The seminar series have been conceived in collaboration with Gunvor Guttorm, artist and Professor in duodji. Through the seminars Kiruna will be introduced from a Sámi perspective by inviting Sámi artists and thinkers to share their insights. These sessions will be valuable both as part of the Ways of Knowing (in Artistic Research) doctoral course at SKH and as stand-alone preparatory discussions for SAAR 2025 participants. In addition to the SAAR doctoral students and supervisors, all SKH doctoral students are invited to join. 

Carving time with Åsa Simma

5 May 2025, 10:00–12:00 CET 

Åsa Simma, Director, Actor, Yoiker and Scriptwriter, CEO of Giron Sámi Teáhter. Simma was born into a nomadic reindeer herding family, migrating between north Sweden and Norway depending on the season. She was taught the traditional Sami singing called “yoik”, during the time when yoiks were forbidden. She was part of the movement to diminish the yoiking ban. She left for Denmark where she took an actor’s education. Simma has been very active in the global indigenous peoples’ movements. She has toured among Australian Aboriginals and lived with Inuits from Greeenland and North American Indians. She has worked as a film dramaturgist and script developer at the International Sami Film Institute. Presently she is the CEO of the Sami Theatre.  

Suggested reading may be added after the seminar.