NEWS During the annual Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavik, Iceland, experts and stakeholders from around the world recently gathered to discuss central issues surrounding the Arctic. Among the participants were Björn Norlin and Mati Keynes from the Department of Education at Umeå University. The conference aimed to promote dialogue and cooperation around challenges such as climate change, environmental protection and Indigenous peoples' rights.
Panel vid Arctic Circle Assembly i Reykjavik
Image Siiri Paananen, University ofOn the third and last day of the conference, a panel discussion was held with the theme "Truth and reconciliation in the Arctic: The role of research and knowledge". The panel was arranged within the framework of the Arctic Six collaboration, which includes the universities of Tromsø, Luleå, Umeå, Rovaniemi and Oulu. The discussion focused on how higher education and teacher training at universities in Norway, Sweden and Finland can support the ongoing truth commissions' work to improve relations with the Sami and other northern minorities, including the people from Tornedalen, Kven people, and Lantalaiset in Sweden, as well as Kven people, Norwegian Finns and Forest Finns in Norway.
Several researchers with experience in the field participated in the panel, including two researchers from Umeå University, as well as two researchers who hold the position of Arctic Six Chair. The panel included Mati Keynes, McKenzie Postdoctoral researcher at the University of Melbourne and visiting researcher at the Department of Education, Umeå University; Björn Norlin, Associate Professor at Umeå University, and Arctic Six Chair; Pigga Keskitalo, professor at the University of Lapland in Rovaniemi, and Arctic Six Chair; Daniel Fjellborg, researcher at Luleå University of Technology; and Torjer Olsen, professor at UiT – the Arctic University of Norway.
Through lectures, panel discussions and networking opportunities, the Arctic Circle Assembly has become an important platform for sharing knowledge and experiences on Arctic issues, and participants discussed joint strategies to address the complex challenges facing the circumpolar Arctic.
