Sea Behind the Wall | Electric Lies | Workshop | Indigenisation of the Arts w/Asta Mitkijá Balto

Listening to the Land / Sea Behind the Wall presents:
Indigenisation of the Arts - a workshop by Asta Mitkijá Balto

In her workshop, titled "Indigenization of the Arts," Asta Mitkijá Balto engages with participants to explore the significance of Sámi culture for non-indigenous individuals who express themselves through art. She initiates the workshop by providing a comprehensive overview of the circumstances surrounding the indigenous Sámi people in Norway, with particular emphasis on Sámi art and its pivotal role in preserving Sámi society. The workshop uses the "café method", an informal group work technique that replicates the welcoming atmosphere of a café. In this setting, fundamental questions about personal challenges, life circumstances and the possibilities for creating art are discussed and reflected upon.

Location: Oyoun
Tickets: Free admission I Registration: here 
Language: English 

Electric Lies is a project curated by Camilla Therese Karlsen as part of Oyoun's overarching initiative Listening to the Land and its participatory outdoor chapter Sea behind the Wall.The three day long participatory programme focuses on the social political activism by the Sámi who are facing forced displacement from their land (Sápmi) in northern Europe, due to state-driven “renewable energy” production.

What happens to the land when indigenous peoples are forced to abandon their traditional way of life in, of and with nature to make way for modern energy production for the masses?  What lies are used to convince the majority that this is the right thing to do?

Electric Lies explore these questions with an interactive programme composed of workshops, discussions and film screenings, ultimately culminating in the performance intervention ČSV*. 

*These letters have many meanings, one of which is "čájet sámi vuoiŋŋa", which translates as "showing the Sami spirit" and is often used to promote Sami identity and activism.

Biography

Asta Mitkijá Balto

Asta Mitkijá Balto, an esteemed educator and advocate for Indigenous education, was honored with an Honorary Doctorate by WINU in 2018 for her lifelong dedication to this cause. With a 20-year tenure at the University of Applied Sciences, Norway, where she held various roles, including Rector, Vice Rector, Lecturer, and Professor, Asta's influence extended far beyond academia. Asta's research, focusing on traditional knowledge and values, has profound contemporary relevance, enabling her to bridge academic and traditional insights to drive decolonization across diverse sectors. Asta’s work not only enriches Indigenous communities but also empowers outsiders to engage with Sámi and Indigenous cultures on more equitable terms, making her a pivotal figure in the global pursuit of Indigenous education and cultural revitalization.

Photo Credit: © Sameer Gurung

The project “Sea Behind the Wall” is part of the initiative DRAUSSENSTADT funded by Berliner Projektfonds Urbane Praxis as well as Senatsverwaltung für Kultur und Gesellschaflichen Zusammenhalt. Further funded by the Globus Opstart Programm of Nordisk Kulturfond

Accessibility:

Oyoun is constantly working to make access to all events offered in the building as barrier-free as possible. For individual information on accessibility, please send us an email to access(at)oyoun.de. We will get back to you as soon as possible. More info on this topic here.

Awareness:

At Oyoun there is no place for sexism, queerphobia, transphobia, any form of racism or discrimination such as anti-Black, anti-Muslim racism or antisemitism. The same applies to any kind of violent, aggressive or assaultive behaviour. Oyoun provides an open forum for dialogue and a place where we support and stand up for each other. If you would like to share an experience with us after an event, please email us or send us an anonymous message through our website.