Multicultural Studies from a Sami Perspective: Bridging Traditions and Challenges in an Indigenous Setting

The Sami University College has from the beginning of its establishment in 1994 provided advanced post-graduate study for students in multicultural understanding. This article deals with our experiences in providing such education for some ten years. It is difficult for our students, and people in g...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Issues in educational research 2012, Vol.22 (1), p.1
Main Authors: Balto, Asta Mitkija, Ostmo, Liv
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Admission Criteria
Consciousness Raising
Critical Thinking
Cultural Awareness
Cultural Background
Cultural Context
Cultural Pluralism
Culture
Democratic Values
Didacticism
Foreign Countries
Graduate Study
Indigenous Populations
Intercultural communication
Knowledge
Lapland
Learning
Learning Processes
Multicultural Education
Multiculturalism & pluralism
Native peoples
Norway
Norwegian
Oral Tradition
Principles
Reflection
Self Esteem
Story Telling
Students
Teaching
Teaching Methods
University colleges
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Summary:The Sami University College has from the beginning of its establishment in 1994 provided advanced post-graduate study for students in multicultural understanding. This article deals with our experiences in providing such education for some ten years. It is difficult for our students, and people in general, to change their normative views of other people. Students examine how such ties can result in either inclusive or exclusive interactions, and the article discusses how difficult it is to broaden one's views and reflect on one's own and other people's ties and attitudes critically. In teaching, we encourage our students to use their stories as a means of analysing their experiences. Storytelling is an important part of the Sami heritage and other indigenous heritages. Therefore, it is a fascinating resource for learning. In this article, we examine how effective this tool is and how it enables learning by creating a Sami learning environment, or "searvelatnja" "a shared room". We also look at how storytelling can contribute to self-esteem, analytical cultural understanding and reflective skills. We highlight the enhancement of cultural sensitivity and analytic thought as central elements in the continuation of building and upholding democratic societies.
ISSN:0313-7155
1837-6290