Storytelling as a Bridge between Worlds

Summary In Indigenous tourism, storytelling is more than interpretation, it is a means of cultural survival and renewal. This case study explores how Sámi cultural institutions in Finnish Lapland use digital innovation and architectural design to bring Indigenous narratives to life, offering visitors immersive pathways into cultural memory and contemporary Indigenous realities. The authors, an Indigenous Australian and a non-Indigenous Finn, reflect on a shared journey to Inari in June 2024, which began by passing through the Sámi gates near Vuotso, a powerful visual and symbolic threshold into Sápmi, the lands of the Sámi peoples. Through this journey, they consider how identity is expressed, affirmed, and transformed through storytelling. By engaging with Sámi representatives and experiencing the renovated Siida (Sámi Museum) and Sajos (Sámi Cultural Centre and home of the Sámi Parliament), we experienced how thoughtfully curated spaces and technologies can deepen cross-cultural understanding, foster emotional connection, and challenge conventional approaches to cultural interpretation. This case study considers how these experiences can inform tourism education and practice, highlighting the potential of storytelling, both oral and visual, as a bridge between cultures and a catalyst for meaningful engagement with Indigenous perspectives. Information © The Authors 2025