Student story - Viljo Vuorimäki’s experience in the Arctic Future Pathfinders course

I am Viljo Vuorimäki, a master’s student in Arctic World Politics at the University of Lapland and a long-time student activist in its Student Union. I am currently serving on the Board of the University of the Arctic (UArctic) as a student representative until the next General Assembly, when a new representative will be elected. Alongside this role, I am also co-leading the new Arctic Youth Thematic Network. Through the support of UArctic and its Secretariat, I’ve been fortunate to participate in several remarkable initiatives that have framed my understanding of Arctic collaboration and education.

One of these experiences was the One Ocean Expedition, which took an unexpected and dramatic turn, transforming what was planned as a month-long sailing journey into a two-week land-based program in Cambridge Bay and Anchorage.

In June 2025, I was invited to join the Arctic Pathfinders course, organized by UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, as part of the One Ocean Expedition. The plan was to sail through the Northwest Passage, from Cambridge Bay, Canada, to Anchorage, Alaska, aboard the Statsraad Lehmkuhl, a Norwegian tall ship serving as a “floating ambassador” for the UN Ocean Decade. UiT had chartered the ship from August to early October, divided into two legs:

· Leg 1: Nuuk, Greenland → Cambridge Bay, Canada

· Leg 2: Cambridge Bay → Whittier, U.S.

I was nominated by the University of Lapland, representing UArctic, and joined the group preparing for this once-in-a-lifetime voyage.

Throughout the summer, I worked to prepare for the trip: securing a B1/B2 visa for the U.S., undergoing a seafarer’s medical examination, gathering gear for Arctic conditions, completing UiT’s mandatory safety courses, and reading over 40 academic articles in preparation for the onboard lectures.

However, during the second week of August, as the Statsraad Lehmkuhl approached Canadian waters, the expedition faced an unforeseen challenge. The Canadian authorities denied entry through the Northwest Passage due to ice conditions and the ship not meeting the technical requirements for such icy waters.

This unexpected decision set off a period of uncertainty. UiT educators and the ship’s crew had to rapidly devise new plans. The captain chose to redirect the ship through the Panama Canal to meet other commitments, while UiT faced difficult decisions: continue onboard and risk losing funding, cancel the course, or reinvent the program entirely. Ultimately, UiT opted to cancel the sailing leg and disembark educators and students in Saint John, Canada, rather than the originally planned Cambridge Bay. Participants of the second leg, including myself, were advised to hold our tickets and await new instructions.

After a week of waiting, we received updated information that the course would be shortened from a month to two weeks and held entirely on land. Our itinerary included a few days in Edmonton, Canada, followed by a week in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, and another week in Anchorage, Alaska, before returning home. Despite the shortened timeframe, the program was impressive, with a packed schedule of lectures and presentations often stretching up to 10 hours. Students, including doctoral candidates, had opportunities to present their own research, making learning more hands on.

Cambridge Bay provided a unique perspective on life in the Arctic. We stayed partly at the Canadian High Arctic Research Station and partly in tents, experiencing firsthand the challenges of living in a remote, small community. Lectures were held at Arctic College, where, in addition, conversations took place with local elders and community members who shared their knowledge of local traditions and everyday life. One notable and eye-opening experience was attending a community event linked to a new mining project in the region, a moment that for me and many others exposed the uneasy mix of local arctic life and corporate interests.

In Anchorage, the pace of lectures continued, complemented by panels with Indigenous representatives, meetings with local officials, and outdoor activities like a five-hour mountain hike. I also had the opportunity to meet with the UAA Student Union representatives to discuss challenges facing their institutions, providing a valuable perspective on higher education and student activism in the US Arctic context.

Overall, the Arctic Future Pathfinders program offered a multidisciplinary perspective on the Arctic, combining natural and social sciences. It provided perspectives into life in remote northern communities, making me question how outside interests fit into that delicate mix. But most importantly, the journey led to lasting friendships with students I truly hope to stay connected with. The deep and thoughtful conversations we shared, I believe, lay very much the groundwork for future Arctic collaboration.

Photo: Heikki Tiilikka. Viljo Vuorimäki during the South Fork Eagle River Trailhead hike in Chugach State Park, Anchorage, USA.