The Arctic Rivers Project brings together Indigenous Knowledge and Western science to better understand how climate change is affecting rivers, fish, and communities in Alaska and the Yukon. Over six years, the team has worked with tribal organizations, universities, and agencies, guided by an Indigenous Advisory Council. Collectively, we aimed to ensure that research was useful and meaningful to local communities. Key lessons include the need to involve Indigenous experts as full partners, not just advisors, and to prioritize scientific model-infomed tools that are helpful to communities. Differences in language and approaches across disciplines made collaboration difficult, and university-led decision-making sometimes limited diverse input. Geographic distance and varying goals and expectations across institutions and communities also posed challenges. Despite this, the project hosted successful gatherings like the Arctic Rivers Summit and workshops that combined local stories with scientific data to create place-based climate narratives. The project highlights the importance of mutual respect, Indigenous data sovereignty, and collaboration. We emphasize that when done equitably, convergence research can produce knowledge that supports both scientific advancement and community needs. Continued support for this kind of research is essential for Arctic communities to adapt to climate change.