One People, Four States: Saami Rights in Saepmie

My postdoctoral project explores how legal regulations apply to Saami individuals who move from one state to another within Saepmie, and how these regulations are implemented in practice. I also examine whether the experiences of this implementation reveal any emerging agendas for renegotiating the rights of immigrants within Saepmie. Finally, I consider the theoretical implications-specifically, how empirical data and implementation practices contribute to the ongoing theoretical discussion about the distinction between ‘law in books’ and ‘law in action.’ The empirical data is collected during interviews in Norway, Finland, and Sweden with representatives of the Saami community.

As part of my postdoctoral work, I also teach in the Administrative Law Program and supervise students. In cooperation with the Discipline of Law and Båskoes, I am organizing a Symposium for Early Career Researchers Working with Indigenous Issues in August 2025. I also serve as one of the special editors of the 17th issue of the Yearbook of Polar Law, which this year is based on the Polar Law Symposium held for the first time in Sweden at Gaskeuniversiteete.