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North Sámi Language Nests in Northern Finland: A Case Study of Sámi Early Childhood Education and Care

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Finnish Early Childhood Education and Care

Part of the book series: Early Childhood Research and Education: An Inter-theoretical Focus ((ECRE,volume 1))

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Abstract

The purpose of this article is to introduce the special characteristics of Sámi language immersion through a language nest approach in early childhood education and care in northern Finland, the Sámi home district. It aims to develop Sámi language immersion as Sámi languages spoken in Finland are endangered and require urgent recovery measures. The study is framed by an indigenous research paradigm, which focuses on the community. This entails a strong awareness of context and respect for traditional knowledge. This framework is supported by an ethnographic study approach and the long-term presence of an indigenous researcher. The data for this chapter were collected through observations of a language nest in an early childhood education and care setting. The results reveal how Sámi language immersion is carried out in Sámi language nests. The concept of a language nest pedagogy based on these results provides insight into Sámi language pedagogical practices. The results imply that language nests not only provide language education but also strengthen the Sámi culture and way of life. In addition, languages nests bring communities closer together, thus supporting Sámi language and culture in a broader sense.

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Acknowledgements

Work on this chapter was funded by Kieli- ja kulttuuritietoinen koulutus -hanke DivED [Language and culturally respective education-project DivED] (OKM/75/523/2017)], Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sámi University College, Kautokeino, Norway

    Rauni Äärelä-Vihriälä

  2. University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland

    Tuija Turunen

Authors
  1. Rauni Äärelä-Vihriälä
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  2. Tuija Turunen
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Correspondence to Rauni Äärelä-Vihriälä .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland

    Heidi Harju-Luukkainen

  2. University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    Jonna Kangas

  3. Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Susanne Garvis

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Äärelä-Vihriälä, R., Turunen, T. (2022). North Sámi Language Nests in Northern Finland: A Case Study of Sámi Early Childhood Education and Care. In: Harju-Luukkainen, H., Kangas, J., Garvis, S. (eds) Finnish Early Childhood Education and Care . Early Childhood Research and Education: An Inter-theoretical Focus, vol 1. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-95512-0_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-95512-0_10

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-95511-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-95512-0

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