- 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 Speaker 09.00-09.20 Welcome David Kroik and Minerva Piha 09.20-10.05 An Aotearoa and Maori perspective on teaching and learning of Indigenous languages Corinne Seals 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? Carina Appelon Lykke Melgaard 11.05-11.25 How to acknowledge and support parents’ expertise and multiple roles in education Michelle Francett-Hermes 11.25-11.55 Panel: What challenges and opportunities do we see for Indigenous languages? Corinne Seals, Hanna Danbolt Ajer, Maajja-Krihke Bransfjell. 12.00-12.30 Lunch 12.30-13.00 [To be announced] Ramona Kappfjell Sørfjell 13.00-13.30 [“Are we supposed to speak Saami now?”]: Language spaces, language awareness and the use of language in a South Saami classroom Maajja-Krihke Brandsfjell 13.30-13.40 Break 13.40-14.10 Screening Saami children for dyslexia Vanja Tørresdal 14.10-14.50 Discussion 14.50-15.00 Concluding Remarks Minerva Piha and David Kroik