10/17/2025
Ambassador Kellie Miller (Iñupiaq from Nome) spoke on a panel today at Arctic Circle about the role of science and environmental protection in relations between United States and Russia. Kellie's message centered on the history of the Bering Strait and the people who have stewarded the region well before borders were ever established.
During the session she shared:
"The Bering Strait region is the intersection of multiple inter-related Indigenous cultures. The Iñupiaq, Central Yup’ik, Siberian Yup’ik, and Chukchi peoples have called the Bering Strait home for millennia. Connected through language, environment, and ancestry, our cultures have thrived off of the flourishing ecosystem of the Bering Sea. Our peoples have stewarded the land, water, and ecosystems through values rooted in respect, reciprocity, and the preservation of our natural resources for perpetuity. Shared resources such as marine mammals and a plethora of flora and fauna have sustained our peoples, and will continue to do so for generations to come."
Kellie also highlighted the importance of recognizing that environmental impacts do not stop at the border and that we need action to address the increased extreme weather events, considering Typhoon Merbok and Typhoon Halong (which hit Western Alaska last week). She also shared how co-management of shared resources is vital for all people to continue thriving in the region.
Kellie would like to thank the Arctic Circle Assembly, Harvard Kennedy School’s Arctic Initiative, Dartmouth Institute of Arctic Studies, and Arctic Youth Ambassadors for the opportunity. She would also like to thank her community, family, and friends for their support as she navigated her first Arctic Circle Assembly and panel participation opportunities!
We are grateful for the knowledge that Kellie was willing to share with the audience at Arctic Circle Assembly which is the largest annual international gathering on the Arctic, attended by more than 2000 participants from over 60 countries.
