Gáfestallan Talks of the Indigenous Research Paradigm in Sámi Research

Abstract

This chapter continues the discussion on an Indigenous research paradigm involving Indigenous research methodologies based on existing theories and the authors’ experience. We present our own experiences of conducting our PhD research projects in social sciences and teaching Sámi higher education programmes. We retrospectively evaluate the research processes we used in writing our PhD dissertations, with particular attention to how we implemented an Indigenous research methodology. The literature review demonstrates that Indigenous scholars frequently find that the Western research paradigm overpowers students’ research. We also found that, consciously or unconsciously, we as researchers fitted our own research projects into an Indigenous research paradigm when we conducted our research. There is a growing awareness in our research environments that Sámi research should be conducted in a different way than mainstream research is. We also see a need for an ongoing effort to develop supportive practices incorporating a structured awareness of Indigenous methodologies.