The extremely successful Northern Birthright Initiative was a program created to help educate Northerners about their own country and how to survive its vast wilderness while affording the ability to travel to many who may not have the means to do it themselves.

In an effort to strengthen ties between Iceland and the Northern Union, Ottawa has invited Iceland to particpate in the program. Federal funding to the tune of $100 million would cover the entire operation that would see Icelandic students at their equivalent of grade 10 or 11 sent to camps across the varied states and provinces of the Northern Union. Icelanders' strength with the English language and familiarity with Northern culture should ensure that this transmission is relatively smooth.

As this happens, the Northern Union will also be sponsoring the construction of 25 camps across Iceland to house Northern students, due to be complete next summer. These will allow Northerners to experience Iceland and its culture on a local level rather than just being exposed to Icelanders coming to the NU.

The overall aim is to augment cultural exchange. The program has generally been considered successful already as it has allowed Northerners from places as distant as Yukon and Quebec to forge friendships that may not have arisen otherwise. Including Iceland will include Icelanders in this Northern right of passage, hopefully making it an Arctic right of passage as well.