POSTERGUIDE Research at Sรกmi University College
Sรกmi allaskuvla Sรกmi University College
ABOUT THE RESEARCH
Indigenous Pathways to Adulthood Kristine Nystad
Assistant Professor Sámi University College/PhD candicate, University of Oslo. Focus on education and health Contact: E-mail: kristine.nystad @gmail.com Phone: + 47 78 44 84 69 Cell phone: + 47 97773780
Through conducting multi-sited interviews with 13-19 year old Indigenous youth in a circumpolar wide qualitative study, we aim to identify what strengths assist young people in their transition to adulthood. What are the strenghts in indigenous communities? How do adolescents navigate and negotiate the resources within their community? Although much research has been done to identify risk factors and challenges, our aim is to highlight how these adolescents understand and respond to stress and what factors enables them to develop resilience. This is a comparative study in five indigenous communities in four countries: Norway : Guovdageaidnu-Kautokeino Alaska : Kotzebue and Alakanuk Canada: Igloolik Russia : Topolinoya (Siberia) More than 100 indigenous youth has been interviewed. Our focus is on the narratives young people tell. What do such narratives tell us about how different social, political, ecological and economic systems influence the lives of young people as they become adults in their communities? We are available to discuss preliminary findings. Keywords: youth, indigenous, resilience, Sámi, Arctic
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ABOUT THE RESEARCH
The Silent Language of Snow. Sámi traditional knowledge of snow in a time of climate change Inger Marie Gaup Eira
Vice-rector/ass .prof. Sámi University College/ PhD candidate, University of Tromsø in the field of Language Contact: E-mail: ingermge@gmail.com Phone: + 47 78 44 84 66 Cell phone: + 47 9520 6794
This project is a linguistic study with an interdisciplinary perspective with the aim to investigate the content and the use of Sámi snow concepts about grazing conditions for reindeer on snow covered ground in Sámi reindeer herding Methodology As basis for the analysis of snow concept, interviews, linguistics, and physical aspects and reindeer herders’ knowledge was used, thus combining indigenous people’s knowledge and snow physic measurements. In addition, a siida-based monitoring system based on herders’ specialist language was developed. Results Reindeer herders observe and manage snow from two perspectives; the snow physics and the ecology of herds in the winter grazing area, which reveals a holistic knowledge and view. Over 300 snow related concepts used by reindeer herders in this area, contain factors that affect reindeer survival and sustainability, well-being of reindeer and the human working conditions. The concepts contain a set of characteristics belonging to reindeer herding and snow physics, and their multidimensional content show that some concepts are based on the physical characteristics of snow and can therefore be compared with international snow classification, while others have elements connected to the different herding strategies. The data indicate strategic and systematical use of grazing areas in terms of time and space and, shows variability between the siidas in terms of snow conditions between years and between pasture areas. Keywords: Sámi language, snow concepts, guohtun, reindeer herding specialist language, snow physics, climate.
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ABOUT THE RESEARCH
Flexible educational program adapted to reindeer herders on tundra Mathis Persen Bongo
Ass .prof. Sámi University College/ PhD candicate, University in Tromsø, Department of Education and Pedagogy Contact: E-mail: mpbongo@gmail.com Phone: +47 78448467 Cell phone: +47 92684117
Reindeer herder and student - education and research integrated together Experience shows that the school system in Norway is poorly adapted to reindeer herding, and it limits possibilities of education for reindeer herders to take part in educational programs. The students own knowledge is not adopted and acknowledged, and the way programs are organized in space and time is not adapted to reindeer herding. This program is about developing and implementing a flexible and integrated education model for reindeer herder’s. Until now they have not had any sufficiently opportunity to participate in ordinary programs for education at colleges and universities. The aim of the education model is twofold:1) reindeer herder’s traditional knowledge is used as a basis in developing the model, and 2) herders knowledge is combined with school-based knowledge. Students can continue working as reindeer herder’s simultaneously as they take part in educational programs adapted to reindeer husbandry. The link between traditional knowledge and science contribute to knowledge of relevance to the practice of reindeer herding conduct, and the professional practitioner’s practice theory. That fact that research is conducted in a context involving both researchers and practitioners, will bring new knowledge to both fields of practice and research and increase the reindeer husbandry’s total knowledge reservoir. In the future, climate change will be a challenge for reindeer herding. Therefore reindeer herders own monitoring an experience of these changes will be important with regard to adapting to climate change. Data and information technology (ICT) is a key tool in verbal activation, systematization and dissemination of reindeer herding knowledge, and build bridges between different knowledge traditions. The experience so far shows that it is possible to implement a vocational based education model adapted to the needs of reindeer herders in a way make traditional knowledge and science to go hand in hand. By now, there are 40 reindeer herders who have joined the program. Keywords: adult education, online learning, reindeer herding, traditional knowledge
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ABOUT THE RESEARCH
Sámi ethnicity and living conditions – some measurement challenges Torunn Pettersen
PhD Candidate, Centre for Sámi Health Research, Dep. of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromsø / Researcher, Sámi University College, Contact: E-mail: tounn.pettersen@samiskhs.no Phone: +47 78 44 85 59/ +47 90 50 00 84
Knowledge about health- and living conditions among the Sámi people in Norway is deficient. This situation is partly due to lack of regularly updated general accounts of the Sámi population’s distribution and composition – a result of the Norwegian policy of not recording (Sámi) ethnicity data in neither the national census nor administrative registers. Geographical demarcations and demographic accounts are basic frameworks for studies aimed to gain knowledge about a given population as a whole or about particular subgroups. As long as no such framework does exist, research on Sámi living conditions must be based on alternative data sources which (also) take into consideration that ethnicity in itself is a many-facetted and dynamic phenomenon. Purpose Contribute to increased knowledge about how to measure the Sámi people’s helth and living conditions when Sámi demographic data are deficient. Aims • To document changes in definitions of Sámi settlement areas in Norway. • To document changes in self-reported Sámi ethnicity in Norway after 1970. • To examine if and to what degree there might be associations between variations in living conditions and changes in self-reported Sámi ethnicity in recent decades. • To discuss the Sámi demographic/ethnicity data situation by relating it to inter national discourses on ethnicity data in general and to indigenous peoples’ data needs in particular. Keywords: Indigenous Sámi, Ethnicity data, Demography, Living conditions, Health
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Sámi rights and legal history Nils Johan Päiviö
Dean, [Doctor of laws, LL.D.] Contact: E-mail: Nils-Johan.Paivio@samiskhs.no Tel: + 47 78 44 84 48
ABOUT THE RESEARCH In his dissertation Nils Johan Päiviö studies the development of the reindeerherding Sami people’s rights from the Sami´s first coming under the Swedish Crown in the mid 16th century, and ending with the passing of the Reindeer Herding Act in 1886. Special attention is paid to how the legal position and rights of the Sámis changed over time by new herding techniques that were incompatible with traditional Sami legal values and traditions. History ended by the end of the 19th century with the decline of the Sami rights. Unwritten customary law had for centuries protected the Sámis´ right to land. By 1800, that belonged to the past. Their strong entitlement to land faded away within some few decades as their landholdings were allotted by central administrations far away from the Sámis themselves. Settlers gained the old Sami herding lands at the expense of the Sámis according to national laws that considered nothing to protect their minority rights. This dissertation is addressing the mechanisms of that historical change. Päiviö, Nils Johan, Från skattemannarätt till nyttjanderätt, En rättshistorisk studie av utvecklingen av samernas rättigheter från slutet av 1500-talet till 1886 års renbeteslag, Uppsala Universitet, 2011. (The thesis)
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ABOUT THE RESEARCH
Performing the materiality through embodying memory and experience – development work in duodji Gunvor Guttorm
Professor, dr art in duodji, Sámi allaskuvla/Sámi University College Contact: E-mail: gunvor.guttorm@samiskhs.no Phone: +47 78448467 Cell phone: + 46 70 38 20 871
This project is an artistic development work within duodji (sámi arts and crafts). The personal embodiing experience as the starting point for the duddjon (crafting). These experiences are divided into: Bodying and visual memories, experience and memories of a specific place in the past, when the memories are awakened and how this open up for a new perspective of what you recognize in your enviroment and what affects you. This is approached in a phenomenological perspective. In a phenomenological perspective the researcher opens up and is sensitive for the original and what occurs during the research process. The project is a both a personal journey thruogh time and places and a material investment, and the results are performed as a duodji installation. I grew up in the 19601970ies in a small farm (Gorva) in the Sámi village Kárášjohka. While we still lived there, the enviroment was open because there were a lot of animals but also because we cultivated the enviroment. One of my visual memories of this cultivation, are all the fences, poles in different varities, but alway on a stright line. This I also remembered while I was logging overcrouded birch grow in Gorva. My idea for that moment was to use the birches as feets for different constructions. Since I was reminded on the stright lines of poles, I soon realized that these poles and fences we find everywhere, in cities, on the highways, in the reindeerareas, and that they also convey different informations and also social connections. The birch grows are the common elements in the items presented in the installation. But every item still contain different materials, techniques and stories. Keywords: Duodji, materials, memories, views
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ABOUT THE RESEARCH
Vitalizing Sámi Cultural Knowledge in Everyday SchoolLife Asta Mitkijá Balto
Docent, Pedagogy, Sámi University College (SUC) Contact: E-mail:asta-m.balto@samiskhs.no Phone: + 47 78 44 85 16
Sámi education Engaged in Sámi education for decades, also elected Rector of Sámi University College. Academic work concentrates on Sámi pedagogy, studies of the traditional Sámi childrearing and transmission of culture. This is a major foundation for Sámi schools, Sámi teacher-education and pedagogy. 1997 Sámi mánaidbajásgeassin nuppástuvvá/Samisk barneoppdragelse i endring. Gyldendal AdNotam. 2006: Sámi child-rearing in transition: A new Pedagogical Platform. In: AlterNative, International Journal of Indigenous Scholarship. The National Institute of Research Excellence in Maori Development, University of Auckland, New Zealand Action research The action research is a follow up study where these theories are implemented in school practises. Discusses how decolonizing and vitalizing processes in teacher thinking, knowledge and discourse influence on teachers pedagogical activity. They catalogue Sámi traditions systemise, analyse, revise and adapt them into a new framework. This methodology can help vitalize Sámi and Indigenous cultures and traditions in general. 2008: Sámi oahpaheaddjit sirdet árbevirolaš kultuvrra boahttevaš buolvvaide. Dieđut 4/2008. 2008: Vitalizing Sámi Cultural Knowledge in Everyday School-Life. Action research and the capacity building of Sámi teachers. In: Journal of Australian Indigenous Issues, Volume 11/4, 25-35. 2009: Kultursensitive lærere,- rapport om aksjon og forskning i dekolonisering av sameskolene. In: Teacher diversity in a diverse school. Opplandske Bokforlag 2012: Co- writer L. Østmo. Multicultural studies from a Sámi perspective: In: Issues in Educational Research 22(1), (IIER), http://www.iier.org.au/iier.html
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ABOUT THE RESEARCH
The effects of governance structures on reindeer herders’ resilience to change Ellen Inga Turi
PhD student in Social and Economic Geography Umeå University and Sámi University College (project coordinated through the UArctic EALAT Institute project) Contact: E-mail:eituri@gmail.com Phone: +47 40746996
Reindeer herding is a social ecological ecosystem which has developed a high resilience to climatic and ecological variability, due to its long-standing accumulated experience and knowledge of Arctic conditions, manifested in the social and ecological management systems inherent in reindeer herding. As such, reindeer herders’ traditional knowledge, culture, and language provide a central foundation for reindeer herders’ resilience and adaptation to the rapid changes in the Arctic. However, Reindeer people’s established operating practices for dealing with environmental and climatic variation and change may be challenged because of non-climatic factors such as socio-political and economic changes related to processes of globalisation. Of these, loss of pastures represents a central challenge. Further, reindeer herding societies are nested within and inevitably affected by socio-economic conditions and governance frameworks. Indeed governance frameworks failing to accommodate reindeer herders traditional knowledge can represent a significant institutional constraint on adaptation. This project studies the ways in which central governance frameworks influence reindeer herders adaptability and resilience to Arctic change, focusing on how adaptation based on traditional knowledge is affected by both formal and informal structures at multiple administrative levels, ranging from the local to the international and from public to private interests. Keywords: reindeer herding, multi-level governance, traditional knowledge, resilience
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The legal development of the Sámi people in Sweden 1886 – 1928 Johan Strömgren
Ass.prof. Sámi University College LL.D. Candidate, Uppsala University Faculty of Law Contact: E-mail: johan.stromgren@samiskhs.no Phone: +47 78 44 84 51 Cell phone: +47 4725 7016
ABOUT THE RESEARCH This research concerns the first Swedish Reindeer Grazing Acts adopted by the two-chamber parliament 1886 – 1928. This was a formative period for the Sámi legal development. The deeper structure of today’s legislation and public administration regarding reindeer-herding and Sámi land rights was set by the Reindeer Grazing Acts of that time. The passing of the Reindeer Grazing Acts meant the end of an old system, and the beginning of a new system. Hence it is important to understand the legal transition of Sámi land rights in that time. It shows why we got the system we have today. What were the motives for the new system, where did the suggestions to it come from, and what interests were at stake? Keywords: land rights – privileges, Swedish – Sámi, farming – reindeer herding, private – public
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The indigenous Sámi traditional music, joik, in early childhood education.
ABOUT THE RESEARCH
Laila Aleksandersen Nutti
At the same time I experienced the power that joik entails and how both adults and children show pleasure and joy by experiencing joik or being joiked themselves. An urge to look closer at this and open up discussions guided the choice of this theme. I often experienced that the practise of joik was not the issue that we often talked about. It was kept in a sense of prevailing silence.
Ass.prof. Sámi University College Contact: E-mail: lailanutti@gmail.com Phone: +47 98 49 39 59
This research has given an opportunity to focus and to dig deeper into the subject, joik in early childhood centers and preschools. From experience in practice, as preschool teacher in Sámi early childhood centers and preschools I have seen that joik, the indigenous Sámi traditional music, does not always have a strong place in the Sámi day care and in some cases it is virtually absent.
My approach is to look at at the above in relation to indigenous research and with the intention to open up other ways of working and thinking about the topic. This involves rethinking and reframing. The thesis is based on post- and anti-colonialist theories and show the interest in the mechanisms that control and affect the learning we offer Sámi children. And in this case, particularly in relation to joik. Yoik can therefor be part of a theoretical comprehensive approach as well as it also is something that surrounds us in ways that are invisible.
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Siida continuity Mikkel Nils Sara
Ass.prof. Sámi University College Contact: E-mail: mikkel-nils.sara@samiskhs.no Phone: +47 78 44 84 64 Cell phone: +47 926 811 42
ABOUT THE RESEARCH Siidas are the original Sámi local communities that have existed from time immemorial. Through times many of these broke down because of colonization and other reasons. Today we still have reindeer herding siidas. They were formed as an adaptation of siida-principles to large-scale nomadic reindeer herding. The adoption of the Reindeer Husbandry Act of 2007 meant that the siida eventually was acknowledged as a rights holder and the basic unit of a working partnership. Now the rehabilitation of the reindeer herding siida system depends on clarification of siida land rights and recognition of autonomous siida practices and processes of knowledge.
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Yoik is the Language of Love…. Mai Britt Utsi
Former rector/principal at Sámi allaskuvla / Sámi University College Assistant professor-Sámi University College / Giellagoahti and Phd student- University of Tromsø Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education (HSL-fak.) Department of Culture and Literature Contact: E- mail: mai-britt.utsi@samiskhs.no Phone: +47 78448468 Cell phone: +47 90125227
ABOUT THE RESEARCH Yoik is the language of love. Yoik is connected with the innermost feelings of the Sámi as human beings who cross the boundaries between humans, nature and other creatures. Yoik is a symbol of Sáminess which represents and preserves Sáminess from ancient times until today. Yoik is a way of remembering. Yoik makes you happy, motivates you and touches the innermost tendons of your heart even when you have lost it, because in yoik you can find your Sáminess again.
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ABOUT THE RESEARCH
Traditional Ecological Knowledge transmitted by reindeer herding women Elisabeth Utsi Gaup
Project manager. Master Degree in Outdoor Environmental Education and Outdoor Life. Sami University College, Guovdageaidnu, Sami/Norway. E-mail: elisabeth-utsi.gaup@samiskhs.no
Berit Inga
Project coordinator / Museum lecturer. Ájtte Swedish Mountain and Sami Museum, Johkamohkki, Sami/Sweden. E-mail: berit.inga@ajtte.com.
Ida Sunna
Project assistant. Ájtte Swedish Mountain and Sami Museum, Johkamohkki, Sami/Sweden. E-mail: ida.sunna@ajtte.com
The participants in the project, about 15-20 women, are from different Sami reindeer herding regions (Johkamohkki, Sohppar, Giron and Guovdageaidnu). The aim is to document traditional ecological knowledge from reindeer herding women’s perspective. The starting point is two research projects with different approaches, an educational one, and a biological one. The strong connections to own culture and language are the main source from the participating women. They can be the stakeholders in their local communities and as one of them said: “We still have the goal to practice the traditional activities and pass it down to the next generation. But nowadays we have to give priority and choose what we want to spend the time on when we are on the land. We have to be more conscious of the vulnerable knowledge and the deeper values of the practical activities.” (Jenni Laiti)
The aim of this cross-border cooperation between two Sami institutions in the northern part of Sweden and Norway, Sami University College and Ájtte Swedish Mountain and Sami Museum, is to interact with the Sami communities.
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Bures boahtin! Welcome!