"My name is Nels Ure, and I am a second generation from Alaska. I grew up in Kodiak and spent the last four years in Naknek, where I started my family. I am a commercial salmon fisherman in Bristol Bay and advocate for salmon habitat protection against extractive industries. I am currently at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where I am in the final semester of my bachelor's. I am a Climate and Arctic Sustainability major with a concentration in Arctic History and Politics and a minor in Alaska Native Studies. I am also an Honors Climate Scholar, which has allowed me to look at all of my studies with an additional lens of climate. My undergraduate work has taken an interdisciplinary look at salmon and their intersections with humans through economic, environmental, and cultural lenses.
Participating in the Arctic Youth Network was a transformative experience. It allowed me to bring my work for salmon habitat protection in Bristol Bay to a larger platform, pitch ideas, find common solutions, and gain valuable insights from other youth. The highlight was being invited to be a panelist for a Youth and Biodiversity and Conservation panel hosted by the Arctic Council's working group, Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna. At this panel, I shared my work in Bristol Bay to inspire youth and facilitate dialogues with small groups to better engage young people in biodiversity and conservation work. The experience left me feeling more inspired about the future and having a network of new colleagues and friends who also believe the Arctic can thrive. It was a powerful reminder of the potential for positive change in our world.
This grant allowed me to travel to Tromsø, Norway from Alaska and attend this valuable conference. I was able to network, learn about new initiatives other youth work on, expand my personal views on issues in the Arctic, and experience another Arctic community. I am also working on a senior thesis project that I hope will turn into a long-term one. I met with various Arctic Council, Working Group, and Permanent Participant staff members with whom I could soft launch my project. Additionally, I met with the World Wildlife Fund, to whom I will submit a full proposal. This opportunity has allowed me to strongly finish my undergraduate degree while ensuring the important work I am doing in Bristol Bay reaches new audiences for conservation efforts. I appreciate this grant through UArctic, it has made an incredible difference in my profession and educational path."
Part of the YoungArctic project, financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway. YoungArctic is a collaboration between High North Center (at Nord University), UArctic, and International Arctic Social Sciences Association (IASSA).Follow the project on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youngarcticproject/