ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors outline different researcher‒field relations, discussing their implications for our ability to create knowledge about—and together with—Arctic communities. The review of literature on this theme describes how Arctic research in the area of community- and identity-building has previously worked in participatory ways and points to the potentials of a close collaborative approach to research. Going through the learning outcomes drawn from a two-year engagement with the planning and execution of the Arctic Winter Games 2016 in Nuuk, Greenland, the authors reflect on positive outcomes, as well as challenges and pitfalls in working in close collaboration with stakeholders. They propose the concept of “critical proximity” as a valuable research position in making research matter in the Arctic.
