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Sápmi

(Note: Pending review and approval by the UArctic Indigenous Advisory Board.)

Sápmi is the cultural region that encompasses the traditional homelands of the Saami/Sámi Peoples. It spans across what are now known as Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. In all, there are 10 distinct Saami languages: Skolt, Ume, Kildin, Ter, Northern, Inari, Akkala, Pite, Lule, Kemi, and Southern. Each language’s situation is different, and the governmental and institutional protections they are/have been afforded vary widely by country and time period. The most spoken Saami language today is Northern Saami, with around 30,000 speakers that reside primarily in Norway. 

Formal education began in the 1600s and was carried out by the church; the goal was to educate young men so that they would spread Christianity within their families and communities. The Saami languages were used to a certain extent as the language of instruction. This was followed by a period of Nationalism spanning from the mid 1800s through the mid 1900s, during which time the nation states within which Sápmi is located had language policies that focused on assimilating the Saami into the dominant national language. The 1970s through to the present day have seen much growth in terms of Saami rights, which in turn has meant more legal protections where Saami languages are concerned and a subsequent increase in education in and about them. 

Several UArctic member institutions offer education in one or multiple Saami languages, from beginner courses to multi-year degree programs where a Saami language is the medium of instruction. 

Saami flag

The Sámi flag

Nord University 

  • Multiple yearlong study modules for beginners 

Mid Sweden University 

  • A course for beginners in the language

Umeå University 

  • B.A., M.A., and Magister programs in Southern Sámi Language Studies 
  • Courses for beginners, taught in Swedish and the Southern Sámi 
  • Various levels of Sámi language and linguistics courses, taught in Swedish

Sámi University of Applied Sciences 

  • Language courses for beginners, taught in Norwegian 

Sámi Education Institute 

  • Yearlong programs in Language and Culture, taught in Northern Sámi and Finnish 
  • Yearlong programs in select Sámi Handicraft options, taught in Northern Sámi and Finnish 

Sámi High School and Reindeer Husbandry School 

  • Language courses as a part of the programs’ core curricula 

University of Oulu 

  • B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. programs in Northern Sámi language studies, taught in Northern Sámi

University of Lapland 

  • Courses for beginners taught in Finnish, A1-B1 level 
  • Sámi language minor subject program

University of Helsinki 

  • Northern Sámi language study module, taught in Finnish

Umeå University 

  • B.A., M.A., and Magister programs for Northern Sámi language studies 
  • Courses for beginners, taught in Swedish and the Northern Sámi 
  • Various levels of Sámi language and linguistics courses, taught in Swedish

UiT The Arctic University of Norway 

  • B.A. in Northern Sámi Language taught in Northern Sámi 
  • Nursing B.A. program taught in Northern Sámi and Norwegian 
  • M.A. program in Sámi Languages and Literature  
  • Yearlong language programs for beginners taught in Norwegian and Northern Sámi 
  • Northern Sámi as a subject in a Teacher Education program, taught in Sámi 
  • Northern Sámi language course for speakers of the language

Sámi University of Applied Sciences 

  • Diverse array of offerings taught in Northern Sámi, including B.A. and M.A. programs, study modules, and courses about Northern Sámi, reindeer husbandry, and theatre/film 
  • Introductory Northern Sámi language courses  
  • Continuing education program related to Northern Sámi for kindergarten teachers (native Norwegian speakers) 

Nord University 

  • Multiple yearlong study modules for beginners, including one designed for L2 teacher training 

Umeå University 

  • B.A., M.A., and Magister programs for Lule Sámi language studies 
  • Courses for beginners, taught in Swedish and the Lule Sámi 
  • Various levels of Sámi language and linguistics courses, taught in Swedish

Sámi Education Institute 

  • Yearlong programs in Language and Culture and in select Sámi Handicraft options, taught in Inari Sámi and Finnish

University of Oulu 

  • B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. programs in Inari Sámi language studies, taught in Inari Sámi and Finnish up through the beginning of M.A. studies

Sámi Education Institute 

  • Yearlong programs in Language and Culture and in select Sámi Handicraft options, taught in Skolt Sámi and Finnish

University of Oulu 

  • B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. programs in Skolt Sámi language studies, taught in Skolt Sámi

Legal Protections for Sámi Language Education 

As of December 2024, the Sámi Parliament and the Ministry of Education in Norway are working in collaboration towards legally regulating the possibility of writing one’s bachelor’s or master’s thesis in one of the three official Sámi languages (Lule, Northern, and Southern); this would need to be justified as necessary for completing a degree program, specifically at the institutions Nord University and UiT Arctic University of Norway. 

Act on the Sámi Education Centre (Finland) 

 

Selected Academic Literature 

Antonsen, Lene and Laura A. Janda. (2020). “Davvisámi earutkeahtes oamasteapmi [Inalienable possession in North Saami]”. Sámi dieđalaš áigečála, 2020, p. 61–87. (PDF)

Heikkilä, L. et al. (2024). Ethical guidelines for research involving the Sámi people in Finland. University of Oulu Repository. (PDF)

Helander, H., Keskitalo, P., & Turunen, T. (2023). Saami Language Online Education Outside the Saami Homeland: New Pathways to Social Justice . In M. Thrupp, P. Seppänen, J. Kauko, & S. Kosunen (Eds.), Finland’s Famous Education System : Unvarnished insights into Finnish schooling (pp. 303-318). Springer. (PDF)

Keskitalo, P. (2022). Timelines and strategies in Sami education. In T. A. Olsen, & H. Sollid (Eds.), Indigenous Citizenship in Education: Perspectives on Policies and Practices From Sápmi and Beyond (pp. 33-52). Scandinavian University Press. (PDF); (PDF)

Piha, M. (2024). Vocabulary related to iron manufacture and iron-working in Saami languages. Finnisch-Ugrische Forschungen. (PDF)

Porsanger, J. (2019). Building Sámi Language Higher Education: The Case of Sámi University of Applied Sciences. In: McKinley, E., Smith, L. (eds) Handbook of Indigenous Education. Springer, Singapore. (PDF)

Zmyvalova, E. (2024). Sámi Children’s Right to Learn Their Language: Indigenous Experiences and Law in the Russian School Context [Ubmejen Universitiähta]. (PDF)

 

Further Reading 

History of Linguistic Repression in Sweden 

The Sámi Languages – Arctic Council. Indigenous Peoples’ Secretariat 

Sámi skuvlahistorjá - A website and book collection detailing the history of Sámi education in Norway. It features a myriad of personal accounts from both students and teachers. 

 

Sámi Organizations 

The Saami Council 

Sámi Giellagáldu (a council for matters related to Sámi languages) 

 

Projects and Activities 

HEI-SAMI: Sámi Language in Higher Education in Suburban Areas

Sáhkavuorru – Sámi University of Applied Sciences’ podcast on Spotify, hosted by Harald Gaski and Per Josef Idivuoma in Northern Sámi. The podcast introduces listeners to a new researcher and their work in each episode.