Using maps to take back control over their land and stories
In the Arctic, Indigenous communities and artists are using maps in creative ways to take back control over land and stories
Contributors
Project member: Britt Kramvig
Summary
Our team member Britt Kramvig has written about how Indigenous communities in the Arctic use counter-mapping to challenge colonial power and reclaim their land and stories. By creating alternative maps—through art, language, and cultural expression—these communities resist imposed borders and offer new ways of seeing the North. The work highlights that mapping is not just about geography, but also about identity, justice, and sovereignty.
Read more: https://doi.org/10.7765/9781526174024.00016
Relevant news and publications
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Reviving Sea Sámi Traditions: Seal Hunting and Craftsmanship Course in Oslo
Published: 29.09.2025A hands-on course on traditional seal hunting, tanning, and sewing was held at the National Library in Oslo, led by duodji experts Inga Elisa Påve Idivuoma and Linn Margrethe Påve. Participants explored Sea Sámi heritage and learned about seals as vital cultural and ecological resources.
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Fieldwork in Finnmark
Published: 25.09.2025NewsWP4 has kicked off fieldwork in Eastern Finnmark! Researchers visited local communities to prepare a youth workshop on climate futures and sustainability. The trip offered valuable insights into local concerns and hopes for the future.
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Blogpost: Meeting with municipality of Unjárga
Published: 25.09.2025This blogpost by Birgejupmi member Ilaria Sartini shares insights from a meeting in Unjárga/Nesseby, where local youth leaders and municipal representatives discussed young people’s visions for sustainable and inclusive futures in the Arctic.
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