East Finnmark – interethnic borderland now and then
A Russian vessel named “Saami” in a Norwegian wharf in Kirkenes in June 2023: the borderland reality on the ground continues as a lived experience even at times…
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Danger Muskox and Danger of Muskoxen wool prices
My first personal meeting with muskoxen (Оvibos moschatus, in Latin “musky sheep-ox”) happened in Alaska in one of the Wildlife Conservation Centres there. That time I was surprised…
Relations and beyond – keynotes by Vitebsky, Strathern and Ingold to be streamed
At the Arctic Circle in Finland, Rovaniemi, we are frantically putting the finishing touches to the programme of the biennial conference of the Finnish Anthropological Society, from 21-23…
Three guest lectures
This semester we are proud to host two cutting-edge anthropology scholars as visiting professors here at the Arctic Centre in Rovaniemi, Lapland: Hiroki Takakura, Center for Northeast Asian…
China – do we care?
Some of us Arctic anthropologists may not have China on the immediate radar of their interest. However, China has become an increasingly important player in the Arctic, through…
Relations and beyond: call for panels and papers
For the first time, an Arctic Anthropology team hosts the conference of the Finnish Anthropological Society, to be held from 21-23 March 2023 in Rovaniemi. Many still imagine…
Film screening: in the name of the wild
On October 3rd our colleagues from the University from the “Sustainable Naturecultures” research group at the Faculty of Social Sciences host an interesting film screening including discu…
Arctic Midsummer – party time with pagan roots
In the European Arctic Midsummer nowadays marks mostly the start of the summer holidays. But at the roots of this big holiday, celebrated on or close to the…
Resurrecting a wolf for conservation?
Many herders, especailly in the Sub-Arctic, are threatened by the increased number of wolves, eating entire reindeer herds. In Australia they go the opposite way now: they try…
If Santa Claus’ reindeer can fly, what about other reindeer?
It was more than ten years ago during our first visit to Santa Claus village – a tourist attraction in Rovaniemi in the north of Finland. My 6-year-old daughter asked…
When a great ship asks for deeper water
Harlingen’s harbour is usually half-empty on normal days. There are a few tall ships standing alone in water and many private modern yachts. Suddenly, among them you can…
Decolonising indigenous knowledge? Reading circle 12 May 2022 noon Finnish time
Indigenous knowledge, or better indigenous ways of knowing, have been key to anthropological debates on human-environment relations in the Arctic, even more so since climate change has increased…
Disaster anthropology talk 17 May: The role of culture in crisis:
collectivism and individualism in the coastal fishing after 2011 Japan Earthquake and Tsunami This was once Arahama – the vibrant fishing suburb of Sendai, right by the coast.…
Calving started in Yamal reindeer herding
Our friend Eduard Khudi and his wife Valentina sent these photos today, of the first reindeer calf of the year, born the 27th April in the Yamal tundra…
The influence of world politics in the forest of Northern Lapland
We all know that the current situation with Russia and Ukraine is rapidly changing a lot of the ways and values on which we have been relying in…
New expert in knowledge integration: congrats!
A word of congratulations to the freshly baked Doctor Ayonghe Akonwi Nebasifu! He just now defended successfully his PhD dissertation with the title Knowledge Integration in Co-management: A…
Indigenous People against industry: theatre performance
Many of you may have heard about the resistance of Sámi people against the Alta-Kautokeino hydroelectric dam in the 1970s-1980s. Even though the dam was built, the Sámi…
Nomadic or sedentary life: difficult choice?
Most people on our planet make their life choices mostly about in which settlement, country, climate etc they want to live. But the remaining nomads in the Arctic…
Rare job opening: Groningen Professor Arctic Studies
This blog is run by the anthropology team of the Arctic Centre, University of Lapland. But today we want to share a very rare job opening of our…
Happy new year Yamal style
First of all, happy new year to all our readers, followers, and a big thank you to all those who contribute to making this blog a success. This…
PhD scholarship Canada community economic development
Colleagues from the University of Manitoba have shared this generous scholarship opportunity. If you are interested in economics of Communities in the Canadian North, and would like to…
What makes the “ness” in Geel?
Distinctive doctrines of the Church, and their place in contemporary society, are at times, argued to bring about changes in the Arctic – the people, their land, and…
Job offer in Aberdeen: lecturer anthropology
Our colleague Tatiana Agrounova-Low shares a job-opening for a lecturer in anthropology at the department in Aberdeen. By the way, congratulations to her for becoming Head of Department…
Mobility in the tundra: how to use the old snowmobiles in the summer
From my field notes: “It is still early morning, 4th of August, 2021. I am waiting for a telephone call from a Nenets woman whom I had met…