What Arctic Eider Society does

The Arctic Eider Society is a registered Canadian charity (number 846211712RR0001) founded in 2011 and headquartered in Sanikiluaq, Nunavut, operating across Hudson Bay and Inuit Nunangat with a small team of 11-50 staff. It delivers Indigenous-driven programs organized around three pillars — Community-Driven Research Network, Education & Outreach, and Environmental Stewardship — that integrate traditional ecological knowledge with modern scientific monitoring to address interconnected environmental and social issues including sea ice change, food security, contaminants, and language preservation. Its primary constituents are Inuit and Cree hunters, elders, and communities across Sanikiluaq, Inukjuak, Umiujaq, Kuujjuaraapik, Chisasibi, and other Hudson Bay / James Bay settlements.

Core products and technology include the award-winning 90-minute documentary 'People of a Feather' (16 film festival awards), the book 'Voices From the Bay' (recognized by the United Nations in 1997), the SIKU Indigenous Knowledge Social Network (mobile and web platform for ice safety, weather, language preservation, and conservation economies), and the Arctic Sea Ice Educational Package with 25+ curriculum-aligned lesson plans. Field work combines Indigenous Knowledge with oceanographic profilers, moorings, monitoring stations, drones, underwater video, time-lapse imaging, and mobile apps; AES also collaborated with Google Earth Outreach to capture the first-ever Street View imagery of polynyas and floe edges. The SIKU platform is being scaled for use across Inuit Nunangat.

The business model is a hybrid nonprofit funding structure. Revenue is generated through (i) charitable donations, both recurring ($10–$50/month) and one-time ($25–$1,000, with tax receipts above $25); (ii) media and product sales via a direct-to-consumer online gift store (DVDs $20, soundtracks $12, educational packages $70–$270, books $29.95) shipped via Canada Post; (iii) research and program grants from funders including Canada Foundation for Innovation ($3,527,364), NSERC, Tides Canada, ArcticNet, and MEOPAR; and (iv) institutional partnerships with universities (Manitoba, Carleton), school boards (Kativik), and government departments (Nunavut Department of Education). Distribution is entirely first-party: own e-commerce store, free Vimeo streaming of the documentary, free downloadable educational materials, and direct grants.

Name

Arctic Eider Society

Legal name

Arctic Eider Society

Website

https://arcticeider.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Arctic Eider Society is a registered Canadian charity based in Sanikiluaq, Nunavut, delivering Indigenous-driven environmental research, education, and stewardship programs across Hudson Bay and Inuit Nunangat. It produces the People of a Feather documentary, the SIKU knowledge platform, and curriculum-aligned Arctic science materials for Inuit and Cree communities, schools, and research partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Forestry & Indigenous Land Stewardship Services (IMAMAJAM), Minority, Indigenous & Disability Rights (BPADAGAH), Indigenous & Community Cultural Institutions (THAJADAK)

Keywords

• Indigenous environmental stewardship
• Community-driven research
• Arctic sea ice education
• Traditional ecological knowledge
• Hudson Bay conservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Sanikiluaq

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Media and Product Sales: The organization operates a gift store selling documentary DVDs ($20), soundtracks ($12), educational packages ($70–$270), and the book 'Voices From the Bay' ($29.95). Products are available for purchase online with Canada Post shipping across Canada.
2. Charitable Donations: The organization accepts charitable donations with tax receipts available for donations over $25. Recurring monthly donation options ($10, $20, $40, $50 per month) and one-time donation amounts ($25, $50, $100, $150, $250, $500, $1,000) are offered online. Donations support Indigenous-driven solutions for thriving northern communities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Arctic Eider Society is a registered Canadian charity that delivers community-driven environmental research, education and outreach, and stewardship programs across Inuit Nunangat and Hudson Bay. It sells media products (documentary DVDs, soundtracks, books, educational packages) through its gift store and provides the SIKU Indigenous Knowledge Social Network platform for ice safety, weather, language preservation, and conservation economies.

Product overview

The Arctic Eider Society offers a portfolio of Indigenous-driven environmental programs centered around three pillars: Community-Driven Research Network, Education & Outreach, and Environmental Stewardship. Key products include the award-winning documentary 'People of a Feather' (available as DVD, educational package, or free streaming) and its soundtrack; the book 'Voices From the Bay' documenting traditional ecological knowledge; and the digital platform SIKU providing ice safety, weather, and language preservation tools for Inuit communities. The Arctic Sea Ice Educational Package delivers 25+ standards-aligned lesson plans integrating Indigenous knowledge with scientific methods for K-12 classrooms. These offerings work together to advance Indigenous self-determination in research, education, and environmental stewardship across Hudson Bay and Inuit Nunangat.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SIKU: The Indigenous Knowledge Social Network - a mobile app and web platform by and for Indigenous communities with tools for ice safety, weather, language preservation, and conservation economies.

Products and services

• People of a Feather Documentary 90-minute documentary film about the relationship between eider ducks, sea ice, and the Inuit community of Sanikiluaq. Available as DVD ($20), Blu-Ray, or for free streaming.
• People of a Feather Soundtrack Soundtrack album with 25 tracks of traditional and modern music from Sanikiluaq, including original recordings by Tanya Tagaq, Cris Derksen, and Curtis Andrews. Priced at $12.00.
• People of a Feather DVD & Educational Package Educational version of the documentary including 90 and 52 minute versions plus 34 minutes of special features, with curriculum-aligned lesson plans for K-12. Approved by Nunavut Department of Education. Priced $70.00–$270.00.
• Voices From the Bay Book 100-page paperback book by Miriam MacDonald, Lucassie Arragutainaq, and Zach Novalinga synthesizing Inuit and Cree traditional ecological knowledge across Hudson Bay and James Bay. Priced at $29.95, distributed on a not-for-profit basis.
• SIKU: The Indigenous Knowledge Social Network Mobile app and web platform by and for Indigenous communities providing tools for ice safety, weather forecasting, language preservation, and conservation economies. Being developed for use across Inuit Nunangat and integrates Google Earth Outreach street view imagery of polynyas and floe edges.
• Arctic Sea Ice Educational Package Multimedia educational package with 25+ standards-aligned lesson plans integrating Indigenous Knowledge with the scientific method for middle and high school classes. Topics include Arctic sea ice dynamics, traditional and modern Inuit technology, and Hudson Bay Common Eider ecology. Free online download or available as print/USB order.

Quantifiable outcome

• The 'Voices from the Bay' publication (1997) set a precedent for Indigenous knowledge mobilization and was recognized at the 50th anniversary of the United Nations
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Hudson Bay ConsortiumflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018The Hudson Bay Consortium is a collaborative initiative catalyzed by AES among communities, rights holders, Indigenous organizations and all levels of government to work towards shared goals including knowledge sharing, sustainable development, coordinated research and monitoring, integrated regional stewardship, and Indigenous Knowledge-informed management. It was formally launched at the Hudson Bay Summit in winter 2018. AES provides administrative services and in-kind support on an ongoing basis.
• ArcticNetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArcticNet is a Canadian research network focused on studying the changing Arctic. The Arctic Eider Society partners with ArcticNet on the Community-Driven Research Network, combining Inuit knowledge with scientific research on sea ice ecosystems, oceanographic conditions, and environmental change in Hudson Bay.
• University of ManitobacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe organization works with the University of Manitoba and Inuit and Cree hunters to deploy oceanographic equipment and take ice core and water samples to assess cumulative impacts of environmental change on sea ice ecosystems in south-east Hudson Bay, with a focus on freshwater inputs and hydroelectric regulation impacts.
• Carleton UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarleton University is listed as a research partner supporting the Community-Driven Research Network's programs on sea ice ecology and environmental monitoring in Hudson Bay.
• MEOPAR (Marine Environmental Observation, Prediction and Response Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMEOPAR is a Canadian research network focused on marine environmental issues. It is listed as a partner supporting the Community-Driven Research Network's work on oceanographic monitoring and environmental assessment in Hudson Bay.
• Environment Canada / Canadian Arctic Resources CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe organization partnered with Environment Canada and the Northern Contaminants Program to study all levels of the marine food web (plankton, invertebrates, fish, birds, mammals) to assess emerging contaminants and mercury. The 'Voices from the Bay' publication was published in 1997 by the Canadian Arctic Resources Committee.
• Air InuitminorOthersAir Inuit is listed as a sponsor of the organization's programs and may provide in-kind transportation support for remote Arctic communities.
• Kativik School BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Kativik School Board (Kativik Ilisarniliriniq) is listed as a sponsor and partner for delivering education and outreach programming to Nunavik schools, supporting curriculum delivery using the Arctic Sea Ice Educational Package.
• Nunavut Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Nunavut Department of Education has formally approved the People of a Feather film and educational package as an official learning resource. Curriculum connections have been developed and the department supports integration of these materials into Nunavut classrooms.
• Qikiqtani Inuit AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Qikiqtani Inuit Association is partnered with the Sanikiluaq Hunters and Trappers Association, Municipality of Sanikiluaq, and AES on the Qikiqtait Protected Areas Project to plan and implement community-driven approach to marine and terrestrial protected areas for the Belcher Islands.
• Sanikiluaq Hunters and Trappers AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Sanikiluaq Hunters and Trappers Association is the primary community partner for the Qikiqtait Protected Areas Project and the Qikiqtait Centre, working on stewardship and guardians programs for the Belcher Islands region.
• Municipality of SanikiluaqcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Municipality of Sanikiluaq is partnered with the Sanikiluaq Hunters and Trappers Association and AES on the Qikiqtait Protected Areas Project to plan and implement community-driven approach to marine and terrestrial protected areas.
• Nunavut General Monitoring PlancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Nunavut General Monitoring Plan is listed as a partner supporting the Community-Driven Research Network's environmental monitoring and research coordination efforts in Nunavut.
• Nunavik Marine Region Wildlife BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Nunavik Marine Region Wildlife Board is listed as a partner supporting wildlife monitoring and research coordination across the Nunavik marine region within the broader Hudson Bay area.
• Cree Nation of ChisasibicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Cree Nation of Chisasibi is a community partner in the Community-Driven Research Network, with Cree hunters involved in deploying oceanographic equipment and participating in the freshwater marine coupling study across Hudson Bay.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Oceans North: Canadian conservation organization focused on marine and Arctic environments, partnering with Indigenous communities on marine stewardship. Directly comparable to AES in Arctic environmental research, Indigenous partnership models, and policy advocacy, though Oceans North has broader national and Atlantic-facing scope.
• ArcticNet: Canadian Network of Centres of Excellence focused on Arctic climate change research. Directly comparable to AES on sea ice ecosystem research, oceanographic monitoring, and Indigenous knowledge integration, and is an active Core research partner of AES.

Broad incumbents

• Ducks Unlimited Canada: Canada's leading wetland conservation organization with extensive community-based programs and Indigenous partnerships. Comparable to AES in combining conservation science with educational outreach, though DUC operates at a much larger national scale and a different ecological focus.
• WWF-Canada: Canada branch of the global WWF network with major Arctic programs including species and habitat conservation. Comparable to AES on environmental research, community partnerships, and species monitoring, though WWF-Canada operates globally with a much larger funding base.
• Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC): Canada's largest private land conservation organization with Indigenous stewardship partnerships across provinces. Comparable to AES on the Indigenous-led stewardship model (e.g., Qikiqtait Protected Areas Project) and protected-area planning, though NCC is a much larger national-scale organization.
• Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami: National representational body for Inuit in Canada, advocating on rights, environment, and community well-being across Inuit Nunangat. Highly comparable to AES in Indigenous-led mission and Arctic regional focus, though ITK operates at a national policy level rather than community-program level.
• Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC): International Indigenous peoples' organization representing Inuit across the Arctic. Comparable to AES on Indigenous-driven environmental advocacy, language preservation, and circumpolar stewardship, though ICC operates at the international policy level rather than through community-driven research networks.

Others

• MakeWay (formerly Tides Canada): Canadian charitable platform that hosts and funds environmental and social justice initiatives, including serving as AES's fiscal sponsor. Functionally an enabling partner and funder, comparable as an ecosystem participant supporting Indigenous-led environmental work across Canada.
• Google Earth Outreach: Google's program that provides mapping and visualization tools to nonprofit and Indigenous communities. Directly comparable to AES as an enabling technology partner that co-produced the first-ever Street View imagery of polynyas and floe edges — a relationship that is structurally adjacent rather than competitive.

Regional players

• Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS): Canada's only nationwide charity dedicated solely to the protection of public land and water. Comparable to AES on protected-area planning and Indigenous partnership work, though CPAWS is advocacy-led rather than community-research-led.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/arcticeider
• Facebookfacebook.com/arcticeider

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Arctic Eider Society