At the end of March, members of the MÁHTUT team traveled to Hetta in Enontekiö to take part to the Heahtá Márjjábeaivvit. Heahtá Márjjábeaivvit is a Sámi cultural event held annually in March, bringing together Sámi communities from Finland, Norway, and Sweden. The event features a diverse programme, including markets, arts and music and for example, traditional Sámi lasso suohpan throwing competition. The event also includes a scientific seminar day, in which the MÁHTUT project participated.

MÁHTUT organized a Sámi circularity seminar by the name Sámi knowledge and practices based on self-sufficiency as the foundation for a sustainable future, which was organized as part of the Hetta Márjjábeaivvit program. The seminar was hosted by Project Planner Eleonora Alariesto, who also gave a presentation on her upcoming Sámi circularity report for the project. During the seminar, MÁHTUT project team member Marja Labba from Várdduo (Umeå University), gave a presentation on the activities carried out by the Várdduo in Sweden. After the presentations, a panel discussion on the topic of Sámi circularity took place, moderated by Eleonora, and the attendees consisted of Anne-Maria Magga, Saara Alakorva, and Mika Aromäki. After the panel discussion, MÁHTUT presented project short films.

In addition to the Sámi circularity seminar and repatriating project’s results, we organized an internal seminar. The idea of the internal seminar was to get together and discuss the different outcomes of MÁHTUT work packages, such as WP6, Overall assessment and implementation of the project’s benefits to Sápmi and Sámi civil society, and WP7, Repatriating the findings of the project to the benefit of Sámi civil society. Besides discussing the implementation of work packages and themes related to repatriating knowledge gathered in the project, team members and partner institutions discussed the forthcoming plans before the end of the project.

Overall, the internal and circular seminars were wonderful experiences to get together and enjoy the sun and upcoming spring in Hetta while discussing the finalization of the project. The circular seminar attracted a great deal of interest from Márjjábeaivvit attendees and was a lovely event altogether.

Eleonora Alariesto / Project Planner

Mari Viinikainen / Project Manager