Biebmolassi – Reconciling Sámi Food Systems

BIEBMOLASSI is a Sámi concept referring to harvesting and subsistence practices, such as berry picking, fishing, hunting, pastoralism, and food production. The Biebmolassi project’s primary objective is to contribute to the emerging reconciliation processes for Sámi in the Sallto and Stuornjárga regions through increased knowledge production on local Sámi food systems. 

Our Work

Taking as a point of departure the disruption of local and Sámi food systems in a region characterized by Norwegianization processes, BIEBMOLASSI aims to contribute to the emerging reconciliation processes for Sámi in Norway. The project draws upon and operationalizes an Indigenous understanding of food systems, where food is a central part of culture and an arena for reconciliation that can serve to bridge the past with the present acknowledging traditional Sámi foods as a valued part of Sámi culture.

BIEBMOLASSI examines local Sámi food systems in Stuornjárga (the Skånland Peninsula) in Southern Troms and the Sallto (Salten) region in Nordland, and how their revitalization can support reconciliation.

BIEBMOLASSI is a research collaboration between The Arctic University Museum of Norway, Nordland Research Institute, Várdobáiki sámi guovddáš and Salten Mat. The University of Lapland in Finland is the project’s international partner. 

BIEBMOLASSI is organized into four work packages. WP2 focuses on mapping local Sámi food systems, and WP3 on actions for reconciliation in Sámi food systems, while WP1 ties everything together and WP4 covers project management. Click the button to read more.

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