What’s on

  • October 24th 2025: International seminar

    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
    13:40-14:10Screening Saami children for dyslexia  
    By Vanja Tørresdal, South Saami teacher    		Røros municipality, Norway
    14:10-14:15Break
    14:15-14:50 Discussion 
    Chair: Ingvill B. Åberg
    14:50-15:00 Concluding Remarks 
    By David Kroik and Ingvill B. Åberg

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