The United States has taken the helm of the Arctic Council and the eight-nation body is meeting in Anchorage this week.
![The borders of the Arctic Ocean, according to the CIA The World Factbook[5] (blue area), and as defined by the IHO (black outline - excluding marginal waterbodies). Image: Wikimedia Commons.](https://alaskapublic.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Arctic_Ocean_-_en_IHO.png)
Nils Andreassen is the executive director of the Institute of the North. The Institute is facilitating the meetings. He says the U.S. has identified several priorities for its chairmanship of the Council.
Nils Andreassen is the executive director of the Institute of the North. As part of Council events in Anchorage, a youth forum tonight at the Alaska Native Heritage Center will feature speed interviews of senior Arctic officials.
On Friday, the Alaska World Affairs Council is hosting a lunchtime panel discussion on international cooperation in the arctic. Both events are open to the public.
