“Ethnic drifting” and health outcome – Northern Norway 1865-2023

Over the last decades there has been a growing interest in early-life and multigenerational influences on later life health. Earlier studies indicate that health disparities exist between indigenous and non-indigenous populations due to factors such as colonization, disconnection from the land, and loss of language and culture. Based on individual level data extracted from the Norwegian Historical Population Register (1801-1964) and intergenerational links to SAMINOR, this project will conduct research which examining the health outcomes of individuals for whom registered ethnicity was changed over their life course or differs from that of their ancestors, which is referred to as “ethnic drift”. The study will investigate whether the descendants of these individuals have experienced adverse health outcomes or not. The results of our project will contribute to the ongoing debate concerning the effects of the so called Norwegianization process, where the Norwegian government aimed to assimilate the Samí and Kven people into Norwegian language and culture.