Small Saami languages have related histories and face similar (yet unique) challenges, some of which are different from the ones faced by larger minority languages. SAMLA gathers researchers from Finland, Sweden and Norway within the fields of South Saami, Lule Saami, Skolt Saami and Inari Saami. Through workshops, seminars and guest lectures SAMLA supports and advances cross-border and cross-disciplinary research, and contributes to building more robust research communities within these fields.
SAMLA further supports professional development for teachers and emerging teachers of small Saami languages, as we believe the education and support of language teachers is crucial to revitalization. We provide a space for working and emerging teachers for meeting, storying, and sharing of experiences. We hold designated workshops for teachers to voice and compare institutional needs and concerns, and discuss possible solutions. Further, SAMLA supports professional learning through seminars and panel discussions with researchers both from the Nordics and internationally.
The results of SAMLA’s activities will be presented in numerous ways for different audiences: from blog posts to academic articles, from policy briefs to conference presentations, the work of SAMLA will have a wide reach not only among a global community of minority language researchers and educators – but also decisionmakers, policymakers, the wider academic community and the public.
The unique strength and ethical commitment of SAMLA is its close engagement with stakeholders: learners of South Saami, Lule Saami, Skolt Saami and Inari Saami. The ultimate goal for all SAMLAs activities is the benefit of language learners of these critically endangered indigenous languages in our Nordic region.
Network participants
- Associate professor David Kroik, Nord University, Norway
- Administrative officer for Sámi Camilla Olofsson Båatas, Mittuniversitetet, Sweden
- Senior university lecturer in In Marja-Liisa Olthuis, University of Oulu, Finland
- University lecturer in Skolt Saa Markus Juutinen, University of Oulu, Finland
- PhD candidate Michelle Francett-Hermes University of Oulu, Finland
- University teacher in Skolt Saam Miika Lehtinen, University of Oulu, Finland
- Associate professor of South Saa Minerva Maaria Piha, Nord University, Norway
- South Saami coordinator Inger Johansen Nord University, Norway
- Associate professor of social st Ingvill Bjørnstad Åberg, Nord University, Norway
- Associate professor of Lule Saam Hanna Danbolt Ajer, Nord University, Norway
- Associate professor Bruce Timothy Morén-Duollja, Nord University, Norway
- PhD candidate Siri Ellen Nystø Ráhka, Nord University, Norway
- PhD candidate Sandra Maria Nystø Ráhka, Nord University, Norway