Excursion Exhibition - South Sápmi 2015
In spring of 2015, Focal Point North funded a second excursion for first-year Indigenous Studies Master’s students to Norway’s Trøndaleg region, as well as Västerbottten and Jämtland regions of Sweden. Activities and seminars were focused on the subject area of “Indigenous peoples, resources and rights”.
Activities and content reflected South Sámi cultural, social, and political institutions of where they were located, but students were encouraged to participate in discussions by bringing their own perspectives and insights from their cultures. The exhibition, “Making Connections: Knowledge and Experience Sharing,” attempts to illustrate this exchange and interaction through photos.
Day 1: Tromsø – Snåsa
In Snåsa, students met Thomas Åhren, elected representative from the Norwegian Sámi Parliament. Åhren told of his personal role within the parliament, told of the legislative issues regarding reindeer herding and animals of prey, as well as answering questions regarding the relationship between the Sámi and Norwegian Parliaments.
 Philomena Darku excited to start the trip. (photo by Oluwatosin Abdulsalam) |
 Thomas Åhren, discussing his role in the Sámi Parliament. (photo by Rachel Issa Djesa) |
 Enjoying the South Sapmi sun (photo by Josue Leon) |
Day 2: Snåsa – Sæterstad farm
The second day students visited Samien Sijte (South Sami Museum & Sámi Parliament) in Snåsa. Here students were exposed to the museum exhibits as well as the responsibilities of staff in representing Sámi through history and the present. The night was then spent at Sæterstad gård, a local goat and fish farm, which generates its own hydroelectricity.
 Stories in the lavvu, Samien Sijte (photo by Rachel Issa Djesa) |
 Group photo, Samien Sijte (photo by Kajsa Kemi Gjerpe) |
 Vanessa Brune and Abukari Kwame, Samien Sijte (photo by Siv Eli Vuolab) |
 Navile Tahura Enam, Sæterstad gård (photo by Rachel Issa Djesa) |
 Samien Sijte (photo by Siv Eli Vuolab) |
 Philomena Darku on display, Samien Sijte (photo by Siv Eli Vuolab) |
Day 3: Hattfjeldal
Students visited the Hattfjeldal Sámi School, learning about its role in continuing South Sami language instruction to students from both Norway and Sweden. Thus the school has great influence on rebuilding and sustaining cultural/linguistic ties between individuals who attend. Students also visited Sitji Jarnge South Sámi Culture and Development Centre, where the South Sámi Library Bus made an appearance.
 Lunch time! (photo by Josue Leon) |
 Tour of the Sami school (photo by Josue Leon) |
 Long distance teaching tools (photo by Josue Leon) |
 South Sami Library Bus (photo by Josue Leon) |
 Library bus laughs, Siv Eli Vuolab and Marcie Loghrin (photo by Rachel Issa Djesa) |
 Lavvu seating arrangement (photo by Josue Leon) |
 Sijti Jarnge South Sami Culture and Development Centre (photo by Josue Leon) |
Day 4: Tärnaby
Here, students attended a seminar by Marie Persson regarding the local activist campaign “Stoppa gruvan i Rönnbäcken” (Stop the mine in Rönnbäcken) and her business, Maries Design. A visit to the local Sámi School was also made where Odd Willenfeldt provided context to the Swedish system of instructing Sámi curricula, which aided students to reflect on the differences and similarities between the school previously visited in Norway.
 Marie Persson on “Stop the Mine in Ronnback” (photo by Josue Leon) |
 Hurra! for Sami language revitalization, Tarnaby Sami School (photo by Kajsa Kemi Gjerpe) |
 Sapmi animals in Sami |
 Class in session (photo by Melanie Plante) |
 Reading lavvu (photo by Josue Leon) |
 Odd Willenfeldt (photo by Josue Leon) |
Day 5: Vilhelmina
In Vilhelmina students were presented with a research project, “Collaborative research in practice – reflections from different perspectives,” by university researchers, Per Sanström and Anette Löf, and community researcher/reindeer herder, Marita Stinnerbom. They discussed the positive outcomes of collaborative research by allowing community stake-holders to direct research that is most important for them and for knowledge-building in reindeer herding using new tools provided by collaboration with universities.
 Collaborative Research (photo by Navile Tahura Enam) |
 Abukari Kwame intent on learning (photo by Navile Tahura Enam) |
 Principles of Collaborative Research Practice (photo by Navile Tahura Enam) |
Day 6: Östersund
The first activity was provided by excursion participants and researchers Patrik Lantto (University of Umeå) and Greg Poelzer (University of Saskatchewan). Each held a lecture, Lantto on the Sámi political movement in Sweden, and Poelzer on Comparative Research Approaches. In the evening everyone took part in a cultural exchange, sharing or presenting something from their home communities.
 Patrik Lantto on the Sami Movement in Sweden (photo by Selena Cordeau) |
 Melanie Plante (photo by Selena Cordeau) |
Day 7: Östersund
On their last day, students visited Gaaltjie sydsamiskt kulturcentrum (South Sámi cultural centre) with Jerker Bexelius who discussed the centre’s mandate in providing space and services to the local Sámi community. Students then made a visit to Jamtli, the regional museum of Jämtland.
 Day 7. (photo by Resha Maharjan) |
 Gifting thanks (photo by Resha Maharjan) |
 New perspectives (photo by Resha Maharjan) |
 Gaaltje Sydsamiskt Kulturcentrum (photo by Resha Maharjan) |