Abstract for: Indigenous perspectives on green finance and digital infrastructure: A system dynamics approach

Climate change disproportionately impacts the Arctic region, creating tensions between developmental imperatives and Indigenous sovereignty. Green finance initiatives and digital infrastructure development are expanding rapidly in Alaska, yet current frameworks insufficiently integrate Indigenous knowledge systems into decision-making processes. This research addresses the critical gap in understanding how Alaska Native communities perceive and experience these intersecting domains through a systems perspective. We employ qualitative system dynamics methodology to model complex relationships between financial systems, technological infrastructure, and Indigenous communities. Our approach integrates: (1) systematic meta-synthesis of research literature documenting Indigenous perspectives; (2) analysis of original research from the Northeastern University Arctic Studies Lab; and (3) development of causal loop diagrams (CLDs) representing feedback structures identified through Indigenous knowledge frameworks. This triangulated approach enables visualization of dynamic interactions across environmental, economic, technological, and cultural domains. The causal loop diagrams reveal that Indigenous governance authority functions as a critical leverage point influencing multiple feedback loops across both financial and technological systems. Models demonstrate how broadband connectivity creates both educational opportunities (reinforcing) and potential digital divides (balancing), while data sovereignty emerges as fundamental to Indigenous participation in both green finance and digital infrastructure development. Cross-domain analysis identifies mechanisms through which digital infrastructure enables access to sustainable finance while governance frameworks determine distributional outcomes. These findings emphasize the need for governance frameworks that explicitly recognize Indigenous sovereignty in development decision-making. Rather than treating green finance and digital infrastructure as separate technical domains, development approaches should address their systemic interconnections through Indigenous knowledge frameworks that integrate cultural, environmental, and economic considerations. Future research requires participatory modeling methodologies that directly engage Alaska Native communities in co-developing systems representations of sustainable development pathways. AI tools were used to facilitate brainstorming, while all contributions are the original authors'