The Circumpolar Community

An international circumpolar community working together to improve health outcomes and quality of life for people living in arctic regions.

A Circumpolar Movement

The International Union for Circumpolar Health (IUCH) is an international non-governmental organization that facilitates international collaboration in circumpolar health. It connects medical scientists, health care specialists, health administrators and Indigenous peoples to share research findings to improve health outcomes and quality of life for circumpolar people.

The Canadian Society for Circumpolar Health (CSCH) became a charter member of the IUCH in March of 1986. Through the IUCH, we are affiliated with the following circumpolar sister organizations:

Currently CSCH is represented on the International Union for Circumpolar Health by Nathaniel Pollock.

Kimberley Fairman

Nathaniel Pollock

Secretariat

From 1986 to 2008, the National Aboriginal Health Organization operated the CSCH out of its office in Ottawa, ON. In 2009, the Institute for Circumpolar Health Research (ICHR) assumed the responsibility for operating the CSCH out of its location in Yellowknife, NWT.

The CSCH became a virtual organization in 2012. It is operated by volunteer members of the Executive Committee who are mainly based Canada’s circumpolar region. While the CSCH is still physically located at the same address as ICHR, it has no permanent secretariat support. Book-keeping and website maintenance services are contracted as needed, and other duties are provided by the CSCH Executive Committee.