“I sámifize it...” : Preschool in the Centre of South Sámi Language and Culture Learning in Norway

For an Indigenous population, there is a need for an inclusive educational space from the language and culture srevitalisation perspective. This is especially important during the early years when the basics of the language are formed alongside cultural knowledge. This paper takes a closer look at a South Sami preschool language learning environment through the lenses of teachers. The South Sami (South Saami) is the southernmost Sami population, frequently described as a minority within the minority. The estimation for South Sami speakers in Norway is around 300, making the language severely endangered This paper aims to take a closer look at how early childhood education teachers describe …