Exactly 30 years ago, on November 8, 1991, in Anchorage, Alaska, USA, a constituent assembly was held on the creation of the international organization "The Northern Forum". The founding members were 11 regions from 9 Northern countries: Yukon, Canada; Heilongjiang Province, China; Lapland, Finland; Hokkaido, Japan; Dornod, Mongolia; Trøndelag and Tromso, Norway; Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Kamchatka Krai, Magadan Oblast, Russia; Republic of Korea; and Alaska, USA.

All participants agreed that in the future, great opportunities will open up for the Northern Forum, despite the difficulties that must be overcome in order to achieve the set objectives. They expressed their hope regarding the original purpose of the Northern Forum - to serve as the main communication tool for increasing the effectiveness of international cooperation throughout the North. They hoped that over time, the Northern Forum will play an important role in relation to the conditions and problems common to all northern regions. And it is these tasks that have united and unite the Northern Forum for over 30 years!

The Northern Forum Secretariat congratulates all its friends and partners on important date, on entire era that has given the North and the Arctic many wonderful projects, events and meetings!

Founding Father of the Northern Forum, Governor of Alaska 1966-1969 and 1990-1994, Walter J. Hickel