Lohkanlihkku

Lohkanlihkku project team met at a workshop at Umeå University on 7th of May 2026. During the workshop, project partners had the opportunity to explore opportunities for the game’s graphics, music, and to plan upcoming activities together. The workshop focused especially on the representation of the Sámi culture in the game. Project team also met with graphic designers and a musician. The next major step in the project is to pilot test the North Sámi demo version of the game.  

In the photo 

Top row: Professor Coppélie Cocq (UMU), project manager Kristiina Jomppanen (ULap), university lecturer Maaren Palismaa (SUAS) and assistant professor Berit-Ellen Juuso (SUAS) 

Bottom row: Professor Ulla Richardson (JYU), project worker Marja Labba (UMU), professor and project leader Pigga Keskitalo (ULap), doctoral fellow Laura Kotavuopio (SUAS) and research coordinator Lea Nieminen (JYU)

The Lohkanlihkku project organized a workshop in Inari on April 8–10, 2026. In addition to game development experts from the University of Jyväskylä, project staff from the University of Lapland participated in the workshop. The central focus of the workshop was to introduce Skolt and Inari Sámi language experts to the development of game content. The training was led by game development specialists from the University of Jyväskylä: Professor Ulla Richardson, Research Coordinator Lea Nieminen, and Application Designer Mika Halttunen. 

The Sámi-language game versions developed within the Lohkanlihkku project are based on the research-based Lukukupla game. The University of Jyväskylä has extensive experience in adapting the game to different languages and orthographies. The linguistic and pedagogical content of the game is designed based on the specific characteristics of each language, rather than being a direct translation of the Finnish version. The development work is also guided by principles of sustainability and cultural responsibility. 

The aim of the game is to support the learning of foundational reading and writing skills. The skills practiced include recognizing sounds and letters, learning sound-letter correspondences, reading and forming syllables and words, and gradually progressing from smaller units to larger ones in reading. In addition, reading fluency and speed are practiced. 

In connection with the workshop, the project organized a meeting with the Sámi Parliament’s educational materials office, as well as an open presentation event on April 8 2026. At both events, project experts presented the project’s objectives and the key principles of the learning game under development. Participants also had the opportunity to share their views and provide feedback. The project aims for close collaboration with stakeholders to ensure that the learning games being developed support Sámi language education and take into account the diverse backgrounds of learners. 

Key perspectives related to Sámi language teaching and learning emerged in the discussion with the Sámi Parliament’s educational materials office and during the open presentation event. The discussion addressed, among other things, the linguistic and cultural dimensions of the game content, the role of learning materials, and the pedagogical effectiveness and motivational aspects of the game. 

The open presentation event was attended by professionals in the field of education and early childhood education, representing teaching in Inari, Skolt, and Northern Sámi languages. 

In the picture from left language expert Terhi Harju, project leader Professor Pigga Keskitalo, research coordinator Lea Nieminen, language expert Petra Kuuva, Professor Ulla Richardson and project manager Kristiina Jomppanen 

Language experts Petra Kuuva and Terhi Harju have joined the Lohkanlihkku project on 1st of April at the University of Lapland. Their role is to produce Inari Sámi and Skolt Sámi language content for the literacy skills game being developed in the project. 

Their responsibilities include designing and producing game content as well as ensuring linguistic quality. Their work supports early age education as well as learning material needs in Inari and Skolt Sámi.  

Petra Kuuva works as the Inari Sámi language expert in the project. Petra has previously worked among other things as an Inari Sámi language class teacher, especially in pre-primary and early primary education. She has also work as a project planner for the Finnish Sámi Parliament. In this project, focusing on children’s learning material, two games for mobile devices in Inari, North and Skolt Sámi languages were developed.  

Terhi Harju works as the Skolt Sámi language expert in the project. Terhi’s previous work experience includes diverse tasks related to the Skolt Sámi language, including language work in Sámi Giellagáldu, translation and interpretation work, and most recently as secretary of Skolt Saami Siida Administration.  

The Lohkanlihkku project promotes the visibility and use of Sámi languages and supports their preservation and development in contemporary society. The materials being developed in the project will support Sámi-speaking educators and guardians. The recruitment of new language experts marks an important step in achieving the project’s goals. Lohkanlihkku will be developed all together in five Sámi languages: Inari Sámi, Julev Sámi, North Sámi, Skolt Sámi and South Sámi. Lohkanlihkku  is both the name of the project as well as the name of the North Sámi language game. Names of the game versions in other project Sámi languages will be published later.  

Contact information:  

Project manager Kristiina Jomppanen 

Kristiina.jomppanen@ulapland.fi  

Inari Sámi Language Expert, Petra Kuuva 

petra.kuuva@ulapland.fi  

Skolt Sámi Language Expert, Terhi Harju 

terhi.harju@ulapland.fi 

Date: Wednesday, 8 April 2026, 16:00–17:00
Venue: Sámi Cultural Centre Sajos, meeting room Silbanásti

The Lohkanlihkku project team is organizing an information event in Inari and invites those working in Sámi-language education and early childhood education, as well as anyone interested in the topic, to learn more about the project and its development work.

The event will introduce the project and its objectives. Participants will also have the opportunity to discuss the development of the game and support for Sámi language teaching with the project’s experts.

Lohkanlihkku is a joint Nordic project developing a learning game for teaching reading and writing in the early stages of Sámi language education. The game is being developed for five Sámi languages: South Sámi, Inari Sámi, Lule Sámi, Skolt Sámi, and North Sámi. Lohkanlihkku is the North Sámi name of the game.

The project partners are the University of Lapland, the University of Jyväskylä, Sámi University of Applied Sciences, and Umeå University.

You can also find the project on Facebook and LinkedIn under the name Lohkanlihkku.

The project is funded by Interreg Aurora, the Barents Secretariat, the Sámi Parliament of Norway, Troms County Municipality, and Region Västerbotten.

For catering purposes, please register in advance by 30 March 2026 by email:
kristiina.jomppanen@ulapland.fi

Warmly welcome! Váimmolaččat buresboahtin!

Lohkanlihkku will be at the Jokkmokk market on 6.2.2026

Our project worker Marja Labba from the Unviersity of Umeå will present the Lohkanihkku project and there will be also information provided on Interreg Aurora funding opportunities.

6th of Feb. 14.00–15.00 (Swedish time) Ája Lärargatan 2, Jokkmokk

Free entrance

Come and listen!

Lohkanlihkku is a three-year Interreg Aurora development project that aims to support early education in Sámi languages and to strengthen children’s literacy development. The project develops a literacy learning game, Lohkanlihkku, for five Sámi languages, responding to identified pedagogical and linguistic needs in Sámi-language early education. Communication and the active involvement of the Sámi community play a central role in the project. Collaboration with teachers, families, experts, and other stakeholders ensures that the solutions developed are culturally, linguistically, and pedagogically appropriate. Lohkanlihkku is a North Sámi word meaning the joy of reading.

The Lohkanlihkku has convened a stakeholder group composed of representatives from the project’s key stakeholders. The stakeholder group meets annually during the project to share perspectives and discuss issues related to the project work. The Lohkanlihkku project team particularly seeks to hear Sámi-language teachers, experts, policymakers, public officials, parents, and Sámi youth regarding the project’s content and objectives. 

Representatives have been invited from the Learning Material and Education Committee of the Finnish Sámi Parliament, the Sámi Parliament’s Youth Council (Nuoraidráđđi), the Regional State Administrative Agency, the Language Centre of the Swedish Sámi Parliament, the administration of the Sámi School (Sámeskolstyrelsen), the Faculty of Education at the University of Lapland, as well as teachers and representatives of guardians. The Norwegian Sámi Parliament does not participate in the stakeholder group, as it is one of the project’s funders. The first meeting was held in early November 2025.

At the November meeting, the Lohkanlihkku project team presented the project’s background, objectives, current activities, and plans for the coming years. During the meeting, members of the stakeholder discussed and shared their perspectives on early education in Sámi languages and the development of literacy skills.

The discussions highlighted a strong need in Sámi language early education for high-quality learning materials and learning material innovations with appropriate vocabulary. Existing materials do not always correspond to pupils’ everyday lives or language proficiency levels, and in some Sámi languages, learning materials suitable for early year education are available only to a limited extent. Everyday language and basic vocabulary were particularly emphasized. In current learning materials and children’s literature, the vocabulary is often too demanding for learners, which may weaken learning and reading motivation. 

Sámi-language classrooms are linguistically highly heterogenous, and teachers spend considerable time explaining texts and adapting materials to meet pupils’ needs. Digital tools have long been scarce, which makes new solutions—such as the Lohkanlihkku-game— particularly valuable in supporting weaker readers. The discussion also emphasised the importance of children being exposed to diverse language use and noted that learning materials should not be too tightly tied to specific regions or dialects. Distance education and the lack of a Sámi language environment further increase the challenges of Sámi-language teaching. Participants expressed hopes that the Lohkanlihkku would strengthen children’s literacy skills in a holistic way and contribute to the revitalisation of Sámi languages.

Lohkanlihkku‘s Project leader, Professor Pigga Keskitalo, presented Lohkanlihkku during this year’s Sámi Language, Literature and Culture Symposium. The symposium took place at the University of Oulu 11.-13.11.2025.

The project generated considerable interest among the seminar participants. The presentation highlighted the project’s implementation process, cooperation with key stakeholders, and the integration of Sámi cultural elements into the game.

The Lohkanlihkku project group took part in the FERA Conference 2025. The conference gathered over 600 experts on pedagogy and education together to the University of Lapland 5.-7.11.2025. Our project experts Berit-Ellen Juuso and Laura Kotavuopio, Sámi University of Applied Sciences, Pigga Keskitalo, University of Lapland, and Ulla Richardson, University of Jyväskylä, presented the Lohkanlihkku-project at the conference.

FERA Conference 2025 – University of Lapland

On October 22nd and 23rd professor Pigga Keskitalo and project manager Kristiina Jomppanen  participated in a workshop concerning digital challenges of small languages at the Maastricht university in the Netherlands. Pigga was invited to give a speech at the workshop on digitalization of Sámi language education. Kristiina presented the Lohkanlihkku-project. In the workshop the team got to hear more about minoritized or low-resource languages and their situations as well as connect with other experts in the field.

Digital challenges for small languages workshop 

The Lohkanlihkku project organized a webinar on October 29th 2025. This first project webinar was held in North Sámi and was primarily intended for teachers and others interested in teaching and learning reading and writing in North Sámi. In the future, Lohkanlihkku will also organize events in other project languages.

The webinar discussed existing research on learning and teaching Sámi reading and writing and introduced the Lohkanlihkku project.