WP1: Conceptualizing and Applying the Food Systems Approach Reconciliation Processes
This work package establishes the academic foundation and analytical framework underpinning the mapping and development activities in WP2 and WP3. It involves a comprehensive review of relevant literature, museum collections, archival sources, and reports related to Sámi food traditions, aiming to identify knowledge gaps and document historical changes and adaptations in local Sámi food systems, particularly in aspects of harvesting, production, and consumption practices. The insights gained will serve to inform and refine subsequent initiatives in the project, ensuring that the research is deeply rooted in both historical context and contemporary academic debate.
WP1 also facilitates a collaborative academic writing process that draws on outputs from WP2 and WP3, integrating contributions from local partners and project networks. This process is designed to yield theoretical and practical insights for foodscape management, restoration, and the decolonization of Sámi food systems. In pursuing this, the work package places a special emphasis on analyzing how gender, age, and ethnicity influence practices within local food systems, thereby enriching the understanding of Indigenous survivance and intergenerational knowledge transfer. Ultimately, WP1 aims to establish a detailed understanding of local and Sámi food systems within the wider context of Indigenous food systems and reconciliation, assessing the potential of these frameworks to counteract the historical impacts of Norwegianization and foster meaningful reconciliation. The academic outputs, including comprehensive reviews, a master’s thesis, and multiple peer-reviewed journal articles, will be disseminated through international conferences, research days, and integration into teaching at key academic programs, thereby contributing to the academic development of new researchers and master students in this emerging field.
WP2: Mapping Local Sámi Food Systems
WP2.1: Mapping and Documentation of Traditional Sámi Meat Preservation Methods in Stuornjárga
This work package is dedicated to mapping and documenting the traditional meat preservation methods practiced by the Sámi in the Stuornjárga region, with a particular emphasis on marka-Sámi traditions. Marka-Sámi refers to those Sámi communities that have settled in the forest belts near the sea and are engaged in a combination of industries such as agriculture, reindeer herding, and fishing. Várdobáiki Sámi Museum, located in a marka-Sámi area and a long-standing guardian of the region’s intangible cultural heritage since 2010, leads this initiative.
The primary aim of this work package is to elicit and showcase the traditional knowledge of marka-Sámi food systems, specifically focusing on meat preservation techniques like drying, salting, and smoking. Local elders and food experts, recognized for their in-depth understanding of these practices, will share their expertise, offering valuable insights into how these traditional systems are not only culturally significant but also relevant for the development of sustainable food systems in the future. By highlighting the role of these preservation methods, the project emphasizes the importance of Sámi subsistence practices in climate change adaptation and self-sufficiency, thereby underlining local foodscapes as crucial elements in reconciliation processes.
A central component of this work package involves conducting semi-structured interviews with approximately ten key knowledge bearers in the community. These interviews, lasting between one to two hours, are carefully organized based on established local networks and the successful outreach methods previously implemented at Várdobáiki’s health gatherings. By engaging a diverse group that includes men, women, elders, and youth, the work package ensures comprehensive documentation of the traditional practices that have safeguarded marka-Sámi food heritage. This approach not only preserves valuable cultural information but also serves as a foundation for understanding and promoting sustainable practices within contemporary food systems.
WP2.2: Mapping Sámi Foodscapes and Food Systems in Sallto
This work package focuses on the mapping and in-depth exploration of local Sámi foodscapes within the Sallto region—a historic home to the Lule-, Pite-, and Coastal Sámi communities. The area has experienced profound cultural disruptions due to Norwegianization processes that pushed Sámi traditions from the public into the private sphere or being almost lost. In response, this work package adopts a desire-based approach that transcends predefined notions of “Sámi food” by investigating what local Sámi people eat and how they acquire ingredients and recipes. This inquiry spans everyday meals, festive occasions, and time-honored traditional practices. By highlighting both enduring and emerging food traditions, the project aims to counteract the lingering negative impacts of Norwegianization and challenge stereotypes, while simultaneously showcasing the rich cultural diversity present in the region.
Building upon established collaborations with local food networks and previous and ongoing research initiatives such as FoodCoast, FlexiRein, Reinkart, IndHome, Outgen, and KjøpLokal, the work package delves into the composition and evolution of food systems in Sallto. It examines the historical utilization of these foodscapes over time, and the innovative practices emerging within today’s contemporary food networks. An essential component of the study involves documenting not only the culinary practices but also the associated terminologies—such as the naming of fishing grounds, harvesting sites, and relevant traditions in fjord fishing, pastoralism and foraging—through interviews, archival research, and collaboration with local historical associations. Furthermore, by co-creating spaces within existing community arenas like local festivals and community centers, the project fosters environments for intergenerational knowledge transfer and active cultural engagement.
Ultimately, this work package aims to present a comprehensive and nuanced overview of the diversity of Sámi food systems in Sallto. It seeks to expand the Sámi cultural space by highlighting proud food traditions that embody both Sámi and Norwegian influences, thereby increasing awareness of Sámi heritage in a region where it has been at risk of erasure. By addressing key questions about the ecological and social dimensions of local foodscapes and investigating how food acts as a medium for cultural awareness and resilience, the package lays the groundwork for preserving and revitalizing Sámi identity through its culinary heritage. Expected outputs include a compilation of traditional and new recipes accompanied by stories of local practices, the establishment of collaborative networks among local food producers, and a series of scientific publications and community events that disseminate the rich cultural narrative of Sallto’s food systems.
WP3: Actions for Reconciliation in Sámi Food Systems
WP3.1: Food Arenas for Sámi Food Systems in Sallto
This work package employs a foodscape mapping approach to establish a foundation for the restoration of both food systems and cultural heritage within local and Sámi communities. By integrating traditional food practices with innovative methods, the project seeks not only to facilitate sustainable food systems but also to generate reconciliation value. The work package focuses on identifying the research and management actions essential for implementing a food systems approach in ecosystem restoration within Sámi areas, while exploring pathways to develop new and sustainable food products rooted in Sámi culinary traditions.
Central to this initiative are Food Arenas, which will be organized in the Nordland case study area. These arenas will serve as collaborative hubs where traditional practices and modern innovation intersect. They are designed to showcase practices, recipes, and culinary techniques inherited from knowledgeable local elders and food experts, while also fostering intergenerational knowledge transfer. In these dynamic environments, local entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to explore potential products, assess market opportunities, and identify regulatory bottlenecks—such as those imposed by national food standards—that may affect the development of sustainable food products. Through these Food Arenas, practical insights are gathered that not only support the continuity of local food systems but also pave the way for innovative adaptations that respond to contemporary challenges.
Complementing the practical work of the Food Arenas, the creation of a Community Food Network, built from the reference group, represents a critical element of this work package. The Community Food Network will bring together Sámi food producers and relevant indigenous food systems networks, fostering a collaborative environment that spans from local to international levels. Overall, this work package is designed to bridge traditional Sámi food practices with contemporary sustainability and innovation, thereby reinforcing local food systems as a vital resource for ecosystem restoration and cultural reconciliation. Its outcomes are expected to include robust academic outputs, market analyses, and dissemination tools—such as a recipe book – that collectively underscore the potential of traditional foods to inspire the next generation of sustainable and resilient food practices.
WP3.2: Collaborative Meat Conservation Food Arenas
Várdobáiki Museum holds an esteemed position of trust within the Sámi communities of Northern Nordland and Southern Troms, built on decades of close collaboration with knowledge bearers across diverse fields. For over 20 years, the museum has organized health gatherings for elderly Sámi—primarily individuals possessing deep traditional know-how from rural areas. These gatherings have long served as vibrant forums for knowledge sharing, documentation, and the preservation of various facets of Sámi cultural heritage.
In this work package, health gatherings will be strategically utilized as arenas for dialogue, documentation, and dissemination specifically focused on traditional food preservation in the marka-Sámi areas. By leveraging its extensive experience and reputation, Várdobáiki Museum aims to capture and facilitate the transmission of procedural knowledge surrounding practices such as drying, salting, and smoking of meat. The museum’s approach builds on proven methods used in Sámi traditional crafts, where documentation is inherently linked to the natural use of the Sámi language—integrating words and expressions in context to convey embodied practices. This method reflects the belief that «what the mind does not remember, the body often does,» emphasizing the importance of experiential and embodied cultural knowledge.
Through fostering collaboration between seasoned knowledge bearers and community participants, this work package seeks to ensure that traditional food preservation methods persist and evolve. The gathered knowledge will not only be safeguarded through rigorous documentation but will also be actively disseminated via lectures and community forums held at various venues, such as the local Sámi festival Márkomeannu. Furthermore, this initiative lays the groundwork for future scholarly contributions, such as a report on Sámi meat preservation methods and the eventual publication of an issue in Oainnus, Várdobáiki’s popular science journal. In doing so, Biebmolassi reinforces a sustainable model for intergenerational knowledge transfer and cultural resilience within the Sámi food systems.
WP4: Management
WP4 is dedicated to the overall management of Biebmolassi, ensuring efficient coordination and smooth progress throughout its duration. This includes overseeing administrative processes, managing project finances, and ensuring the timely completion of annual reporting requirements. The administrative staff at UiT, where the project is based, will provide essential support to ensure the successful fulfillment of the project’s managerial requirements.