Research at Sámi University CollegePOSTERGUIDE

Sámi University CollegeSámi allaskuvla

Indigenous Pathways to Adult-hood

Kristine NystadAssistant Professor Sámi University College/PhD candicate, University of Oslo.Focus on education and health

Contact:E-mail: kristine.nystad @gmail.comPhone: + 47 78 44 84 69Cell phone: + 47 97773780

ABOUT THE RESEARCH

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 peo-ple 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 fi ve indigenous communities in four countries:

Norway : Guovdageaidnu-Kautokeino Alaska : Kotzebue and AlakanukCanada: IgloolikRussia : 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 infl uence the lives of young people as they become adults in their communities?

We are available to discuss preliminary fi ndings.

Keywords: youth, indigenous, resilience, Sámi, Arctic

1

The Silent Language of Snow. Sámi traditional know-ledge of snow in a time of climate change

Inger Marie Gaup EiraVice-rector/ass .prof. Sámi University College/PhD candidate, University of Tromsø in the fi eld of Language

Contact:E-mail: ingermge@gmail.comPhone: + 47 78 44 84 66Cell phone: + 47 9520 6794

ABOUT THE RESEARCH

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

MethodologyAs basis for the analysis of snow concept, interviews, linguistics, and physical aspects and rein-deer 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.

ResultsReindeer 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 characte-ristics of snow and can therefore be compared with international snow classifi cation, 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.

2

Flexible educational program adapted to reindeer herders on tundra

Mathis Persen BongoAss .prof. Sámi University College/PhD candicate, University in Tromsø, Department of Education and Pedagogy

Contact:E-mail: mpbongo@gmail.comPhone: +47 78448467 Cell phone: +47 92684117

ABOUT THE RESEARCH

Reindeer herder and student - education and research integrated togetherExperience shows that the school system in Norway is poorly adapted to reindeer her-ding, 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 pro-gram is about developing and implementing a fl exible and integrated education model for reindeer herder’s. Until now they have not had any suffi ciently opportunity to participate in ordinary programs for education at colleges and universities. The aim of the education mo-del 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 fi elds 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 know-ledge, 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

3

Sámi ethnicity and living conditions – some measurement challenges

Torunn PettersenPhD 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.noPhone: +47 78 44 85 59/ +47 90 50 00 84

ABOUT THE RESEARCH

Knowledge about health- and living conditions among the Sámi people in Norway is defi cient. 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 sub-groups. 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.

PurposeContribute to increased knowledge about how to measure the Sámi people’s helth and living conditions when Sámi demographic data are defi cient.

Aims• To document changes in defi nitions 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

4

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 reindeer-herding Sami people’s rights from the Sami´s fi rst 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 adminis-trations 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 addres-sing 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)

5

Performing the materia-lity through embodying memory and experience – development work in duodji

Gunvor GuttormProfessor, dr art in duodji, Sámi allaskuvla/Sámi University College

Contact:E-mail: gunvor.guttorm@samiskhs.noPhone: +47 78448467 Cell phone: + 46 70 38 20 871

ABOUT THE RESEARCH

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 specifi c 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 invest-ment, and the results are performed as a duodji installation. I grew up in the 1960- 1970ies 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 fi nd 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

6

Vitalizing Sámi Cultural Knowledge in Everyday School-Life

Asta Mitkijá Balto Docent, Pedagogy, Sámi University College (SUC)

Contact:E-mail:asta-m.balto@samiskhs.no Phone: + 47 78 44 85 16

ABOUT THE RESEARCH

Sámi educationEngaged 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 researchThe action research is a follow up study where these theories are implemented in school practises. Discusses how decolonizing and vitalizing processes in teacher thinking, know-ledge and discourse infl uence on teachers pedagogical activity. They catalogue Sámi traditions systemise, analyse, revise and adapt them into a new framework. This metho-dology 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 same-skolene. 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

7

The effects of gover-nance structures on reindeer herders’ resilience to change

Ellen Inga TuriPhD student in Social and Econo-mic Geography Umeå University and Sámi University College (project coordinated through the UArctic EALAT Institute project)

Contact:E-mail:eituri@gmail.com Phone: +47 40746996

ABOUT THE RESEARCH

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, cul-ture, and language provide a central foundation for reindeer herders’ resilience and adap-tation 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 challen-ged 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-econ-omic conditions and governance frameworks. Indeed governance frameworks failing to ac-commodate reindeer herders traditional knowledge can represent a signifi cant institutional constraint on adaptation.

This project studies the ways in which central governance frameworks infl uence 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 adminis-trative levels, ranging from the local to the international and from public to private interests.

Keywords: reindeer herding, multi-level governance, traditional knowledge, resilience

8

The legal development of the Sámi people in Sweden 1886 – 1928

Johan StrömgrenAss.prof. Sámi University CollegeLL.D. Candidate, Uppsala UniversityFaculty of Law

Contact:E-mail: johan.stromgren@samiskhs.noPhone: +47 78 44 84 51Cell phone: +47 4725 7016

ABOUT THE RESEARCH

This research concerns the fi rst Swedish Reindeer Grazing Acts adop-ted 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

9

The indigenous Sámi traditional music, joik, in early childhood edu-cation.

Laila Aleksandersen NuttiAss.prof. Sámi University College

Contact:E-mail: lailanutti@gmail.comPhone: +47 98 49 39 59

ABOUT THE RESEARCH

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.

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.

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.

10

Siida continuity

Mikkel Nils SaraAss.prof. Sámi University College

Contact:E-mail: mikkel-nils.sara@samiskhs.noPhone: +47 78 44 84 64Cell 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 clarifi cation of siida land rights and recognition of autonomous siida practices and processes of knowledge.

11

Yoik is the Language of Love….

Mai Britt UtsiFormer rector/principal at Sámi allaskuvla / Sámi University College

Assistant professor-Sámi University College / Giellagoahti and Phd student- University of TromsøFaculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education (HSL-fak.) Department of Culture and Literature

Contact:E- mail: mai-britt.utsi@samiskhs.noPhone: +47 78448468Cell 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 an-

cient 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

fi nd your Sáminess again.

12

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 lectu-rer. Ájtte Swedish Mountain and Sami Museum, Johkamohkki, Sami/Sweden. E-mail: berit.inga@ajtte.com.

Ida SunnaProject assistant. Ájtte Swedish Mountain and Sami Museum, Johkamohkki, Sami/Sweden. E-mail: ida.sunna@ajtte.com

ABOUT THE RESEARCH

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 eco-logical 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 participa-ting women. They can be the stakeholders in their local communi-ties 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.

13

Bures boahtin! Welcome!