“We are fighting for our very existence!” : Sámi Youth Artivists in the Era of Green Colonialism

“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.