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© Arctic Council Secretariat

The Kingdom of Denmark’s Chairship of the Arctic Council hosts first meetings with Indigenous Permanent Participants and Subsidiary Bodies

June 17, 2025
The Kingdom of Denmark

From 16-17 June 2025, the Kingdom of Denmark held its first meetings with the Heads of Delegation of the Indigenous Permanent Participants as well as the Chairs and Secretariats of the Arctic Council’s Working Groups since assuming the Chairship of the Arctic Council (2025-2027) in May this year. More than 30 participants gathered online and in-person for the meeting hosted in Tromsø, Norway.

The two-day meetings facilitated communication and cooperation between the Chairship, Permanent Participants and all subsidiary bodies at the launch of the Kingdom of Denmark’s second Chairship cycle.

On day one, the Kingdom of Denmark’s Chairship hosted a meeting with the six Indigenous Peoples’ organizations that have Permanent Participant status in the Arctic Council. High on the agenda were discussions regarding the implementation of key elements of the Kingdom of Denmark’s Chairship program, upcoming Chairship events and cross-cutting Chairship priorities. Each Permanent Participant presented their updates and priorities during the meeting.

The Kingdom of Denmark Chairship team together with representatives from the Arctic Council Indigenous Permanent Participants
© Arctic Council Secretariat

On day two, the Kingdom of Denmark convened a meeting between the Chairship, Permanent Participants, and the Council’s six Working Groups and Expert Group. Discussions included Working Group work plans with a focus on opportunities for Permanent Participant engagement in projects and initiatives, as well as upcoming and future events. Following the joint session, the Kingdom of Denmark met with Working/Expert Group Chairs and Executive Secretaries to discuss aligning Working Group projects and initiatives with the Chairship’s priorities, among other topics.

“I am very satisfied to have concluded positive and constructive meetings,” said Kenneth Høegh, Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials. “While it is not business as usual in the Arctic Council, we aim to make the Council as lively and vibrant as possible. Engagement with Indigenous Peoples with a focus on promoting knowledge sharing is a cross-cutting priority for the Kingdom of Denmark. Meeting with the Permanent Participants and subsidiary bodies is extremely important and valuable to see our Chairship priorities through and to advance the many diverse projects and initiatives in the Council. Hearing the positivity and dedication from Permanent Participants and Working Groups leaves me with a great sense of optimism.”

The Chairship team together with Permanent Participants and Working Group representatives
© Arctic Council Secretariat

While official meetings of the Arctic Council on a diplomatic level are paused, Chairship meetings with the Permanent Participants and subsidiary bodies were initiated during the Norwegian Chairship (2023-2025), with the Kingdom of Denmark continuing to host these meetings. The Kingdom of Denmark will regularly engage both bilaterally and multilaterally with all Arctic States, Permanent Participants, Working Groups and Observers. In February 2024, virtual meetings of the Council’s subsidiary bodies resumed, enabling scientific collaboration as well as the Council’s projects and initiatives to further advance.

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