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P-SAMISK-Program for samisk forskning

Opportunities and Challenges for Integrating Sámi Reindeer Herding Traditional Environmental Knowledge in Environmental Governance

Alternative title: Vejola?vuo?at ja hástalusat boazodoalu árbevirola? máhtu vuhtiiváldit luondduháldda?eamis.

Awarded: NOK 3.5 mill.

The Arctic areas are undergoing major changes in climate, land-use and socio-economic conditions. The rate of change implies need for improved governance systems capable of navigating society through these changes, based on best available knowledge, including traditional knowledge. However, integrating traditional knowledge in governance has proved challenging. A major challenge is that traditional knowledge is not available or accessible in a format that has been typically applied in environmental governance. There is thus need for research to improve understanding of how the traditional-knowledge-based spheres of knowing can be utilized in governance in general, and in environmental governance in particular. This projects addresses this need by studying challenges for integrating the traditional knowledge of Sámi reindeer husbandry in environmental governance in the Nordics. In order to promote co-production of knowledge - the complementary and joint efforts of developing new knowledge by traditional-knowledge holders and scientists - the project will co-host community based workshop in collaboration with the RIEVDAN project (NFR grant no. #238326) The project is based on and according to goals and strategies set by Sámi University of Applied Science, and contribute to a knowledge base for a Master-level course in a new Master degree program on sustainable reindeer husbandry.

De artikler som er utarbeidet i prosjektet og de øvrige tiltak, inklusive formidlingstiltak, som er blitt gjennomført i prosjektet, har potensial til å påvirke miljøforvaltning i de nordiske landene. Det er også mulig at produserte artikler kan være med på å gi kunnskapsgrunnlag for et nytt mastergradsprogram i reindriftstudier med en tverrfaglig tilnærming, slik den sekundære målsettingen har vært.

The Arctic areas are undergoing major changes in climate, land-use and socio-economic conditions. The rate of change suggests the need for improved governance systems capable of navigating society through these changes, based on best available knowledge. Recent years have seen increased recognition of and efforts to improve governance by integrating indigenous peoples tradition knowledge. Yet, such integration has proved challenging. A major challenge is that traditional knowledge is not available or accessible in a format that has been typically applied in environmental governance, as traditional knowledge is primarily rooted in traditional knowledge based management systems. There is thus need for research to improve understanding of how the traditional knowledge based spheres of knowing can be utilized in governance in general, and in environmental governance in particular. This projects addresses this need by studying challenges for integrating the traditional knowledge of Sámi reindeer husbandry in environmental governance in the Nordics. Using qualitative research methods the project will apply focus-group interviews and semi structured interviews in combination with historical archives and document analysis. In order to promote co-production of knowledge - the complementary and joint efforts of developing new knowledge by traditional-knowledge holders and scientists - the project will co-host community based workshop in collaboration with the RIEVDAN project (NFR grant no. #238326) aimed at elaborating and clarifying preliminary findings and to aid further analysis of results. This research project is based on and according to goals and strategies set by Sámi University of Applied Science. The research will contribute knowledge base for a Master-level course in a new Master degree program on sustainable reindeer husbandry to be offered at Sami University of Applied Sciences.

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P-SAMISK-Program for samisk forskning