Programs

Institute receives Governor’s North Star Award

for International Excellence

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin presented the first Governor’s North Star Award for International Excellence in the field of international transportation advancement to the Institute of the North this week. Ben Ellis, managing director of the Anchorage-based institute, received the recognition for the institute staff and senior fellows at the 21st Annual Export Alaska Celebration Luncheon.

“It’s a privilege to honor this diverse group of companies and organizations,” Gov. Palin said.

Other awardees and the category include the Kenai LNG Plant for export, the Aleut International Association for scientific exchange, Sumitomo Metal Mining Corporation for foreign investment in Alaska, and the Sand Lake Elementary School for education and cultural exchange.

In noting the institute’s work throughout the Arctic, state officials highlighted the role of the institute “as the secretariat for the Circumpolar Infrastructure Task Force, sanctioned by the Arctic Council, to encourage transport and telecom links between Arctic nations.

“Through its international conferences – Russia, Canada and the United Kingdom – the institute has brought together experts in Arctic aviation and shipping to identify and discuss opportunities for international cooperation to advance circumpolar infrastructure.

“An 2006 economic analysis indicated that Anchorage is uniquely positioned to provide expanded air service to the Russian Far East from the U.S. and Canada. Vladivostok Air officials said the study was used in their determination to begin direct flights between Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and Anchorage this year.

“The institute worked with U.S. and Canadian officials to provide the first international digital weather camera demonstration project in a critical mountain pass flyway near the Alaska-British Columbia border; and to install the first international weather kiosk has at Whitehorse Airport, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada. Both projects have allowed pilots to make crucial go/no go decisions that undoubtedly have saved lives.”

“This is an award that recognizes the hard work of the staff and our senior fellows in international transportation,” said Ellis. “While we are proud of what has been accomplished, there is still much to do in the area of Arctic aviation and marine transportation.” 

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The Circumpolar Infrastructure Task Force

The Institute of the North initiated and served as the Secretariat for the Circumpolar Infrastructure Task Force, a joint effort by Arctic governments to encourage transport and telecom links between Arctic nations. Sanctioned by the Arctic Council and the Northern Forum, the task force was funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The institute continues to advance CITF goals and objectives of CITF:

• Identifying opportunities for international cooperation to advance circumpolar infrastructure in the areas of aviation, land, telecommunications and maritime, linkages, with a special emphasis on the Northern Sea Route

• Gaining understanding of the economic impact of transportation and a commitment of the governments of the eight Arctic nations to invest in and develop the transportation and telecommunications infrastructure in the Arctic circumpolar region

• Enhancing aviation and maritime safety and capacity

• Exporting new technology which enhances safety and capacity

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The Alaska Dialogue

In September of each year, the Institute of the North convenes the Alaska Dialogue, a policy focused gathering where 70 to 100 Alaska leaders and leaders-to-be gather for a 2 ½-day in-depth discussion of key and often sensitive issues.

The Dialogue uses an Alaska derivation of the “Aspen Institute Model” with briefing books, panel discussions and free-wheeling, problem-solving techniques that generate fresh approaches to difficult problems while building trust among diverse stakeholders.

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ANILCA seminars

At the request of Congress, the Institute of the North created a detailed and in-depth training curriculum on the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) of 1980. The curriculum illuminates the Alaska context for this sweeping and historic lands act and explains, in detail, its unique aspects.

The goal is to help all stakeholders, including federal agency personnel, state government leaders and land managers, Native corporate staff, inholders and the general public to better understand this pervasive and controversial law so it can be implemented fully and fairly.

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Arctic Energy Summit

The Arctic Energy Summit is an International Polar Year endorsed project and a Sustainable Development Working Group initiative of the Arctic Council.  The Summit will bring focus to the areas of developing resources while addressing the need for affordable energy in rural areas throughout the Arctic.

 

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Security and Defense Program

Since its creation, the Security and Defense program has assisted Alaska’s legislature in calling for a missile defense which provided protection to all 50 states.  Further, the Institute has joined with think tanks and policy analysts from many other states to form an independent working group which closely follows security threats to the United States and seeks to illuminate the value of land, sea, air and space-based missile defense.  Recently the program has worked to educate state leaders on issues ranging from the threat of electromagnetic pulse to critical infrastructure because state governments will be first responders in any scenario that disables telecommunications, power, transportation and medical services in their region.  The program’s director, Mead Treadwell, has also fostered continued dialogue with leaders in Japan on joint U.S.-Japan cooperation of missile defense.