtjof Nansen Institute (FNI), and the Macdonald Laurier Institute (ML) are co-hosting an informal pub talk with leading Canadian and Norwegian Arctic figures about mutual challenges and areas for cooperation in the Arctic. When: Wednesday, 18 September from 17:30-20:00 Where: Working Title Kitchen, 330 Laurier Avenue E., Ottawa This event is free and open to the public. Food and drink available for purchase.

*All presentations can be found on NAADSN's YouTube channel at this link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIjwEHMvBTwp-nVTrFhwcOpcoYJJq9fB1&feature=shared.*   Please join NAADSN for the Emerging Leaders Node (ELN) 5th Annual Summer Conference, held via Zoom from Monday, 29 July 2024 to Wednesday, 31 July 2024. The Summer Conference is an excellent opportunity for young scholars, at various stages of academia, and early-career professionals to present their work to an academic and practitioner audience. This is the ELN's signature event for the year and has historically been well-attended to show support for our Research Fellows,students, and early-career professionals. To register, please do so here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf7YDylWQzmBknAx6MVW_OX0A6X-QL6rmsunBgIpinD68nmWQ/viewform. The...

Pursuant to Canada’s April 2024 defence policy update Our North, Strong and Free (ONSF), APDEW24 was co-hosted by CJOC, JTFN, and the North American and Arctic Defence and Security Network (NAADSN) (as a signature event) from 10-11 June 2024 to establish a CAF pan-domain community of practice to facilitate the development of future regional CAF planning and develop broad consensus on the domain effects desired in the Arctic. APDEW24 began with detailed briefs by Dr. Lackenbauer to set the context and to offer a framework to categorize Arctic threats. Key concepts that he introduced to frame subsequent workshop discussions included:...

The Canada-Iceland Seminar: Maritime Defence and Security in the North at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa is the second exchange between Canadian and Iceland academics and practitioners on defence and security issues, and supported by a DND MINDS Targeted Engagement Grant. This exchange is co-organized by the Centre for Defence and Security Studies, the North American and Arctic Defence and Security Network, the Icelandic Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Global Affairs Canada, and the Institute for International Affairs at the University of Iceland. This event will bring together Icelandic and Canadian practitioners (RCN, CCG, CCASCOE, and JFC Norfolk) and academics...

This event page holds password-protected ASWG presentations for future reference. Presentation 1 - BF_204123657 - CC General_Presentation_Final Presentation 2 - McEachern - ASWG Critical Minerals Presentation_052624 Presentation 3 - Carrie Taylor - ASWG Deck 20240528 fires and aq Presentation 3 - Mike Gravel - Arctic Security Working Group Pres Presentation 4 - Kokelj-ASWG_PermIntro_SVK_2024-05-29.pptx Presentation 4 - Mark-Cronk-ASWG 2024_INF PPT_final_mvc Presentation 5 - ASWG HIRA Presentation 2024 Presentation 5 - ASWG_24_Spring_J7_Op NA-TA Presentation 6 - 20240530-U-CJOCHQ_COS_Arctic Security Working Group_Yellowknife Presentation 7 - Peter Kikkert - Climate Change and SAR in the Arctic Presentation 7 - Tetrault - ASWG NSS Update -...

North American Arctic Security Workshop 2 (NAASW) at the Asquarniit Hotel and Conference Centre in Iqaluit, Nunavut. Organized by the North American and Arctic Defence and Security Network, The Ted Stevens Centre for Arctic Security Studies, and Ilisimatusarfik’s Nassiffik at the University of Greenland. NAASW2 covers classic defence matters and beyond to include climate/environmental changes, economic development, logistics, traditional subsistence and other food security-related concerns, and cultural factors. Attendees will engage in Arctic security risk environmental developments, community-based contributions to domain awareness, disaster responses, instruments of governance, and opportunities across the North American Arctic for enhanced defence and security cooperation...

The North American and Arctic Defence and Security Network (NAADSN) Emerging Leaders Node (ELN) is pleased to present the Emerging Ideas Series for April 2024, discussing Nuclear Disarmament and Human Security. The Emerging Ideas Series pairs emerging scholars with established experts and practitioners in their field of study. This month's feature is NAADSN Research Fellow Julie Clark. Julie Clark is a Ph.D. Candidate in Global Governance at the Balsillie School of International Affairs through Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU). Her research focuses on the governance of nuclear weapons and avenues for arms control and disarmament policies. Ms. Peggy Mason career highlights diplomatic and specialist...

This invitation-only Debrief and Discussion offers NAADSN members the opportunity to discuss initial reflections and impressions of the Defence Policy Update, Our North, Strong and Free: A Renewed Vision for Canada's Defence, as it relates to NAADSN's core policy challenges: Defence in the Arctic, Securing North America and Enhancing Continental Defence, and Climate Change and the Environment. The idea is for an open, roundtable discussion in a collegial setting, with potential for a non-attributive NAADSN Special Report to follow.   This event is closed and by invitation only. Please email nicholasglesby@trentu.ca with inquiries.

The NAADSN Ideas Series presents “NATO at 75,” a virtual month-long series (via MS Teams) dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The importance of the collective defence alliance has been revived since Russia’s full invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Canada was an original signatory of the Treaty in 1949, making significant contributions and commitments in Korea, the Balkans, Afghanistan, and Latvia. Canada, and North America’s, role in multilateral transatlantic security has been reinvigorated amidst the current international security environment marked by the return of strategic competition. The North and American and Arctic Defence and...

The NAADSN Ideas Series presents “NATO at 75,” a virtual month-long series (via MS Teams) dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The importance of the collective defence alliance has been revived since Russia’s full invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Canada was an original signatory of the Treaty in 1949, making significant contributions and commitments in Korea, the Balkans, Afghanistan, and Latvia. Canada, and North America’s, role in multilateral transatlantic security has been reinvigorated amidst the current international security environment marked by the return of strategic competition. The North and American and Arctic Defence and...

The NAADSN Ideas Series presents “NATO at 75,” a virtual month-long series (via MS Teams) dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The importance of the collective defence alliance has been revived since Russia’s full invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Canada was an original signatory of the Treaty in 1949, making significant contributions and commitments in Korea, the Balkans, Afghanistan, and Latvia. Canada, and North America’s, role in multilateral transatlantic security has been reinvigorated amidst the current international security environment marked by the return of strategic competition. The North and American and Arctic Defence and...

The NAADSN Ideas Series presents “NATO at 75,” a virtual month-long series (via MS Teams) dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The importance of the collective defence alliance has been revived since Russia’s full invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Canada was an original signatory of the Treaty in 1949, making significant contributions and commitments in Korea, the Balkans, Afghanistan, and Latvia. Canada, and North America’s, role in multilateral transatlantic security has been reinvigorated amidst the current international security environment marked by the return of strategic competition. The North and American and Arctic Defence and...

The Emerging Leaders Node (ELN) is pleased to announce the upcoming Skills and Development Series “How to Write a Briefing Note” on Monday, 12 February 2024 at 2PM EST. The goal of this event is to assist undergraduate and graduate students with the in's and out's of writing a briefing note for a policy audience. Thank you to Dr. Andrea Charron (NAADSN Co-Lead) and Dr. Andrea Rounce (Political Studies and Public Administration, University of Manitoba) for sharing their time and expertise. The link to register can be found here: https://forms.gle/1tt8h2Zujn3W9AJi7. The Zoom link will be distributed to registrants on Friday,...

February 2024's Ideas Series will feature the topic of "Balloons, NORAD, and the Defence of North America." Please join Dr. P. Whitney Lackenbauer, Dr. Andrea Charron, Dr. James Fergusson, Dr. Marc Lanteigne, and Sgt. John Mitchell as as we reflect on one year since the balloon incidents of January and February 2023. Nicholas Glesby will moderate. Following opening comments, we will have an open discussion/Q&A period with the audience. Please sign up using the following link: https://forms.gle/kduvHs1DSfKAZsN46. A Zoom link will be distributed the day before the event.   Please click the following YouTube link to view opening comments: https://youtu.be/9pzzmEzAOY8.

ASCS-CSAC PACIFIC CLIMATE SECURITY CONFERENCE AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP Victoria, BC, Canada. Pacific Climate Security Conference and Career Development Workshop Organized by the Climate Security Association of Canada/L'Association canadienne de la sécurité climatique (CSAC-ACSC) Understanding the multifaceted links between climate change and security across the global, national, and human levels of analysis is an urgent priority for policymakers, scholars, civil society, and security and defence practitioners. Complex relationships exist between the unfolding crisis of human-caused environmental change and phenomena such as armed conflict, violent extremism, migration, poverty, resource scarcity, political instability, economic prosperity, energy security, and community resilience, requiring interdisciplinary...

This student-led workshop on Emerging Arctic Security Threats: Nordic and North American perspectives will be held at Norway’s Arctic University (UiT) in Tromso on Monday, 29 January 2024. The primary audience for this workshop will be young scholars and policy practitioners who will have an opportunity to discuss emerging Arctic security issues with established North American and Nordic experts. This will enhance awareness amongst future leaders and facilitate discussion on how diverse stakeholders and rightsholders in the like-minded Arctic states can best promote cooperation and stability across the Circumpolar North. Panelists will be invited to deliver 3-5 minute introductory reflections...

For January 2024's NAADSN Ideas Series, we are pleased to welcome NAADN Coordinator Dr. Marc Lanteigne. Join us on Friday, 26 January 2023 for one hour beginning at 12PM EST. Dr. Lanteigne's presentation is entitled: "Doubling Back: The Retrenchment of China's Arctic Strategies." Following Dr. Lateigne's presentation, NAADSN Lead Dr. P. Whitney Lackenbauer will moderate a Question & Answer session with the audience. Please sign up using the following link: https://forms.gle/Jud1JpQ3jVgKpaXz7. A Zoom meeting link will be circulated to registered participants closer to the event. **Dr. Lanteigne's presentation can be found here: https://youtu.be/QmLLOJlStwE.**

Hybrid warfare and disinformation campaigns have become central pillars of Russian and Chinese evolving approach to waging twenty-first century conflict. While conventional military action against other Arctic states remains unlikely, competitors seek to exploit divisions amongst and within the like-minded Arctic states through concerted disinformation campaigns designed to polarize populations and exacerbate tensions. This workshop featuring Canadian and Norwegian experts will discuss disinformation, societal trust, and resilience in an Arctic context. Topics (all discussed in an unclassified setting) will include: Norwegian and Canadian assessments of hybrid threats from Russia and China; actual or potential adversarial activities in the information and...

Canada’s defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, describes the Arctic as an “important international crossroads where issues of climate change, international trade, and global security meet.” Accordingly, it promises to increase its military presence in the Arctic and to work cooperatively with Arctic partners. Norway places a similarly high priority on partnering with allies to realize its Arctic policy goals centred on security, stability, and interest-based bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation. What lessons can allies and partners learn and apply from diverse experiences in a time of intensifying great power rivalry and in the face of Russia’s brutal war of aggression...

This 1 hour webinar features presentations by Network Coordinator Dr. Ryan Dean, ELN Lead Nicole Covey, Research Fellow Trym Eiterjord, and Research Fellow Kate Todd. Research Fellow Joanne Archibald will serve as moderator. These presentations will cover Arctic Policy in the United Kingdom, South Korea, China, and the Netherlands. Please sign up using the following link: https://forms.gle/v7TupvGvhNd6f1xHA. A Zoom link will be distributed closer to the event. Recent policy briefs on these states can be found here: https://www.naadsn.ca/policy-briefs/.

For November's Ideas Series, we are thrilled to feature NAADSN Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Sergey Sukhankin on Monday 13 November 2023 for one hour beginning at 11am EST. Dr. Sukhankin's presentation is entitled: "Russia's posture in the Arctic in the era of major geopolitical changes and growing instability" -- highlighting his recent NAADSN Strategic Perspectives on Russia and NATO, the Arctic Council, and RAIPON. Following Dr. Sukhankin's presentation, NAADSN Network Coordinator Dr. Kari Roberts will moderate a Question & Answer session with the audience. Please sign up using the following link: https://forms.gle/9TNz3WJrWofYWtKC6. A Zoom Meeting link will be circulated to the attendees closer...

Co-organized with the Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network This webinar will focus on the portrayal of Arctic Indigenous peoples in mainstream culture and will be an opportunity to discuss the stereotypes associated with these communities. https://www.shareyournorth.is/events/portrayal-of-arctic-indigenous-peoples-in-mainstream-culture-accuracy-or-cliche In mainstream culture, representations of Arctic Indigenous peoples' lifestyles, practices, arts, knowledge and ways of thinking are often oversimplified and based on stereotypes. This misrepresentation in Western media leads individuals to perceive Arctic indigenous peoples through clichés such as cruel hunting practices, living in an igloo, over-consumption of alcohol or even a primitive way of life. Besides, the oversimplification of Arctic Indigenous cultures leads to...

Hybrid warfare and disinformation campaigns have become central pillars of Russian and Chinese evolving approach to waging twenty-first century conflict. While conventional military action against other Arctic states remains unlikely, competitors seek to exploit divisions amongst and within the like-minded Arctic states through concerted disinformation campaigns designed to polarize populations and exacerbate tensions. This workshop, held in Ottawa and involving Canadian and Norwegian academic experts and officials, will discuss disinformation, societal trust, and resilience in an Arctic context. Topics (all discussed in an unclassified setting) will include: Norwegian and Canadian assessments of hybrid threats from Russia and China; actual or...

Canada’s defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, describes the Arctic as an “important international crossroads where issues of climate change, international trade, and global security meet.” Accordingly, it to increase its military presence in the Arctic and to work cooperatively with Arctic partners. Norway places a similarly high priority on partnering with allies to realize its Arctic policy goals centred on security, stability, and interest-based bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation. What lessons can the Arctic allies learn and apply from diverse experiences in a time of intensifying great power rivalry, Russia’s brutal war of aggression in Ukraine, strategic competition over resources...

The two-day hybrid conference in October 2023 will bring together Canadian and international experts in-person and others using Zoom. Proposed panels include: Gendering Arctic Security: Insights from the Gender Equality in the Arctic Report The Northern Military Footprint: Historical and Contemporary Insights on Impacts The Canadian Rangers through a Gendered Lens Climate Change and Hybrid Threats in the Circumpolar North: Gender Dimensions The Canadian Arctic in an Era of Great Power Competition: Indigenous Perspectives through an Intersectional Lens Gendered Impacts of the War on Ukraine: Circumpolar and Trans-Indigenous Perspectives The event will also include sharing circles and ample opportunities for...

The two-day hybrid conference in October 2023 will bring together Canadian and international experts in-person and others using Zoom. Proposed panels include: Gendering Arctic Security: Insights from the Gender Equality in the Arctic Report The Northern Military Footprint: Historical and Contemporary Insights on Impacts The Canadian Rangers through a Gendered Lens Climate Change and Hybrid Threats in the Circumpolar North: Gender Dimensions The Canadian Arctic in an Era of Great Power Competition: Indigenous Perspectives through an Intersectional Lens Gendered Impacts of the War on Ukraine: Circumpolar and Trans-Indigenous Perspectives.

NAADSN is thrilled to virtually host Dr. Beate Steinveg, who will share her new book Arctic Governance Through Conferencing, in preparation for Arctic Circle Assembly 2023. Her book covers the actors, processes, and structures that makeup Arctic governance. Dr. Steinveg is an associate professor in international relations at Nord University's Faculty of Social Sciences. The seminar will take place at 10:00ET/16:00 CET on October 13 2023 for one hour. Dr Steinveg will give a 15-minute presentation that will be followed by a Q&A moderated by NAADSN Research Fellow Gabriella Gricius. The link to register is here: https://forms.gle/UNEKBRz45TgwXJZdA We look forward to...

NAADSN co-hosted the Young Leaders’ Summit on Northern Climate Change, led by Ecology North, held at the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS), Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. The “Summit” was an opportunity for youth, aged 18 to 30 (priority on regional representation from throughout the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon), to come together and discuss climate change mitigation and adaptation in Northern Canada, including security and safety dimensions. Participants learned about various impacts and actions from Elders, researchers, land-users, policy makers, and other climate leaders.

NAADSN’s Emerging Leader’s Node (ELN) just finished hosting its 4th Annual Graduate Conference. The conference lasted from 26th to the 28th of July and was designed to provide presentation experience to students, get their current research in front of audiences, and showcase emerging talent. The conference consisted of seven panels that demonstrated the depth and breadth of NAADSN’s research, from broad concerns such as climate change to more niche research such as emerging weapons. Emerging scholars presented across the methodological spectrum, from quantitative polling and analysis to qualitative interviews and longitudinal archival research. The panels are posted on our website...

NAADSN co-hosted with the Institute for International Affairs at the University of Iceland “THE CHANGING ARCTIC: Will the Arctic see greater military engagement or continue cooperation?” This 7 June seminar was held at the National Museum of Iceland (Reykjavík), investigating how Russia’s renewed invasion of Ukraine has affected notions of Arctic security. NAADSN Network Coordinator Dr. James Fergusson offered a keynote presentation on how allies can strengthen collective security across the Arctic and North Atlantic, with Network Lead Dr. P. Whitney Lackenbauer presenting on the subsequent panel. Network Coordinator Dr. Marc Lanteigne brought his expertise on China into his address...

The North American Arctic Security Workshop (NAASW), held in Nuuk, Greenland on 21-22 April, was the first in a series of combined NAADSN, University of Greenland (Ilisimatusarfik) Nasiffik Center, and Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies (TSC) workshops that bring together diverse experts from Canada, the Kingdom of Denmark/Greenland, and the United States to discuss security in the North American Arctic. This continues and expands conversations on regional security that began in the Advancing Collaboration in Canada-U.S. Regional Security (ACCUSARS) series from 2020-2022. The region’s increasing accessibility presents opportunities for Arctic and non-Arctic states to pursue economic and military...

NAADSN is pleased to host Torsten Kjølby Nielsen, Chief Counselor for Arctic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, on a study visit to Canada to gain a better understanding of Canadian Arctic policies though discussions with Canadian experts and meetings with relevant Canadian Arctic stakeholders. Organized by the North American and Arctic Defence and Security Network (NAADSN) and the School for the Study of Canada at Trent University, "Canadian Perspectives on Arctic Alignments with the Kingdom of Denmark" examines Canadian/Danish cooperation on: Maintaining a Peaceful, Secure, and Safe Arctic Enhancing Bilateral and Regional Cooperation Sustainable Development and Climate Change...

On 13-14 March 2023, NAADSN collaborated with the NATO Exploratory Team on Climate Security and Defence Activities, NATO Research Task Group on the Effects of Climate Change on Security, and the nascent Climate Security Association of Canada (CSAC) to host a workshop in Montreal on Climate and Security. While security policy and practice in most countries has long prioritized defence against military threats to the national territory and interests, climate change requires a reconsideration of the sources of insecurity, the manner in which threats manifest, and the appropriate types of policy responses. Governments and inter-governmental organizations have responded by increasing...

NAADSN partnered with The Canada-Russia Research Initiative (CRRI) in organizing the workshop “Framing Russia's Arctic Interests,” held in Victoria, BC, on 24 February 2023. This invitation-only workshop brought together a group of Canadian experts with diverse opinions and backgrounds to interrogate Russian strategic messaging and signaling in the Circumpolar Arctic and what this means for Canada and its allies on the larger international stage. Held on the first anniversary of Russia’s renewed invasion of Ukraine, this one-day workshop was designed to foster greater understanding of security challenges and risks affecting the North American Arctic. Sessions examined Russia as an Arctic...

This North American and Arctic Defence and Security Network (NAADSN) Ideas Series held via Zoom examined the aerospace defeat mechanisms integral not just to NORAD modernization but to developing a larger deterrence by denial capability gestured towards in SSE. In a world of growing great power competition but stretched defence budgets, can Canada develop an effective defeat capability that will give it future policy options? Register here

Learn more and register here DT2017 Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada, Map

An eminent historian on the Canadian Arctic, Shelagh Grant (1938-2020) taught Canadian Studies at Trent University for seventeen years. Her myriad contributions to scholarship include Sovereignty or Security? Government Policy in the Canadian North, 1939-1950 (1988) and Polar Imperative: A History of Arctic Sovereignty in North America (2010), which encouraged critical reflections on the connections between sovereignty and security in the Canadian North in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. This one-day workshop, convened in honour of Shelagh and hosted in a hybrid (in-person and virtual) format, will bring together established and emerging thinkers to discuss various topics related to sovereignty...

Session: The Future of Arctic Cooperation Co-organized with Nassifik, Inuit Circumpolar Council, and NAADSN Speakers: Sara Olsvig, ICC & Ilisimatusarfik (Greenland) Whitney Lackenbauer, Trent University & North American and Arctic Defence and Security Network (NAADSN) (Canada) Lassi Heininen, University of Lapland (Finland) Rasmus Leander Nielsen, Nasiffik – Centre for Foreign & Security Policy & Ilisimatusarfik (Greenland) Moderator: Michael Sfraga, Polar Institute at the Wilson Center (United States)

Co-hosted by the Canada-Russia Research Initiative (CRRI) and the North American and Arctic Defence and Security Network (NAADSN); supported by a MINDS TEG Participants will discuss Russia as an Arctic state in the context of global strategic competition, how it frames its subsequent Arctic interests, and the risks, vulnerabilities, and opportunities facing Canada and its allies with respect to Russia and the Arctic in regional and global contexts.

Register here: https://forms.gle/J1FnxAxGgAqxqn7fA Contact: emergingleadersnode@naadsn.ca

Thursday, June 2 Political consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the Arctic Moderator: Andrew Chater, Brescia University Timo Koivurova, University of Lapland Tony Penikett, Polar Research and Policy Initiative Gabrielle Gricius, Colorado State University David Roddick, Independent researcher (Whitehorse, Yukon Territory) 1:30 – 2:00 Dalee Sambo Dorough, Inuit Circumpolar Council Friday, June 3 Military consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the Arctic Moderator: Jackie Kidd, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami Andrea Charron, University of Manitoba Capt(N) Jacob French, Joint Task Force North Rebecca Pincus, U.S. Naval War College Thomas Hughes, Queens University 10:45 – 12:15 Economic and social consequences of...

Sara Olsvig is a Ph.D.-fellow at Ilisimatusarfik, the University of Greenland. Olsvig is an appointed member of the Constitutional Commission of Greenland, and member of the Human Rights Council of Greenland. Sara Olsvig served as member of the Parliament of Denmark (2011 - 2015) and the Parliament of Greenland (2013 - 2018). She has been leader of the political party Inuit Ataqatigiit. Olsvig was Vice Premier and Minister of Social Affairs, Families, Gender Equality and Justice in the Government of Greenland from 2016 to 2018. Olsvig was member (2011 - 2014) and Chairperson of the Standing Committee of Parliamentarians of...

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The North American and Arctic Defence and Security Network, (NAADSN), Nasiffik, the Ted Steven Center for Arctic Security Studies, the Center for Arctic Security and Resilience (CASR), and the Arctic Domain Awareness Center (ADAC) present a virtual ACCUSARS III workshop on 24 and 25 March 2022 that seeks to advance greater understanding of security challenges and risks affecting the North American Arctic. This workshop on “Advancing Collaboration in Canada-U.S. Arctic Regional Security” (ACCUSARS) builds upon a series of prior events addressing North American Arctic Security, including ACCUSARS I and II held in September 2020 and March 2021 respectively, and expands our...

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We are excited to be collaborating with the Defence and Security Foresight Group, the Centre for Social Innovation and Community Engagement in Military Affairs (SICEMA) at Mount Saint Vincent University, and Women in International Security Canada (WIIS-C) on a series of webinars focused on Gender Based Analysis Plus (GBA+). Our goal is to ask, why is intersectionality and GBA+ important in research?  From May 25-28, 2021 we will host a series of webinars bringing together experts in their fields who can share their experiences with including intersectionality and GBA+ in their research designs, the challenges and successes they have had to date,...

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Register here This webinar is the first of a longer webinar series hosted by the Artificial Intelligence Institute and Drs. Bessma Momani and Jean-François Bélanger at the University of Waterloo. Each webinar will explore a different aspect of AI and warfare, bringing together both technical and policy experts to discuss the big questions, concerns, and developments in the field. Our first webinar will explore how interconnected the development of artificial intelligence and warfare is. This is a broad question, but one that is the overarching backbone of this webinar series. Discussions around the military application of AI are nothing new, and have...

Register here Presented by the Centre for International Policy Studies, the Observatoire de la politique et la sécurité de l’Arctique (OPSA), and the North American and Arctic Defence and Security Network (NAADSN). The Arctic Council is the primary multilateral forum regrouping Arctic states and people and cooperating on social and environmental issues. Iceland is about to pass the chairmanship to Russia for a 2-year mandate. Russia has already announced major investments and possesses ambitious objective to develop its part of the Arctic. The chairmanship is presented as an excellent opportunity to play an active role in the region. The objective...

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Greenland lies at the center of powerful dynamics occurring in the Arctic region, posited at the forefront of the climate crisis and confronted with geopolitical tensions as the United States and China compete to invest on the island. At the same time, Greenlandic society is on the road to enhanced autonomy from the Danish realm, inching ever closer to sovereignty from Denmark. Questions about sovereignty, security alliances, bilateral cooperation and the management of natural resources are central to the fate of the island. The upcoming Greenlandic election, scheduled for April 6, will provide further answers as to how the island...

The purpose of ACCUSARS II is to create a Strategic Foresight Assessment (SFA) for the North American Arctic. ACCUSARS I provided an initial SFA for the Canadian Arctic, which provided an initial baseline to be further developed. We plan to conduct ACCUSARS II as a virtual meeting and kindly invite Canadian and American participants from ACCUSARS I to rejoin us for the meeting. ACCUSARS is co-hosted by NAADSN and the Arctic Domain Awareness Center (ADAC). Register here

Wednesday March 24 and Friday March 26 A student forum on the North American Arctic co-hosted with Norwich University Peace and War Center, in cooperation with the Royal Military College (RMC), Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean (CMR) and University of Alaska Fairbanks, Center for Arctic Security and Resilience (CASR).

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Register here A reminder that the same Zoom link is used for all six sessions. After registering, if you do not receive the initial Zoom link before an event begins, please reach out to NAADSN Network Manager Dr. Shannon Nash: shannonnash@trentu.ca

RCMP Assistant Commissioner Jane MacLatchy will deliver the annual Paul Buteux Lecture on the Legacy of 9/11 on Policing which is part of a series of events that make up the J.W. Dafoe Political Studies Students' Conference this year dedicated to The Legacy of 9/11 and the Defence of North America. Register for this event here

Presentation Slides by Dr. Mathieu Landriault

Russian Arctic Strategies - Ambitions and Near-Term Expectations Downloads: PowerPoint Presentation by Troy Bouffard and P. Whitney Lackenabuer

Voices from the Arctic: Diverse Views on Canadian Arctic Security Downloads: Activity Report by John Lauzon This event is co-hosted by NAADSN and the International Security, Research and Outreach Program (ISROP) with Global Affairs Canada. This is an invite-only event, but if you are interested, please contact us.

Did the Cold War Ever End?: The New Arctic Security Triangle Environment Downloads: PowerPoint Presentation by Dr. Rob Huebert Activity Report by Nicole Covey  

Is it Time for Canada to Revisit Missile Defence Downloads: Activity Report by Alexander MacDonald

NAADSN and the Arctic Domain Awareness Center (ADAC) co-hosted a workshop to focus on specific initiatives that will improve understanding and enhance collaboration between Canada-US Arctic security professionals. Focusing on emerging trends in medium- and long-term North American Arctic security environment, the mix of academics and practitioners at this workshop anticipated potential North American Arctic futures to identify potential gaps and shortfalls in current strategies, capabilities, and research. Advancing Collaboration in Canada- US Arctic Regional Security (ACCUSARS) Workshop Report, September 2020 (draft) ACCUSARS: Key Drivers/Themes/Trends + Proposed Indicators.pdf Workshop Information and Agenda Workshop Literature Review Understanding the Future Arctic Security Environment:...

The Canadian Rangers and Community Resilience Downloads: PowerPoint Slides from Dr. Whitney Lackenbauer and Dr. Peter Kikkert (.pdf)

Present and Future Challenges to Governing Emerging Technologies Downloads: Quick Impact: Governing the Future(s) of Emerging Technologies in Canada, by Kristen Csenkey and Nina Bindel, August 2020 The NAADSN Ideas Series are conversations over Zoom that feature paper presentations and roundtable discussions about timely and relevant North American and Arctic defence and security topics. Josh Gold is a research assistant at the Citizen Lab, at the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. His research focuses on international cyberspace governance and conflict in cyberspace. Josh is also a board member of the Canadian International Council's Toronto...

  Register here *Registration ends July 3, 2020* The virtual workshop will be held Friday July 10 at 12pm EST on Zoom. You will have the chance to discuss with leading academic, industry, and policy experts about the future of Canada’s defence programme and, specifically, how it pertains to the emergence of ‘connected battlespaces’. Please register ASAP — participation is limited. You can choose between three breakout groups: Defence Policy and Strategic Planning Canada and the FVEY NORAD Modernization Key questions the discussion will answer: What are Canada’s capability gaps with respect to achieving a connected battlespace? What are the...

The North American Arctic: Security Challenges and Opportunities Downloads: Activity Report by Danielle Cherpako Ten Key Takeaways by Nancy Teeple The NAADSN Ideas Series are conversations over Zoom that feature paper presentations and roundtable discussions about timely and relevant North American and Arctic defence and security topics. Please follow us on Twitter and check back here for registration information for this event. On the evening of June 24th Iris Ferguson, Lindsay Rodman and Andrea Charron will discuss the challenges and opportunities for North American Arctic security in the near term in a geopolitically contested world.  Representing US and Canadian perspectives,...

Threats In, To, and Through the Canadian Arctic: A Framework for Analysis Downloads: PowerPoint Presentation Activity Report by Ryan Dean

Democracy, Donald Trump, and the Future of the Canada-U.S. Security Community Downloads: PowerPoint Presentation Policy Brief by Wilfrid Greaves Activity Report by Nancy Teeple Greaves, Wilfrid, "Democracy, Donald Trump and the Canada-US Security Community." Canadian Journal of Political Science, 2020, p.1-21.

Peter Kikkert, Angulalik Pedersen, and P. Whitney Lackenbauer. Kitikmeot Roundtable on Search and Rescue – General Report and Findings. Report from a workshop hosted at the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS) in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, 31 January – 1 February 2020. 68 pp. Peter Kikkert, P. Whitney Lackenbauer, and Angulalik Pedersen. Kitikmeot Roundtable on Search and Rescue – Mass Rescue Table Top Exercise Report. Report from an exercise facilitated by the Canadian Coast Guard in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, 1 February 2020. 52 pp. In the face of increased maritime, aeronautical, and terrestrial activity in Canada’s Arctic, effective community-based search...

The Arctic region is melting at an alarming rate. Global warming has already created political, economic and social changes for Northerners and governments in charge of administrating their Arctic territories. The loss of ice sea has profound consequences on public policies. At the same time, this dynamic generates uncertainty, bringing organizations and individuals alike to make predictions about the future. This conference wants to convene experts and practitioners to hear different perspectives on the challenges that rise in a changing Arctic region. 13:30 – 14:30: Military operations and Arctic sea-ice loss Moderator: Mark Salter (University of Ottawa) Lieutenant Commander Sylvain...

This conference will bring together scholars, military representatives, and current and former policymakers to discuss the history, achievements, and future of the Permanent Joint Board on Defense, established during World War Two to coordinate US and Canadian defenses in North America.