Study visit to the Saami Education Institute and the Sámi Parliaments in Inari and Karasjok
The Northern Institute for Environmental and Minority Law at the Arctic Centre has organized a study visit to Inari and Karasjok on 24-25 May 2022.
The visit was organized as part of the staff and students’ mobility
program under the project “Interdisciplinary curricula on indigenous and
tribal peoples’ studies” participated by five Universities, including
the Universities of Lapland and Oulu from Finland and Indira Gandhi
National Tribal University, North Bengal University and Sikkim
University from India. The UArctic Law Thematic Network and the UArctic
Chair in Arctic Legal Research and Education provided practical support
in the organization of the visit.
A group of twelve participants from the representing partner
Universities participated in the study visit. The group visited three
Institutions, including the Finnish Sámi Parliament in Inari, the Saami
Education Institute and the Norwegian Sámi parliament in Karasjok. On 24
May, the group was offered an introductory talk at the Saami Education
Institute on educational activities performed by the Institute, followed
by lively discussions on existing and future projects focusing on the
Sámi livelihoods and food security issues. Discussions further continued
over a traditional Sámi dinner served with reindeer soup. The group
sought for possible collaboration with the Institute. On 25 May, the
group travelled to Karasjok and received a guided tour to the Norwegian
Sámi Parliament, which provided a talk on the establishment, political
processes, decision-makings and other functions of the Sámi Parliament.
In addition, the group also had an excursion at the Sámi SIIDA museum in
Inari.
Altogether, the group travelled approximately nine-hundred kilometres
in the Sápmi region starting from Rovaniemi to Inari, and then Inari to
Karasjok, and finally back to Rovaniemi through Kautokeino. The group
experienced the exotic beauty of the landscape of the Sámi homeland
areas. The study visit provided an opportunity to gain the first-hand
knowledge and learn through interactions with stakeholders directly, and
it was a full of interesting learning experience.

The group in the front of Sajos building (Sámi Cultural Centre) in Inari.
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