The MÁHTUT project’s partner, the Sámi Research Center Várdduo, hosted a wonderful three-day conference titled Insight and Outlook – Conference on Sápmi-related Research in Umeå. Many members of the MÁHTUT team participated in the conference, which was the perfect opportunity to network and meet colleagues from different fields of research.

The various multidisciplinary sessions focused on diverse Sápmi-related concerns and questions, such as land rights, decolonization, green transition and sustainability, socio-politics, education, language, history, demographics, and spirituality. The sessions and presentations provided an important insight into multiple topics and revealed connections between the past and modern-day challenges. These sessions created a vital platform for thought-provoking discussions, and many of the presentations left an empowering feeling afterward.

The MÁHTUT project was part of the session focusing on questions of sustainability in Sápmi, as our Project Manager, Mari Viinikainen, presented our project. As MÁHTUT combines research with various types of socio-culturally inclusive practices, such as workshops, our project was a key element in demonstrating how to bridge multidisciplinary research in a collaborative sharing of know-how with Sámi knowledge holders.

Várdduo’s Sámi research professors and MÁHTUT project members, Kristina Sehlin MacNeil and Krister Stoor, hosted a wonderful dinner after the second day. The dinner was a perfect opportunity to relax, share thoughts and ideas, network, and build new connections after inspiring days. The dinner venue was also a historical landmark, as it was the first location to host a joik concert in 1910. The conference participants also enjoyed some beautiful traditional Ume Sámi joik by talented Jörgen Stenberg, who is one of the few joiking in Ume Sámi tradition. Stenberg was also the first Sámi person to participate in the Sámi Grand Prix from Swedish side on Sápmi in 1995. Stenberg joiked the Umeå River in a mesmerizing way of combining traditional Ume Sami joik with modern musical ambience. Krister Stoor also performed two beautiful joiks. The first one was the joik of the city of Umeå first performed in 1910 and the second one was his own Umeå University luohti created in 1993. Giitu Jörgen ja Krister!

After the conference, MÁHTUT team members gathered at Várdduo for a team meeting with partners from Umeå University, the Arctic University of Norway, and the Sámi Education Institute. The meeting focused on the project’s future plans and the next steps, such as upcoming workshops. So, stay tuned for more!

Olu giitu to Várdduo for a lovely conference, and to Umeå University, the Arctic University of Norway, and the Sámi Education Institute for the productive project meeting! See you soon!

Eleonora Alariesto, Research Assistant