The Fostering Indigenous-led Research (FILR) Convergence Working Group (CWG) is one of three CWGs that the NNA-CO supported from June 2023 to May 2025. Each group had experienced and early-career co-leads. This group focused on what Indigenous-led research is now, what it can look like, and next steps toward Indigenous-led research. One of the FILR CWG's final products is this podcast mini-series. Each episode is hosted by a different co-lead and explores a FILR topic of the host's choice, with guests curated by the host. Tune in to this episode of this special mini-series.

This episode is hosted by Dr. Stanislav "Saas" Ksenefontov, with guests Dr. Ekaterina Zibrova and Dr. Vera Solovyeva. Ekaterina and Vera share what it means to be an Indigenous scholar in Siberia and what it’s like to conduct Indigenous and decolonial research there. Though Siberia occupies almost half of the geographical space of northern Eurasia, it is one of the least studied regions in western academia. It straddles both Arctic and subarctic climes and is home to four million people, the majority of whom are Indigenous. Tune in to this fascinating episode, and check out the show notes for more information on our guests!

The Fostering Indigenous-led Research (FILR) Convergence Working Group (CWG) is one of three Convergence Working Groups that the NNA-CO has supported. Each group had experienced co-leads as well as early career co-leads. The FILR group focused on what Indigenous-led research is now, what it can look like, and next steps to creating research that is Indigenous-led. One of the final products of the FILR CWG is this podcast mini-series. The episodes are hosted by a different co-lead of the FILR CWG. Each co-lead host chose a specific topic that relates to FILR to explore with selected guests. Tune in to this special mini-series that dives into what Indigenous-led Research is and can be.

This episode is hosted by Dr. Dylan Blaskey, with guests Henry P. Huntington and Louise Mercer. They are non-Indigenous and offer insight through their experiences working with Indigenous Arctic peoples. Tune in to hear nuggets of wisdom, practical advice, and their take on what it means to Foster Indigenous-led Research.

Check out the show notes for resources shared by the guests!

Episode 7 features the early career co-leads of the NNA-CO Fostering Indigenous-led Research Convergence Working Group. Dr. Margaret Rudolf, Dr. Dylan Blaskey, Dr. Stanislav Ksenofontov, and glaciologist and PhD student Aurora Roth share about their career paths and how they bring their whole selves into their work.

Fostering Indigenous-led Research continues and grows with students and early-career professionals as they continue and add to the momentum of co-production and convergence research that is beneficial to Arctic communities, their respective institutions, as well as the world at large. Learning from their peers, mentors, and experiences, they are more equipped to build and maintain relationships with communities and make lasting and reciprocal connections.

For more information and links to resources, check out the show notes for this episode!