– Exploring ways to reclaim cultural identity through place names.

in GUOVDAGEAIDNU, Norway.

 

Indigenous place names are more than just objects on a map or features on a landscape.  They play a crucial role in maintaining cultural relationships innate to the language, identity, livelihoods, rights and political recognition of all Indigenous societies.

Sámi allaskuvla /Sámi University College, an Indigenous higher education institution in Sápmi (Sámiland), is hosting the first International Conference on Indigenous Place Names (ICIPN).  It is the first time Indigenous place names and place naming will be discussed from multidisciplinary perspectives and with presentations from various Indigenous societies. Sámi allaskuvla /Sámi University College extends an invitation to scholars from around the world currently working with Indigenous place names to join this first multidisciplinary conference.

The first conference will focus on political recognition of Indigenous place names which inevitably involves Indigenous languages, culture practices, resource uses, landscape classifications, educational processes, and research methods, techniques and technologies.

The aim of the conference is to provide a place for an emerging international network of scholars and researchers working to further the political recognition of Indigenous place names to exchange experiences with each other. We believe strengthening the network of scholars and researchers will enhance the quality and rigor of research on Indigenous place names both culturally and politically.

Official Languages of the 1st ICIPN Conference

North Sámi is an Indigenous language of the Sámi area where the first ICIPN conference will be held. That is why the official languages of the conference are English and North Sámi and there will be simultaneous interpretation in the Auditorium in the conference venue. Recognizing the Indigenous language of the area where the conference is held puts it on equal footing with major research languages thereby strengthening its position in academia.

 

 

Welcome to Guovdageaidnu !