About Us

About the Institute of the North

Governor Walter J. Hickel, founder of the Institute of the North, believed strongly that we must understand the reality, the richness and the responsibility of the North.  He championed “the commons” and how to care for commonly-owned lands and resources, in our state and beyond.

Today, the Institute works to share that vision.  Our mission is vital to Alaska’s role as a key stakeholder in policy affecting the Arctic.  We stand at a pivotal place where ideas and connections matter – across the state and on a global scale. In the Arctic, the Institute is both an advocate and a convener.

The Institute of the North is a 501(c)3 non profit specializing in how to utilize and care for the resource-rich commons for the benefit of those living in and on the commons. Areas of special study include Alaska, the many regions of the Arctic and other areas of the world that are wealthy in both human cultures and natural resources. The Institute has gained a wide reputation as a center for the study of commonly-owned lands, seas and resources using Alaska as a model.