Program: Symposium for Early Career Researchers Working with Indigenous Issues

The symposium takes place to present the university’s work in Saami research and teaching, to learn about the research conducted by the symposium participants, to provide a forum for discussion and exchange, to meet representatives of Saami civil society in Östersund, and to explore possibilities for future collaboration. 15 early career researchers from all over Saepmie and beyond will participate in the symposium’s activities.

In addition to the traditional university setting, the participants will visit the Jamtli museum, where they will learn about local history and the Saami perspective of the region. On the second day, half of the time will be spent at Gaaltije - the Saami museum - where participants will learn about work done in collaboration with the Saami community in the region. Finally, representatives from the grants office will join the symposium to share information about possible funding opportunities for various activities. 

The overall aim of the symposium is to discuss how those of us located at different universities can further develop research in Indigenous issues, taking into account that Indigenous research is a small field where researchers cooperate closely despite being based at different institutions. The symposium participants will be divided into two groups to work on relevant tasks, and at the end of the second day, we will conclude by summarizing the most important outcomes developed during the event. The symposium is organized in connection with the 20th anniversary of Gaskeuniversiteete, with financial support from the university and the Riksbankens Jubileumsfond.

Program 

All events at the university take place in room B312.

August 26

9.00-9.15 Presentation of the symposium organizers. Ekaterina Zmyvalova, post doc (discipline of law, EJT). Presentation of the symposium participants.

9.15-09.45 Gaskeuniversiteete - a university in Saepmie. Camilla Olofsson Båatas, Administrative Officer for Saami Matters, The Vice-Chancellor’s Office, Gaskeuniversiteete.

09.45-10.15 On Obtaining Forum Status for the Research Group on Indigenous Matters at Gaskeuniversiteete. Angelika Sjöstedt, Professor, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences.

10.15-10.30 Questions and answers.

10.30-11.00 Fika.

11.00-11.50 Presentation of the projects of participants (10 min per presentation; 5 persons).

11.50-12.00 Questions and answers

12.00-12.45 Group discussion and presentation: How can higher education institutions support research and education on Indigenous issues?

12.45-14.00 Lunch

14.00-14.30 Grants office of Gaskeuniversiteete: How can the Gaskeuniversiteete Grants Office support researchers with applications for external funding? Torbjörn Westerlund & Katrin Lindbäck, Research Advisors, Grants office.

14.30-14.45 Reflections on the first day of symposium.

14.45-15.15 Walk to Jamtli museum.

15.15-16.30 Excision in Jamtli.

18.00 Dinner at Gamla Teatern.

August 27

9.00-10.30 Visit of Gaaltije-samiskt museum. Gaaltije-Saemien Museume in contemporary 
Saepmie Presentation of Jerker Bexelius, CEO.

10.30-11.30 Presentation of the projects of participants (10 min per presentation; 6 persons).

11.30-11.45 Walk to the University.

11.45-13.00 Lunch.

13.00-13.40 Presentation of the projects of participants (10 min per presentation; 4 persons).

13.40-14.00 Questions and answers.

14.00-14.45 Group work and presentation: what have we learned from Gaskeuniversiteete’s approach to working with Indigenous issues, and how can we further develop cooperation?

14. 45- 15.00 Closing remarks.

After the symposium, we plan to publish information about it on the university’s web page as well as disseminate information via other platforms. If you want to contribute to preparing the text for publication, you are welcome to do so.