29.09.2023
Entitled On Mearrariika and Indigenous Futurism, WONA invited Sámi author Sigbjørn Skåden as part of WONA’s autumn 2023 digital lunch lecture series to talk about the collaborative project Mearrariika together with Joar Mango and Stein Bjørn, which they developed on the occasion of the Romsa/Tromsø urban space festival in 2017 and how this project can be seen as an example of Indigenous Futurism.
Sigbjørn Skåden (born 1976) is a Sámi author from Lánttedievvá/Planterhaug in Skånland. Today, he resides in Romsa/Tromsø. Skåden writes in both Sámi and Norwegian and, since his debut with the epic poem Skuovvadeddjiid gnagas / Skomakarnas konge (The King of Cobblers) in 2004, he has published additional poetry collections, novels, and a children's book. In 2014, Skåden was awarded the Havmann Prize for the best book from Northern Norway. Additionally, Skåden has worked as a writer for various interdisciplinary and performative projects. One such project is Mearrariika (Havlandet / Seascape), which was created in collaboration with visual artist and architect Joar Nango and actor Stein Bjørn during the urban space festival in Romsa/Tromsø in 2017. It explores themes such as Sámi urbanity, diversity, and Indigenous futurism.
Sigbjørn Skåden is also part of the project Huksenvieru Sátnegirje – Sámi Architecture Dictionary of which this lunch lecture was a part.