SÁMIED – Research group on Sámi upbringing and education research 
 

The SÁMIED research group studies Sámi upbringing and education in various ways. The research group’s work centres on language and culture aware teaching, intergenerational transfer of knowledge and culture, children and young people’s participation, curricula, teacher training, digitality, well-being of students and lifelong learning. 

The research group especially examines how education corresponds with Sámi rights and needs, as well as how culturally sustainable development and education is carried out. The research also produces information for the development of education systems in general. 

SÁMIED operates as part of Nordic and international research cooperation. Multiple researchers at various stages of their academic careers work in the group under the guidance of Professor Pigga Keskitalo. 

Experts

Projects

Website: LINCOSY – University of Lapland

We will chart the current situation of the endangered Sami languages in primary education in Nordic countries using the practice of cocreation and explore how linguistically responsive teaching should be applied to nurture the educational success of Sami youth.

Researchers:  

Pigga Keskitalo (Principal Investigator) 

Inker-Anni Linkola-Aikio

Berit-Ellen Juuso

Marianne Silén

Duration: 1.9.2023-31.8.2027 

REBOUND is a six-year project (2023–2029) funded by the Finnish Strategic Research Council, focusing its research objectives on just green transition, e.g. from the viewpoints of different forms of land use in Northern Finland.

Website: https://research.ulapland.fi/fi/projects/uudet-rajat-kohti-resilientti%C3%A4-ja-oikeudenmukaista-yhteist%C3%A4-arkti-3

Researchers:

Pigga Keskitalo (Principal Investigator) 

Rauni Äärelä-Vihriälä

The project of  the Faculty of Education is part of research consortium which is  leaded by the Arctic Centre and docent Tanja Joona. Other partners are the faculty of Art and Design from the University of Lapland, University of Helsinki, the Natural Resources Institute Finland and the Finnish Environment Agency. 

CAP-SHARE aims to strengthen the relationship between scientists, policymakers, and Arctic communities when it comes to decision-making regarding the protection of biodiversity and climate change mitigation.

Website: https://research.ulapland.fi/fi/projects/building-bridges-of-shared-capacity-between-scientists-policymake

Researches:  

Pigga Keskitalo (Principal Investigator) 

Rauni Äärelä-Vihriälä

Teppo Kuusela 

Heikki Tiilikka

Icelandic Museum of Natural History leads the project. Partners are University of Lapland and Arctic Frontiers in Norway. 

HEI-SAMI – Sami Language in Higher Education in Suburban Areas -project concentrates on promoting Nordic network building of universities working with endangered Sami language education.

Project persons

  • Professor Pigga Keskitalo (PI)
  • University Lecturer Satu-Maarit Korte

Partners Torjer Olsen and Lene Antonsen, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Christina Storm Mienna and Christer Stoor, Umeå University and Ilona Kivinen, University of Helsinki

Website: https://www.ulapland.fi/EN/Webpages/HEI-SAMI 

This project aims to enhance Sámi literacy through teacher education and the development of an educational game, addressing the current reliance of Sámi children on majority languages for digital reading and writing due to a lack of Sámi tools.

Website: Lohkanlihkku – Interreg Aurora 

Researchers: 

Pigga Keskitalo (PI) 

Kristiina Jomppanen (project manager) 

Partners: University of Jyväskylä, Univeristy of Umeå ja Sámi allaskuvla 

Aim: building and developing speech recognition system for Saami languages, North Saami first

Collaboration: University of Lapland and Aalto University

Funded by the Finnish Cultural Foundation

Duration: 2025-2027 

News

3.11.2026

Professor of Education Pigga Keskitalo from the University of Lapland will give an invited keynote address at the seventh Saami Linguistics Symposium (SAALS 7), which will take place at Nord University in Bodø, Norway, on 4–5 November 2026. The main theme of the symposium is Sámi language revitalization and education.

Keskitalo’s presentation, “Voices from Five Sámi Languages: Co-developing Sámi Teaching in Nordic Primary Education,” draws on the LINCOSY project. The research brings together the perspectives of pupils, parents and guardians, teachers, and school leaders on the teaching of five Sámi languages in Nordic schools.

The presentation examines how language-aware education can respond to pupils’ diverse language skills, linguistic backgrounds, and opportunities to use Sámi. It also addresses the support needs of school leaders, as well as the resources and learning materials required for Sámi language education.

A key message is the need to develop teaching collaboratively and in ways that take into account the specific circumstances of each language community. The aim is to develop flexible and sustainable solutions that support the learning, use, and intergenerational transmission of Sámi languages.

Conference programme and more information

    Last updated: 3.11.2026