Arctic Frontiers: Our 2016 coverage
![The Arctic Frontiers logo was everywhere in Tromso during the international gathering. (Eilis Quinn/Eye on the Arctic)](https://www.rcinet.ca/eye-on-the-arctic/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2016/01/arcticfrontiers-1024x683.jpg)
Arctic Frontiers is among the world’s most closely watched conferences on northern issues.
Each year, politicians, business leaders and scientists descend on the Norwegian city of Tromso to discuss all things Arctic. This year was the 10th anniversary of the conference and Eye on the Arctic was there to bring you comprehensive coverage of the people, issues and topics making waves around the circumpolar world.
Below are our collected stories.
![Arctic Frontiers 2016 was held in the Arctic city of Tromso, Norway this January. ( Eilís Quinn/Eye on the Arctic)](https://www.rcinet.ca/eye-on-the-arctic/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2016/01/tromsonight_cathedralview.png)
Politicians, business leaders and scientists are gathered in Norway this week for a major international conference tackling the one Arctic question that won’t go away: just how should the world balance much needed northern development with the pressing environmental concerns that go along with it?
![Aili Keskitalo, president of the Sami Parliament of Norway, called on politicians to stop romanticizing resource development in the Far North when she addressed Arctic Frontiers 2016. (Eilis Quinn/Eye on the Arctic)](https://www.rcinet.ca/eye-on-the-arctic/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2016/01/2b_af_jan25-300x200.jpg)
Indigenous communities around the North are struggling economically and want development more than ever, as long as it’s done on their terms and with their full partnership. “History has shown us it is not enough to trust others,” said Aili Keskitalo, president of the Sami Parliament of Norway. “Indigenous peoples all have stories to tell about historical blunders carried out in the name of modern economy and development.”
![Ulukhaktok in Canada’s Northwest Territories. What role will the Arctic Economic Council play in the economies of isolated communities like this one? (Eilis Quinn/ Eye on the Arctic)](https://www.rcinet.ca/eye-on-the-arctic/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2014/07/2UluLandscape-300x200.jpg)
When Canada announced the creation of an Arctic Economic Council during its most recent Arctic Council chairmanship (2013-2015), it was lambasted for everything from its mission to promoting a business agenda on a platform traditionally devoted to environmental protection and sustainable development. But at Arctic Frontiers, the initiative was being praised by everyone from business leaders to foreign ministers.
![A sailor looks out at Tromso, Norway from the Norwegian icebreaker KV Svalbard. (Eilis Quinn/Eye on the Arctic)](https://www.rcinet.ca/eye-on-the-arctic/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2016/01/norwegiansailor-300x200.jpg)
Climate change and the effect of global warming on the North had many predicting a shipping bonanza in Arctic water ways.
Big things were predicted for the Northwest Passage in Canada and the Northern Sea Route in Russia.
![There was a lot of debate and discussion at Arctic Frontiers 2016 sessions. But what were people talking about around the water coolers afterwards? (Eilis Quinn/Eye on the Arctic)](https://www.rcinet.ca/eye-on-the-arctic/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2016/01/aec_session-300x200.jpg)
Eye and the Arctic has been reporting from Arctic Frontiers all week. Here, we bring you a roundup of the kinds of conversations that came up around the water cooler and the one question people wouldn’t stop asking us.
Write to Eilís Quinn at eilis.quinn(at)cbc.ca