The Congress side events kick off on Monday, Sept 3 with a hands-on career workshop on academic job hunting aimed at early career scholars. In the afternoon, the UArctic Thematic Network on Teacher Education convenes a session on Indigenous Languages in Urbanized Areas, with emphasis on early childhood education and teacher education.
On Wednesday, Sept 5 the side event on Arctic Indigenous Politics in Transformation asks how the various changes taking place in the Arctic affect the indigenous peoples of the region, especially in the context of the Sámi. The UArctic Thematic Network on Arctic Safety and Security focuses on further cooperation in the field, and looks for gaps and solutions for improved education and research collaboration. In addition, a soon-to-be-established UArctic Thematic Network on Circumpolar Studies organizes a brainstorming session to set up goals and a workplan for the coming years.
The side events organized in Oulu conclude on Thursday, Sept 6 with an IASSA and IASC workshop on queer identities and issues in indigenous communities, a topic that is rarely discussed in public. The whole-day workshop consists of an academic panel, an activist panel and a concluding academic-activist round table discussion.
There are also two public side events taking place in Helsinki on Thursday, Sept 6, starting at 16:00. The public panel discussion on Arctic railway plans between Finland and Norway takes a look at indigenous rights in this context, and what the potential impacts of such a project could be. In the other public side event "Arctic and Education: EU Climate Diplomacy Week" speakers from Finland, France, Germany and the UK will share their expertise on the challenges and perspectives of education in the Arctic in the context of climate change, and also present concrete programs and projects. Advance registration is required for this event at mathieu.leporini@france.fi.