Indigenous Social Work – in the North – Post Conference Program and Speakers
Here you can read the program, and below you’ll find information about the conference speakers.
| Times | Program |
|---|---|
| October 9th | Day 1 |
| 11.30 | Lunch |
| 12.30 | Conference Opening – Chair Nina Hermansen -Musical Performance by Kari Heimen -Welcome Greetings from the Norwegian Union of Social Workers (FO) and UiT The Arctic University of Norway |
| 13.00 | Hilary Weaver “Reclaiming our voices – indigenous resilience” |
| 13.45 | Film Screening Harry Johanson’s film “Salmon Sorrow” followed by comments from the film director Harry Johansen and audience. “People are no longer allowed to fish salmon in the Tana River system, and an ancient Sami fishing tradition is at risk. Overfishing is being blamed, but is that the whole truth?” |
| 15.15 | Coffee/tea break |
| 15.45 | Per Olav Persen “Solving the Climate-, Nature-, and Knowledge Crisis – An Indigenous Perspective on Green Colonialism “ |
| 16.30 – 17.15 | Circle Discussion on the day’s topics |
| 18.30 | Bus to Alta Museum from Hotels Reception at the Museum |
| 19.45 | Bus to Sami Siida |
| 20.00 | Dinner Bidos |
| App. 22.30 | Bus to Centrum (Hotels) |
| October 10th | Day 2 |
| 08.30 | Eva Josefsen “From Colonization to Justice: Indigenous Rights and the Welfare State” |
| 09.00 | Elle Nystad and Lina Maria Karlsen “When People in Power Positions Listen with Closed Ears. Discussion on the Fosen demonstration and challenges in dialogue between activists and authorities” |
| 10.15 | Coffee/tea break |
| 10.45 | Expert talks from the health and social care field in Finnmark |
| 12.15 | Closing the Conference FO and UiT |
| 12.30 | Lunch |
Speakers
Hilary N. Weaver, DSW (Lakota) currently serves as President of the Indigenous and Tribal Social Work Educators’ Association, Chair of the Council on Social Work Education board of directors, and Global Indigenous Commissioner for the International Federation of Social Workers.
She is a career-long member of the National Association of Social Workers. She was inducted as an NASW Social Work Pioneer in 2020, was named the American Public Health Association’s Public Health Social Worker of the Year in 2020 and received the American Indian Elder Award from the Indigenous and Tribal Social Work Educators Association in 2017. Dr. Weaver is a Professor Emeritus in the School of Social Work, University at Buffalo (State University of New York). She received her BS from Antioch College in social work with a cross-cultural studies focus and her MSW and DSW from Columbia University.
Her teaching, research, and service focus on cultural issues in the helping process with an emphasis on Indigenous populations. Dr. Weaver received funding from the National Cancer Institute to develop and test a culturally grounded wellness curriculum for urban Native American youth, the Healthy Living in Two Worlds program. Dr. Weaver has presented her work regionally, nationally, and internationally including presenting at the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at the United Nations in 2005-2008, 2013-2019, and 2021-2024.
She has numerous publications including the text, Explorations in Cultural Competence: Journeys to the Four Directions (2005), the edited book, Social Issues in Contemporary Native America: Reflections from Turtle Island (2014), Trauma and Resilience in the Lives of Contemporary Native Americans: Reclaiming our Balance, Restoring our Wellbeing (2019), and the edited volume Routledge International Handbook of Indigenous Resilience (2022).
Eva Josefsen, PhD in Political Science, is a professor in Social Sciences at the Department of Social Work and Child Welfare, UiT The Arctic University of Norway.
From 2020 to 2024, she led a research project aimed at investigating how Norway, by establishing a Commission to Investigate Norwegianization Policy and Injustice towards the Sami, Kvens, and Norwegian Finns (Truth and Reconciliation Commission), addressed the effects of a prolonged policy of Norwegianization that targeted these groups. Josefsen has over twenty years of research experience in Sámi politics and Sámi society. This includes both internal Sámi affairs, including cross-border aspects, and how Sámi politics is present in local, regional, and state politics.
Her thematic focus has been broad, encompassing, among other things, gender equality, discrimination, education, health and social aspects, media research, and research on indigenous land rights and resource management.
Elle Nystad is a 26-year-old law student at UiT The Arctic University of Norway Faculty of Law. Originally from Karasjok, she is the leader of NSR-Nuorat, the youth organization of the Norwegian Sámi Association (NSR).
Elle is deeply committed to advocating for Indigenous rights. She played a key role in leading the Fosen actions, advocating for Sámi land and cultural rights. In addition, she is part of the Saami Council’s Sámi Youth Delegate Program, where she works on international Indigenous issues. Through her activism and leadership, Elle strives to create a stronger and more just society for Sámi youth and Indigenous communities.
Lina Maria Karlsen (social worker) As leader of The Socialist Left Partys Sami Council she had been working on the Fosen-case for years before the ruling in the Supreme Court fell, and after witnessing the Norwegian Government doing seemingly nothing to follow she began fearing for how this would affect the trust between the Sami people of Norway and our Parliament. She was therefore filled with gratitude towards the young people taking action and quick to reach out and ask if there was anything she could do as a politician. As the days went it became clear that what was mostly needed was a social worker, and so she volunteered her time trying to support the protesters so that they could best continue with the job that they had set their mind to; force our Prime Minister to listen.
Karlsen did not know any of the young protesters before the sit down started, but has followed them through out the rest of the protests, assisting both in planning of how to best take care of people during the tryings of protesting, and also debriefing after the protests.
Per Olaf Persen from Gávcci AS, a consultancy that offers comprehensive advice on climate, economics, and business development based on Sámi lifestyle and traditions, is based in Tana, Finnmark.
The company advises several reindeer herding districts where applications have been submitted to build wind power plants and large transmission lines. These development projects are described as part of the green transition, but they have significant negative consequences for Sámi reindeer herding communities.
Per Olaf has extensive experience in the financial sector but is now actively engaged in climate issues and the protection of Sámi rights.
Harry Johansen lives deep in the Tanafjord and has been working professionally in film since 2003. Before transitioning to filmmaking, he worked as a still photographer. He has produced several documentaries and also takes on assignments as a cinematographer for other production companies.
Kari Heimen performs both traditional and original Northern and Southern Sámi joiks, accompanying herself on the frame drum. A Northern Sámi artist, she has developed a distinctive, modern joik style—an “all-Sámi” expression influenced by various musical genres.
She explores new ways of using the frame drum, incorporating finger techniques from India and the Middle East, creating a groove-driven yet meditative sound. While preserving the essence of joik, she brings a fresh vocal and rhythmic approach—joik, reimagined.
Kari has received the Sámi artist grant and is currently working on her debut solo album, set for release in late 2025.
She is also a drummer, vocalist, joiker, and songwriter in her band HEIMEN, which has released two albums—the latest, a concept album addressing the forced assimilation of the Sámi people.
Read more: https://kariheimen.no/
