“We are fighting for our very existence!” For many Sámi people, this adage is not simply a metaphor but our lived reality.
In this lecture, Dr. Jensen looks at how Sámi youth are responding to growing threats to Sámi lands, waters, and ways of life, especially as mining, wind power, and other extractive projects are promoted in the name of the “green transition.” From the well-known Alta dam protests of the 1970s and early 1980s, to recent demonstrations at Fosen and the ongoing resistance at Repparfjord, Sámi youth have always been at the heart of these struggles. Through visual and expressive arts, dress culture, media, and storytelling, young Sámi activists, or artivists, are raising their voices, building alliances and community, and challenging the status quo in the era of Green Colonialism. In this lecture, Dr. Jensen will share artivist stories and creative practices and will invite the audience to rethink environmental justice by centering Indigenous perspectives, resilience, and leadership.
This talk is part of the CES Spring 2026 Speaker Series. The Speaker Series features scholars from around the world who specialize in topics related to Europe and the languages spoken there. This year’s theme is “Infrastructure and Power.”
This hybrid event is co-sponsored by the Department of Central, Eastern and Northen European Studies. Those who wish to attend online can register for the Zoom link below.
Bio
Dr. Ellen Marie Jensen is a coastal Sámi from west Finnmark, Norwegian Sápmi. Her current post is as Associate Professor at the Sámi University of Applied Sciences in Guovdageaidnu/Kautokeino, Norway where she teaches in continuing education. She is a transdisplinary Indigenous studies scholar with broad interests in Sámi society, history, culture and education. Her research addresses the ongoing colonial consequences of the European energy transition on Sámi communities.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
