Once We Had the Arctic

A unique journey into the Arctic world, its myths and changes

Finland's leading expert on Arctic affairs, Markku Heikkilä shares insights from 25 years of travel, from the northern parts of Canada to the Ob River and from Iceland to Alaska.

During his journeys, Heikkilä shatters myths and preconceptions about life in the Arctic. He highlights stories that few people know, such as the Last War of the Khanty People, Alaskan Sámi reindeer and the ballerina in Svalbard.

The book dives into landscapes and lives, some of which we are about to lose. It's about more than our changing climate; the Arctic was once a shared space among different peoples, until the region was swept in a storm of global politics.

""A breathtaking book. It delves deep into the northern world in a smooth and profound way."" - Kulttuuritoimitus

"Markku Heikkilä has compiled his extensive knowledge and a quarter of a century of travel in eight Arctic countries." - Kaleva

Markku Heikkilä is a journalist and Head of Science Communications at the Arctic Centre. He has followed northern affairs closely and worked in the region for more than 30 years. Heikkilä is a versatile author who has published several non-fiction books and has received the State Prize for Public Information.