Follow the reconciliation conference live! On Wednesday and Thursday there will be a reconciliation conference which will shed light on Norway’s policy of norvegization.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (2018-2023) appointed by the Storting is currently investigating the norvegization policy and injustice against the Sami, Kven/Norwegian Finns and Forest Finns. How can the process be reduced to the problem of indigenous peoples and national minorities?
The politics of Norwegianization grew out of a Norwegian self-understanding that left behind social, cultural and political gravitational forces that never completely disappeared. To what extent has the majority Norwegian society actually accepted this, and what does this mean for international reconciliation in Norway? What are the responsibilities and contributions of the church, civil society and research? And what can we learn from the Canadian, South African and Nordic experiences?
The Conciliation Conference sheds light on these issues through a dialogue between Sami, Kven/Norwegian-Finnish, Norwegian and international voices rooted in areas of practice and research. The conference is organized on the campus of VID University College in Oslo, but you can follow the conference digitally.
Follow the live broadcast here
Watch the images from the first day of the conference (youtube.com)
The organizers are Kirkelig utdanningssenter nord / VID Tromsø and the Norwegian Church of the Sami Church Council, the Bishops’ Conference, the Inter-Church Council and the Church Council. The conference is part of the international research project ReconTrans. A third day of internal ReconTrans conference based on a call for papers will follow on May 6th.
Program
Wednesday May 4
Session 1: Kairos for international reconciliation in Norway?
1230-1235 Practical information
1235-1245 Opening Prayer
1245-1250 Welcome to VID, by Rector Bård Mæland
1250-1300 Opening of the conference, by Church Council President Sami Sara Ellen Anne Eira and Church Council President Kristin Gunleiksrud Raaum
1310-1325 Academic introduction on the subject of the conference, by an associate professor. Tore Johnsen, ONLY / VID Tromsø
1325-1340 Break
Session 2: Practical stories. Open your eyes and new beginnings
1:40-2:40 p.m. Experience-based contributions followed by audience interaction
- “Conversations about Identity” – experiences of student priest service in Tromsø, by student priest Tor Stranda and Sámi Studeanttaid leader Searvi Davvi-Norggas, Eli Karianne Vesterheim Hætta.
- Reconciliation from a Kven perspective, by Nora Marie Ollila Sandmo, Norwegian Kven Association / Ruijan kvääniliitto
- Reconciliation and the Forest Finns, Dag Raaberg, Director of the Norwegian Forest Finnish Museum
- In the way of society as a whole? Paul Bendikk Jåma, leader of the Saemien Åålmegeraerie / Sami congregation in the Southern Sami region.
2:40-3:00 p.m. Coffee break
Session 3: Reconciliation as a social task
15:00-16:00 Greetings from the Sami Parliamentary Counselor Runar Myrnes Balto
Panel discussion with former Norwegian Women’s Association leader Hilja Huru, NRK Kvääni journalist Laila Lanes, Sami artist Joar Nango and Aftenposten commentator Harald Stanghelle. Led by University Professor Line Skum, ONLY/VID Tromsø
1600-1615 Coffee break
Session 4: Pilgrimage for justice and peace. Ecumenical conversation
1615-1715
Panel discussion with President of the Church of Norway Olav Fykse Tveit, Head of the Sami Council of the Church of Sweden Erik-Oscar Oscarsson, Bishop of Greenland Paneeraq Siegstad Munk. Led by Indigenous Advisor Seforosa Carroll, World Council of Churches
1730-1900 Dinner, canteen in Diakonhjemmet
2000 Evening service in Trinity Church. Sermon by Bishop Olav Fykse Tveit. Greetings from Dagfinn Høybråten, head of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Thursday May 5
Session 1: Master stories as a naturalization of the hierarchy of Norwegian politics
0900-0905 Artistic report by Vegard Bjørsmo and pianist Tobias Paulsen
0905-0910 Introduction of the day, yesterday’s bridge
0910-0940 The Narrative of the Nordic-Germanic Gentleman in the Cradle of Norwegianization: Performances on the Norwegian ‘We’ as a Premise of Subordination of ‘Others’, by Associate Professor. Jon Røyne Kyllingstad, Department of University History and Science Museum, UiO
0940-1010 Norgialisation, colonization and the need for theological decolonisation, by associate professor. Tore Johnsen, ONLY / VID Tromsø
1010-1030 Coffee break
1030-1130 The decolonization of Norwegian master stories as a research challenge. A multidisciplinary round table. Panelists: Associate Professor. By Kristian Aschim, MF, prof. Kirsti Strøm Bull, Faculty of Law, UiO, Doctor of History Steinar Pedersen, former Rector of Sámi Allaksuvla, Professor Aud Valborg Tønnesen, TF, UiO. The jury is chaired by an associate professor. Gyrid Gunnes, VID Sandnes
1130-1230 Lunch
Session 2: The role and opportunities of civil society in public reconciliation processes
1230-1250 “Truth and Reconciliation in Norway”. Reflections two and a half years after a debate article, by PhD student Elin Monstad, Department of Comparative Politics, UiB
1250-1310 The relationship of civil society to the commissioning process in light of TRUCOM research, by Prof. Kjell Ole Kjærland Olsen, UiT – Norwegian Arctic University
1310-1330 Human rights as a connection point for civil society in international reconciliation work, by Professor Hans Morten Haugen, VID Oslo
1340-1410 Trading justice for peace? Reframing reconciliation in TRC processes in South Africa, Canada and the Nordic countries (boklansering), by Prof. Sigríður Guðmarsdóttir, VID Stavanger/University of Iceland; Dr. Paulette Regan, Canada; Dr. Demaine Solomons, University of the Western Cape.
1410-1430 Coffee break
Session 3: The Contribution of Knowledge Institutions to Truth and Reconciliation – Status and Accountability
1430-1450 Historical justice as a new discourse in historical research. Experiences and Perspectives from the Church of Sweden White Paper Project, by Professor Daniel Lindmark, Umeå University
1500-1600 Summary panel: Routes for research institutions. Panelists: Rev. Dr. Ray Aldred, Head of Native Studies Program, Vancouver School of Theology; Teacher. Tomas Sundnes Drønen, Dean of FTDL, VID; Teacher. John Klaasen, Head of Department of Religion and Theology, University of the Western Cape; Commissioner Anne Julie Semb, Truth and Reconciliation Commission; Laila Susanne Vars, Doctor of Laws and Rector of Sámi Allaskuvla / Sami University College. The panel is chaired by Professor Carola Lingaas, VID Oslo
1600-1615 Closing of the conference. By Kristin Gunleiksrud Raaum, Head of Church Council, and Bernd Krupka, Head of Kirkelig utdanningssenter Nord / VID Tromsø
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