Teaching at the Giellagas Institute

The primary task of the Giellagas Institute is to provide teaching in the subjects Saami Language and Saami Culture. The two became independent subjects in 2004, when the first students were selected to major in one or the other. In the future, the institute aims to give an even better opportunity for students who are interested in the Saami language to focus specifically on linguistic matters and for students who major in culture to familiarize themselves with Saami culture from the very beginning of their studies.

Cultural studies do include some studies in the Saami language, and Saami Culture is naturally a suitable minor subject for students of the language, so the two subjects complement each other very well.

Teaching at the Giellagas Institute depends on the fact that students and staff have good connections to other institutions, which makes it possible to provide comprehensive training in Saami culture and language. Some of the most significant partners include the Educational Center of Saami Area in Inari, the Saami University College in Kautokeino, Norway, the University of Lapland in Rovaniemi (among others, the Arctic Centre) and the Open University at the University of Oulu.