International and comparative perspectives on Indigenous language learning
We welcome interested parties to a one-day seminar about teaching of smaller Saami languages on the 24th of October, 2025 in which we discuss Indigenous language teaching and learning from a range of perspective, both in terms of context and content. We welcome two international guests who will present language teaching cases in Aotearoa and Kalaallit Nunaat: Corinne Seals and Carina Appelon Lykke Melgaard.
Being a teacher of any Indigenous language is a challenging and demanding task, and teachers of these languages often perceive a responsibility that stretches beyond only classroom teaching. Hence, the minoritized situation of small Saami languages creates a challenging teaching condition with few colleagues. Therefore, the SAMLA network invites you to a seminar that discusses the teaching and learning of small Saami languages. We invite guest lecturers from other Indigenous settings to provide international perspectives. During the day, there will be lectures from teachers, researchers and guests as well as open discussions and questions.
We especially welcome teachers and emerging teachers teaching South Saami, Lule Saami, Inari Saami and Skolt Saami as well as academics and researchers conducting research on the educational situation of these languages and together with stakeholders from these groups.
Register yourself here for the seminar: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=nz3R_t8hXUiQmiMfPG0W8I3–u7Q2dVEqdgvxcpVAN9UOVlMSEczSUpFQjk3VDVWUDc5Q01QQ0RDMC4u
Schedule
| Time (CET) | Activity | Place of work |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00-09:20 | Welcome By David Kroik and Ingvill B. Åberg | Nord University, Norway |
| 09:20-10:05 | Contributing to Indigenous language rights in teaching and learning: focusing on te reo Māori in Aotearoa By Corinne Seals – PhD, Ahonuku | Te Herenga Waka – University of Wellington, Aotearoa – New Zealand |
| 10:05-10:20 | Break | |
| 10:20-11:05 | How do we address the challenges caused by danification of Greenlandic school system in everyday teaching practice? By Carina Appelon Lykke Melgaard | Ilulissat, Kalaallit Nunaat – Greenland |
| 11:05-11:25 | How to acknowledge and support parents’ expertise and multiple roles in education By Michelle Francett-Hermes, PhD candidate | University of Oulu, Finland |
| 11:25-11:55 | Panel: What challenges and opportunities do we see for Indigenous languages? Panelists: Corinne Seals, Hanna Danbolt Ajer (Researcher of Lule Sámi), Maajja-Krihke Bransfjell. Chair: David Kroik | |
| 12:00-13:00 | Lunch | |
| 13:00-13:40 | [“Are we supposed to speak Saami now?”]: Language spaces, language awareness and the use of language in a South Saami classroom By Maajja-Krihke Brandsfjell, South Saami teacher and research assistant | Røros municipality/ Nord Univeristy, Norway |
| 13:40-14:10 | Screening Saami children for dyslexia By Vanja Tørresdal, South Saami teacher | Røros municipality, Norway |
| 14:10-14:15 | Break | |
| 14:15-14:50 | Discussion Chair: Ingvill B. Åberg | |
| 14:50-15:00 | Concluding Remarks By David Kroik and Ingvill B. Åberg |