About Us
Arctic Institute of North America
History
The Arctic Institute of North America (AINA) was created by an Act of Parliament in 1945 as a nonprofit tax-exempt research and educational organization. Originally based at McGill University in Montreal, the Institute moved to the University of Calgary in 1976. In 1979, the Institute became part of the University of Calgary as a university research institute.
Our mandate is to advance the study of the North American and circumpolar Arctic through the natural and social sciences, the arts and humanities and to acquire, preserve and disseminate information on physical, environmental and social conditions in the North.
In 2025, the Institute celebrated its 80th birthday, while 2026 marks AINA's 50th anniversary at the University of Calgary and the 65th anniversary of the Kluane Lake Research Station.
For a more detailed history of the Arctic Institute of North America, please see Research Associate Robert MacDonald's publication on AINA's history, which appeared in the December 2005 issue of Arctic.
AINA as an Arctic Council Observer
Since 2004, AINA has proudly served as an Observer to the Arctic Council — the leading intergovernmental forum promoting cooperation, coordination, and interaction among the Arctic States, Arctic Indigenous Peoples, and other Arctic inhabitants on common Arctic issues, particularly those related to sustainable development and environmental protection in the Arctic.
By participating in Arctic Council processes, AINA strengthens the bridge between research and policy, ensuring that Arctic decision-making is informed by high-quality science and grounded in collaboration.
As Arctic systems face rapid environmental, social, and economic change, AINA remains committed to supporting inclusive, transparent, and knowledge-based governance across the circumpolar North.
We conduct, support, preserve, and communicate Arctic research.
Kluane Lake Research Station
Kluane Lake Research Station (KLRS) is located 220 km northwest of Whitehorse, Yukon, on the south shore of Lhù’ààn Mân (Kluane Lake) and is privileged to be situated within the Traditional Territory of the Kluane First Nation and the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations. KLRS was established in 1961.
ADA: Arctic Discovery & Access
ADA is a digital educational service that provides access to scientific research publications, research projects derived from license and permit information, K-12 educational resources, data management resources for researchers, virtual exhibits, and AINA's online archives and special collections.
ARCTIC Journal
Now in its seventh decade of continuous publishing, ARCTIC contains contributions from any area of scholarship dealing with the polar and subpolar regions of the world. Articles in ARCTIC present original research and have withstood intensive peer review.
Publications
Since its creation, the Arctic Institute has published many books on the North. These reflect the interdisciplinary nature of the Institute, which is mandated to collect and disseminate information from the natural and social sciences and humanities.
