About
Guiding Principles
- Vision: A resilient and integrated Polar community.
- Mission: Strengthen, inspire, and engage the young Polar community.
- Values: Autonomy, diversity, accessibility, and preservation.
We commit to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion principles.
The Program
The six-month Polar Eclipse Program (May to October 2026) brings together Indigenous knowledge holders, artists, practitioners, mountaineers, and western scientists in rural Iceland during the total solar eclipse on August 12th, 2026. Set within a landscape shaped by glaciers, volcanoes, and rapidly changing climates, the program’s goal is to connect different communities concerned about the future of polar regions and, together, find novel ways to shape that future. Participants are invited to listen and exchange their knowledge, skills, and experiences related to polar regions with the group through nature walks, science lectures, reflective discussions, and collaborative sessions that emphasize hands-on exploration, crafting, and co-creation. These shared activities are designed not only to transfer knowledge, but also to cultivate trust, curiosity, and mutual respect across disciplines and worldviews. In times of fragmented support and reduced funding for polar initiatives, it is crucial to foster connections between communities and build a resilient, collaborative network that bridges knowledge systems and generations. By creating space for dialogue, creativity, and collective reflection, the program seeks to nurture relationships that will endure beyond the event itself. Some lights shine brightest in times of darkness. Likewise, we hope the Polar Eclipse Program finds guiding “polar lights” to bring hope and inspiration during the total solar eclipse, serving as a symbolic reminder that moments of shadow can also illuminate new paths forward.
The Team
Organizing Committee
- Julia Kaltenborn
- Juliana Souza
- Mélisande Teng
- Sophie Xhonneux
Guiding Committee
- Oliver Sonnentag (Professor at UdeM)
- Camellia Gray (Elder, Inuvialuit)
- Astra Lincoln (Freelance Writer)
Special Thanks
Special thanks go to Emma, Albert, Cal, Sidney, Sicely, and Sidney who believed in this project from the first moment onwards.