News archive

IVO leader Jan Erik Henriksen; We have worked hard with the application since summer 2023 and we are really proud and happy since we managed to meet the deadline. No we cross our fingers. 

BIRGEJUPMI: bridging knowledge systems for inclusive, resilient, and prosperous Arctic coastal futures

The BIRGEJUPMI project aims to strengthen community engagement and relational environmental decision-making in Arctic coastal regions by bringing together diverse knowledge systems (Indigenous, Western, and local), grounded in a holistic, ethical, and equitable community-based approach to research with strong Indigenous leadership. Empowering communities to use and develop their own knowledge is vital for fostering resilience, cultural preservation, socio-ecological well-being, and mobilizes coastal communities to address local challenges effectively while promoting social cohesion. To this end, BIRGEJUPMI focuses on three Arctic areas: western Sápmi, northern Sápmi, and Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland), following three objectives: 1) document, revitalize, and integrate Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge-informed practices connected to marine and coastal resources management and conservation in fjord socio-ecosystems, and inform decision-making processes for coastal management and governance models rooted in Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK); 2) assess the environmental, socio-economic, cultural, and demographic changes experienced by Arctic coastal communities in relation to climate change adaptation and mitigation measures, focusing on young people's visions for a sustainable future and their involvement in regional, national and EU-level environmental decision-making; 3) investigate the transformative potential of sea- and landscapes as living archives to inform TEK-rooted resource governance and empower local institutions and knowledge centers to become open spaces for dynamic community-led research. The role of Indigenous art, handicraft, and art-based methods is highlighted as they contribute to healing, reconciliation, and environmental coping mechanisms in Arctic coastal regions. BIRGEJUPMI is grounded in Indigenous methodologies and adopts a Co-Production of Knowledge (CPK) and Two-Eyed Seeing approach to advance decolonial research and responsible policy.

Partners:

1 OULUN YLIOPISTO Finland Coordinator, 2 IVO- UNIVERSITETET I TROMSØ, 3 SAAMI COUNCIL,  4 HELMHOLTZ ZENTRUM POTSDAM DEUTSCHES GEOFORSCDE. 5 Sámi allaskuvla Samisk høgskole Norway, 6 TARTU ULIKOOL Estonia, 7 Ikitsivik Greenland, Denmark,  8 Verdensarvsenter for bergkunst - Alta museum IKS Norway,  9 Daiddadallu - Sami artist Network Norway,10 P Paarnaq, Greenland, Denmark,11 Árvu AS Norway, 12 NATIONAL DONG HWA UNIVERSITY, Taiwan 

The Sami part of GIDA, https://www.gida-global.org/ hosted an International conference about indigenous date governance and etics.

 

IVO and the Saami Council are the sami lead partners in a co-creation project about making a roadmap to the EU commision on decolonial Arctic research. Nina Hermansen, Britt Kramvig and Jan Erik Henriksen from IVO, together with Aslak Holmberg and Eva Fjellheim from th Saami Council held a roundtablepresentation about the project.

Also IVO member Eva Josefsen gave a presentation togehter with Else Grethe Borderstad from the TRUCOM research team  TRUCOM | UiT  where they asked what wil happend with all the personal stories which the Norwegian Truth and Reconciliation  commision has collected. The commision launch their report before June 1. -2023

The research consortium got 3 MILL Euro to run the project from 2025 - 2027: BIRGEJUPMI: BRIDGING KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS FOR INCLUSIVE, RESILIENT AND PROSPEROUS
ARCTIC COASTAL FUTURES 

To address the external and internal pressures Arctic coastal regions and communities face, BIRGEJUPMI aims to achieve three key objectives: 1) To document, revitalize, and integrate Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge-informed marine and coastal resources management and conservation practices in fjord socio-ecosystems in Sápmi (the territory of the Sámi people, encompassing the northern parts of Sweden, Norway, and Finland, and Russia's Kola Peninsula) and Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland). This effort seeks to inform decision-making processes regarding coastal management and to advance Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK)-rooted resource governance models; 2) to assess the environmental, socio-economic, cultural and demographic changes experienced as a result of climate change adaptation and mitigation measures, particularly those connected to the EU Green Deal and the EU's objective to transition towards renewable energy and broader environmental policies (e.g., the 2030 EU Biodiversity Strategy and proposed EU Nature Restoration Law). Specific focus is placed on young people's visions for a sustainable future and their proactive involvement in regional, national and EU environmental decision-making processes; and 3) to investigate the transformative potential of sea- and landscapes as living archives to inform TEK-rooted resource governance and empower local institutions and knowledge centers to become open spaces for dynamic communityled research initiatives. This effort also includes strengthening Indigenous higher education through innovative formats of learning tailored to local ways of life, We assess the role of Indigenous art and handicraft and associated research methods and highlight their contributions to healing, reconciliation, and as environmental coping mechanisms within the ocean-coastal-land continuum..

Participant organization are;  1. (Coord.) Oulun Yliopisto UOULU FI - 2. UiT The Arctic University of Norway UiT NO - 3. Sámirađđi/ Sameradet/Saami Council NO - 4. Helmholtz Zentrum Potsdam Deutsches Geoforschungszentrum GFZ GFZ DE - 5. Sámi University of Applied Sciences - Sámi Allaskuvla SAMAS NO  - 6. Tartu Ulikool UTARTU EE  - 7. Ikitsivik  DK  - 8. World Heritage Rock Art center - Alta Museum IKS Alta Museum NO  - 9. Dáiddadállu - Sámi Artist Network Dáiddadállu NO - 10.Psykolog Paarnaq PPaarnaq GL (DK) - 11. Árvu AS NO -  12. National Dong HWA University  NDHU TW. 

A news article from UiT

Britt Kramvig  one of the organizers for Soptsestimmie (storyteling) at Joar Nango,s Giregumpi during the NAISA conference in Bodø

The Sami Artist and and architecture Joar Nango moved his installation Girjegumpi a nomadic Sami library from Venedic to Bodø. The girjegumpi became an important areana  for international talking and thinking about Baajh vaeride årrodh ( southssami) which means Give us the Land back. IVO member Britt Kramvig was one of the organizers for the Soptestimmie  during the NAISA conference. David Engmo har taken the photo of Joar Nango preparing the Girjegumpi 

6 of IVOs members took part of this years Native American and Indigenous Studies Association (NAISA) conference in Bodø June 6. - 10. 

UiT Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education has according to their new regulations, accepted IVO as a top research group.

The Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education new regulations for research talk about three different  levels for the collective research activity. 

Research networks consist of researchers with common professional interests. They are characterized in that they will develop ideas and projects and will increase their research activity. Unlike
research groups,  the research networks are more loosely organized and are not expected to prepare annual activity plans. Research networks have no formally appointed leader with additional functions.
Consolidated research groups  consist of a group of researchers who have developed a certain professional community and a professionally focused level of activity. Such groups have a formal
appointed leader and consists of researchers who publish regularly and have experience with applications about external financing. Consolidated research groups want to position themselves for
to increase their research activity and have concrete ambitions for increased research quality, external financing and internationalisation. Research groups in this phase will undertake
priorities and delve into an academically focused area, gather around joint academics goals and build up strategic networks to create an international reputation.
Top research groups  have a formally appointed leader and consist of several senior researchers which asserts itself nationally and internationally, and which can show a high level of publication,
project management experience and established international networks. Research groups in this phase will work extra hard for a clear profile with international quality and for a broad
cooperation with external partners. It is expected that top research groups regularly obtains external funds and works to assert itself in the international competition, as well as developing the professional environment.

A great thanks you to all members who have contributed to this. There will be a lot of expectations to IVO in order to keep  om with our activities and stay in the research elite series.  Congratultions

IVO together with Saami Council, RIFS and IKAARVIK WILL HAVE A SESSION AT ARCTIC CIRLE FORUM, BERLIN 7.- 8.MAI 2024

Nina Hermansen, Jan Erik Henriksen,  Naja Grauugaard and Vivi Vold represent IVO at the Arctic Circle Forum in Berlin.  We will have a 60 min session together with Aslak from Saami Council, Evie, Nina and Anne from RIFS, Potsdam and Michael nas Shelly from IKAARVIK.  This is Jan Eriks first visit to  Berlin  and he look forward to spend a couple of days in a summerclose Berlin togehter with nice friends and colleagues. 

PhD fellow Vivi Vold new member in IVO

IVO has recruited three new members in the beginning of 2024. First post doc Naja  Graugaard, located in Århus, Denmark  become an IVO member. Naja is also a partner in the EU Horizon application. Then PhD fellow Karen Colban Hoel also wanted to be an IVO member. And no PhD felleow Vivi Vold also joined us. Vivi is also located in Århus and are also a prticipaant in our Eu Horizon application.   The new recruitment bring new and younger perspectives and  inspiration to IVO. Heartly  welcome to you. 

IVO welcome Karen Colban Hoel as new member

My colleague at our department, Karen Colban, will from April 10- 2024, be  a PHD student at VID Specialized University, Centre for Diaconia and Professional Practice. She will be member of VID research group Human Harm;

Human Rights and Social Harms (HumanHarm) - VID vitenskapelige høgskole  .   Since Karen wants to be located in Alta during parts of the scholarship period, she has applyed for membership in IVO. Her Phd thesis is  also inside IVO,s research focus. Her project will deal with indigenous knowledge as part of the social work knowledge base and
exercise. The project will be limited to dealing with the Sami population as an indigenous people in Norway. The focus will be
two-part. Firstly, the project will explore the extent to which social workers consider indigenous knowledge as part 
of their knowledge base in the practice of social work, and what this knowledge consists of.  The project will explore whether  increased knowledge leads to reconciliation processes/changed practice in
meeting with Sami users of welfare services. The project will have a professional perspective, where
social workers' understanding of their professional  practice is central.

Diedut 1/2024; Art and Social Communities in Sápmi is now available. IVO member Britt Kramig is one of the editors

Searvedoaibma: Art and Social Communities in Sápmi

This is IVO members publication list 2023

Publication 2023

Graugaard, N. & Ambrosius, A. H. (2023). The silenced genocide: Why the Danish intrauterine device (IUD) enforcement in Kalaallit Nunaat calls for an intersectional decolonial analysis. Kvinder, Køn & Forskning, 2, 162-167. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7146/kkf.v36i2.137309  

 Graugaard, N., Andersen, A. O., & Møller, R. (2023). Fangstkultur i Grønland. TRAP Grønland. TRAP Danmark A/S: København.

 Chartier, D., Guttorm, H., Kramvig, B., Kristoffersen, B., Riquet, J., & Steinberg, P.(2024). Decolonial Cartographies: Countermapping in the Arctic. In J. Riquet (Ed.), The Mediated Arctic: Poetics and Politics of Contemporary Circumpolar Geographies Manchester University Press.

 Guttorm, H. (2023). Tämä pyhä Maa ja kyllin-hyvin-voint. Mustarinda, 2023, 123.

 Henriksen, Jan Erik and Larsen, Tone: (2023): Kan urfolkskunnskap og kolonialiseringbevistthet bidra til det grønne skiftet? Art ( kap 6) i Glemmestad, H, Isaken, Marit S og Kråkenes, Ole H (red): Grønt sosialt arbeid. Grønn omstilling i helse- og sosialfaglig praksis. Fagbokforlaget (17 p.)

Hermann, Thora Martina; Henriksen, Jan-Erik; Kramvig, Britt; Hermansen, Nina; Brunner, Francesca;Chahine, Anne; Døring, Nina; Dudeck, Stephan; Elster, Josef; Fjellheim, Eva Maria Bircher; Holmberg,Aslak; Keskitalo, Anja Marja Nystø; Omma, Elle Merete; Saxinger, Gertrude; Scheepstra, Annette; Schot, Jorrit van der (2023) Roadmap to decolonial Artic research. Comprehensive Policy-Brief to the EU Commission. Áltá- Kárášjohka – Leipzig- Oulu. 

 Hydle, Ida Marie (2023):A polycentric approach to Sámi traditional social organization as it emerges from the Norwegian Truth and Reconciliation report June 2023. Towards Polycentric Social Sustainability; 2023-06-09 

 Enell, Sofia; Andersson Vogel, Maria; Henriksen, Ann-Karina Eske; Pösö, Tarja; Honkatukia, Päivi; Mellin-Olsen, Bård; Hydle, Ida Marie (2023): Confinement and restrictive measures against young people in the Nordic countries–a comparative analysis of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. Nordic Journal of Criminology 2022 s.  

 Broderstad, Else Grete; Josefsen, Eva (2023):The Norwegian TRC: Truth, Reconciliation, and Public Engagement. International Journal on Minority and Group Rights 2023 ;Volum 95.(3) s. 1-28

 Kramvig, B, M. Kaldager, K. Pirak Sikku (2023) Samiske spor i arkivet.(Sámi trails in the archive)  Nytt Norsk Tidsskrift, Vol. 40 issue 1. s.18-29

 Kramvig,B, S. Joks, N. Hermansen, Ø. Steinlien, L. Østmo (2023) Notes on representation of Indigenous Sámi in research in The International Encyclopedia of Anthropology https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9781118924396.wbiea2523

 Silan, W. (2023). Is Going Green Hurting Indigenous Communities? Reflection From Participating In The United Nations Permanent Forum On Indigenous Issues. Taiwan Insight.

 Silan, W., & Munkejord, M. C. (2023). Cisan and Malahang: Indigenous Older Adults’ Voices on Active Aging – Findings from a Qualitative Study in Taiwan. Canadian Journal on Aging, 42(4), 599-606. Article PIIS0714980823000363.https://doi.org/10.1017/S0714980823000363

 Silan, W., & Munkejord, M. C. (2023). Pinhkngyan: paths taken to recognizing, doing and developing Indigenous methodologies. AlterNative: An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples, 19(2), 407-416.https://doi.org/10.1177/11771801231167727

 Hong, C-C., & Silan, W. (2023). When Indigenous Peoples Meet the State: Reflecting Indigenous Identities through the Politics of Name in Taiwan. In B. Jing, & T. Lodén (Eds.), Assessing the Development of Taiwanese Identity (pp. 34-41). Institute for Security & Development Policy. https://isdp.eu/publication/assessing-the-development-of-taiwaneseidentity/

 Graan, A., Kurth, C., O'Brien, L., Silan, W., & Öhman, N. (2023). Mapping Care: Insights from the Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies Retreat. Freedom to Think - HCAS blog.

 Sandvik, Kristin Bergtora ; Wærstad, Tone Linn ; Taj, Farhat (2023): Rettshjelp til innvandrerkvinner revisited: Digital Economic Violence and Access to Justice in Norway. I: Hellums metode. Festskrift til Anne Hellum 70 år . Gyldendal Akademisk 2023 ISBN 9788205582859. s. 253-265

Naja Dyrendom Graugaard is a new member in IVO

Naja D Graugaard is located at School of Communication and Culture, Aarhus University. She is postdoc in a project: "Play and humour in Kalaallit decolonial arts practices" (part of the research project "Playing with ghosts - Affective ambivalences in decolonial arts practices", website:http://decolonisingplay.com/ 

She is editorial board member of KULT Postkolonial Tidsskrift:http://postkolonial.dk/ and editorial board member of Women, Gender & Research Journal. 

As IVO member, Naja is also involved in the EU Horizon application.

IVO is involved in 5 wp

UiT by IVO is involved in a EU Horizon application togehter with  University of Oulu, University of Tartu, The Helmholtz Centre Potsdam - RIFS, Saami Council, Sámi University of Applied Sciences, Daiddadallu-Guovdageaidnu, Ikitsivik-Grønland, Árvu-Sapmi, Foundation of Siberian Cultures- Germany, Alta Museum- Sapmi and Psykolog Parnaaq- Greenland. 

IVO has received funding from UiT to participate and fullfill this extensive process during autumn 2023 and primo 2024. We are also grateful to Finnmark County for their economic contribution to cover some of the costs. The deadline is right around the corner and for IVO this have been a interesting and constructive process. We cross our fingers 

The project wants to offer training in RJ-based methodology for NAV employees in Sami areas. RJ is concerned with recognizing violations and self-inflicted and inherited violations and the consequences of violations from Norwegianization before reconciliation and repair. These methods must be tested and adapted to NAV. Such knowledge will also be transferable to NAV's meetings with other users who feel ashamed and have a lack of trust in NAV.

UiT and NAV have collaborated for several years throuhg the University NAV. The collaboration has an overarching goal of promoting NAV-relevant education and research at UiT, and at the same time promoting research-based understanding and practice in the NAV systems. NAV Troms and Finnmark and IVO have continued their collaboration and in the winter of 2022 conducted a geotour in Troms and Finnmark where we introduced a Sami communication model to some NAV employees. The purpose was to arouse curiosity and contribute to creating recognition for the necessity of having and developing RJ-based methodology. NAV has later employed its own advisers for the Northern Sami area, the Lule Sami area and the Southern Sami area. Their aim is to develop and promote Sami knowledge and methodology within their own organisation. However, it is necessary to adapt and further develop the RJ methodology as well as test and evaluate its use. Many Sámi have their own or inherited negative experiences from colonial meetings with representatives of the authorities, Research shows that in the Sami communities there is little trust in the analyzes and measures used by helpers in the Norwegian welfare state (Henriksen, 2016, Henriksen and Hydle, 2019). They point to the fact that neither family councils in child protection nor large meetings within the conflict councils are supported by Sami users. Also, reindeer herders' encounter with the requirements from NAV collides with the reindeer herders' values and cultural tradition as well as exclusion from their own way of working and living, the identity connection to reindeer herding and cultural belonging (Thorslund, 2017). Failure to recognize (themselves - the environment - the authorities) the loss of language and culture not only results in a lack of trust and underuse of services, but can also lead to shame and individual trauma and continued microhumiliation and cultural pain. Shame is often met with "shameful actions" linked to the four directions in the compass of shame (Nathanson, 1992, Berg, 2013); withdrawal, avoidance, self-attack or attack against others. Research has shown that there is a higher incidence of violence in close relationships in Sami areas than in non-Sami areas in Norway. Thorslund and Kiil (2022) analyze women's encounters with the help services after violence in close relationships in Sami communities.

RJ-based thinking within NAV will not only be relevant in relation to Sami users, but the methods will also be applicable in the supervisors' meetings with users who often feel shame and have a lack of trust in NAV. An RJ-based approach can help to strengthen trust and prevent dissatisfaction from developing into conflicts.

IVO members Britt Kramvig, Nina Hermansen and Jan Erik Henriksen are engaged i two-eyed  research  in Arctic. 

IVO's member Britt Kramvig is an NFR appointed member of the Arctic Science Summit Committee (https://iasc.info/) and she represented IVO in this year's Arctic Science Summit Week 2023 (https://assw.info/program/assw-2023-program ) which took place in Vienna in week 8/2023. In week 9, Nina Hemansen and Jan Erik Henriksen represented IVO at the Davgi project workshop in Vienna together with Elle Merehte Omma from the Saami council, ass. prof. Charleen Fischer from University of Fairbanks, Alaska , Kim Flock from NGO IKARVIK, Canada and researchers Annete Scheepstra, University of Groningen, Stephan Dudeck and Thora Hermann from the Oulu University, and our DAVGI project hosts Nina Døring, Anne Chahine, Evie Morin and Olga Lukyanona from RIPS, Potsdam