Report: Laura Njunnas and My Northern Project

I am a Sámi educator and doctoral researcher from Finland, currently pursuing my PhD at Université Paris-Saclay in France. My doctoral research examines the significance of Sámi mother tongue education for the well-being of Sámi people, particularly those living outside the traditional Sámi homeland. My work focuses on the connections between language, identity, belonging, cultural continuity, and psychological and social well-being.

I hold a Master’s degree in Education from the Sámi University of Applied Sciences in Kautokeino, where I graduated as a Sámi language teacher. After working as a teacher in Kautokeino, I moved to Helsinki, where I have spent years developing Sámi-language education pathways from early childhood education to basic education. My professional experience and research have shown me how important access to one’s own language is for Indigenous children and young people, wherever they live.

My participation in the Arctic Circle Assembly 2026 gave me the opportunity to bring these questions into a wider international discussion about the future of the Arctic. While Arctic sustainability is often discussed in relation to climate change, natural resources, and economic development, I believe that cultural and linguistic sustainability must also be recognized as essential dimensions of a sustainable future. Indigenous languages carry knowledge, strengthen identities, and connect generations. Supporting them is therefore not only an educational priority, but also a question of community well-being and Indigenous rights.

The My Northern Project grant made my participation possible and gave me the opportunity to share my research with an international Arctic audience. One of the highlights of my participation was winning the audience vote with my research presentation. This recognition was especially meaningful to me because it showed that the importance of Sámi language education and its connection to Indigenous well-being resonated with the audience. The experience strengthened my confidence in communicating my research to a wider international audience and reinforced my commitment to bringing Indigenous perspectives into discussions about the future of the Arctic.

I am grateful to UArctic and the supporters of My Northern Project for investing in early-career Arctic researchers. The grant provided more than financial assistance: it enabled me to participate in an international community, strengthen my professional networks, and bring Indigenous language education into conversations about Arctic sustainability. The experience will support my continued development as a researcher and help me build connections between Sámi education, cultural and linguistic sustainability, and the well-being of Indigenous communities.

My goal is to contribute to research and educational policies that enable Sámi children and young people to maintain meaningful connections to their language and culture, regardless of where they live. I believe that a sustainable Arctic must be a place where Indigenous languages are not only protected, but actively used, learned, and passed on to future generations.

The report is written by Laura Njunnas, a participant in the My Northern Project/Mon projet nordique 2026, organized by the Institut nordique du Québec and UArctic.