In this article, project leader Ingvill Bjørnstad Åberg from Nord University introduces the new SAMLA network.
"In March, the newly established Network to Support Research and Teaching of Small Saami Languages (SAMLA) had its first meeting. Language researchers and teacher educators from South Saami, Lule Saami, Skolt Saami and Inari Saami in Norwegian, Swedish and Finnish parts of Sápmi met online to discuss their work, and shared both successes and challenges.
We have a common aim in SAMLA, which is to support language teachers of small Saami languages in their work, to the benefit of language learners.
Small Saami languages have related histories and face similar (yet unique) challenges, some of which are different from the ones faced by larger minority languages. By researchers, teachers and future teachers coming together to share experiences, ideas, successes and challenges, we can learn from each other and provide support in what sometimes might feel like lonely work.
SAMLA is funded by NordForsk for 2025 and 2026. We will invite teachers and teacher students to meet online, to share and learn from each other, and from researchers and international experts on minority language teaching and learning. We will also arrange events where we discuss what we might need from our places of work. How could we create changes that would increase the space for language learning at our schools and universities, and in our local communities?
Coming up this October is our international research seminar. Here, we invite teachers and future teachers to join as we have an exciting panel of international experts on minority language teaching and learning. If you are a master student, we particularly invite you to consider sharing your work, and you will receive feedback from experienced researchers.
Please see our blog for more information about SAMLA upcoming events, and network partners."
SAMLA webpages: https://site.nord.no/samla/
SAMLA network partners: Nord University, University of Oulu, Mid Sweden University