Research Team

This Centre of Excellence brings together researchers in Sámi research, Indigenous studies, international law, and other fields from the University of Lapland, the University of Helsinki, and an international network of partners.

Published11.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Áile Aikio

Áile Aikio

Published11.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Dr. Áile Aikio is a post-doctoral researcher in the Sámipolity project at the University of Lapland, Finland.
Published15.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Anne-Maria Magga

Anne-Maria Magga

Published15.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Dr. Anne-Maria Magga is a post-doctoral researcher in the Sámipolity project at the University of Lapland, Finland.
Published16.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Visiting professors
Carl Mika

Carl Mika

Published16.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Visiting professors
Carl Mika is Professor of Māori and Indigenous Philosophies, and Head of School of Aotahi: School of Māori and Indigenous Studies, University of Canterbury, New Zealand. 
Published16.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Visiting professors
Christina Allard

Christina Allard

Published16.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Visiting professors
Christina Allard is Professor of Law in the Department of Social Sciences, Technology and Arts at the Luleå University of Technology, Sweden.
Published16.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Cintia Cruz

Cintia Cruz

Published16.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Cintia Cruz is a PhD Researcher in Indigenous Studies at the University of Helsinki, Finland.
Published15.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Francisco de Moura Cândido Apurinã

Francisco de Moura Cândido Apurinã

Published15.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Dr. Francisco (de Moura Cândido) Apurinã (Yumunery) works as a post-doctoral researcher in Indigenous Studies at the University of Helsinki, Finland.
Published15.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Jarno Valkonen

Jarno Valkonen

Published15.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Jarno Valkonen is Professor of Sociology at the University of Lapland, Finland.
Published15.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Jelena Porsanger

Jelena Porsanger

Published15.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Dr. Jelena Porsanger is an associate senior researcher at the University of Helsinki, Finland, and works at the Sámi museum (RiddoDuottarMuseat) in Kárášjohka, Norway.
Published16.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Visiting professors
Jeremie Gilbert

Jeremie Gilbert

Published16.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Visiting professors
Jérémie Gilbert is Professor in Social and Ecological Justice at the University of Southampton, UK.
Published16.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Jimena Bigá

Jimena Bigá

Published16.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Jimena Bigá is a PhD researcher in Indigenous Studies at the University of Helsinki, Finland.
Published15.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Kamrul Hossain

Kamrul Hossain

Published15.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Kamrul Hossain is Research Professor and the Director of the Northern Institute for Environmental and Minority Law at the Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, Finland.
Published15.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Leena Hansen

Leena Hansen

Published15.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Dr. Leena Hansen (formerly Heinämäki) is a legal scholar (L.L.D), university researcher at the University of Lapland, visiting senior researcher at the Arctic Centre, and Adjunct Professor in Indigenous peoples’ rights at the University of Lapland, Finland.
Published15.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Responsible researchers
Lotta Viikari

Lotta Viikari

Published15.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Responsible researchers
The University of Lapland co-lead of the consortium is Lotta Viikari, Professor of Public International Law and an expert in international environmental law at the University of Lapland, and former Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Law. She is the Director of the Institute of Air and Space Law. Her research has focused on public international law beyond the traditional division of the Earth into states and the humanity into state populations, particularly in the context of the global commons and the legal regulation of natural resource management under the law of the sea, as well as the regulation of environmental aspects of space activities. Viikari has introduced progressive views on international law, including space law, and has extensive experience in developing public international law education. Her first degree was from a reindeer herding program.
Published16.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Visiting professors
Malin Brännström

Malin Brännström

Published16.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Visiting professors
Malin Brännström is a researcher and the Director of the Silvermuseet, Sweden.
Published16.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Maria Fedina

Maria Fedina

Published16.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Maria Fedina is a post-doctoral researcher in Indigenous Studies at the University of Helsinki, Finland.
Published16.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Coordinators
Martta Alajärvi

Martta Alajärvi

Published16.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Coordinators
Martta Alajärvi is a communication specialist in the Centre of Excellence and a PhD researcher in the Faculty of Law at the University of Lapland, Finland.
Published16.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Martti Pärssinen

Martti Pärssinen

Published16.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Martti Pärssinen is Professor Emeritus of Latin American Studies, at the University of Helsinki, Finland.
Published15.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Mikko Äijälä

Mikko Äijälä

Published15.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Dr. Mikko Äijälä is a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Lapland, Finland.
Published16.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Nicola Renzi

Nicola Renzi

Published16.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Dr. Nicola Renzi is a post-doctoral researcher in Indigenous Studies at the University of Helsinki, Finland.
Published16.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Outi Kaarina Laiti

Outi Kaarina Laiti

Published16.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Dr. Outi Kaarina Laiti is a Sámi game researcher and designer at the University of Helsinki, Finland.
Published15.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Responsible researchers
Pirjo Kristiina Virtanen

Pirjo Kristiina Virtanen

Published15.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Responsible researchers
The University of Helsinki lead of the consortium is Pirjo Kristiina Virtanen, Professor of Indigenous Studies and Adjunct Professor of Latin American Studies.
Published15.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Riho Grünthal

Riho Grünthal

Published15.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Riho Grünthal is Professor of Finnic languages at the University of Helsinki, Finland.
Published15.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Saara Alakorva

Saara Alakorva

Published15.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Dr. Saara Alakorva is a post-doctoral researcher in the Sámipolity project at the University of Lapland, Finland.
Published15.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Responsible researchers
Sanna Valkonen

Sanna Valkonen

Published15.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Responsible researchers
The consortium is led by Sanna Valkonen, a Sámi scholar from Northern Finland. She is Professor of Sámi Research at the University of Lapland and an Adjunct Professor of Sámi Society Research at the Giellagas Institute (University of Oulu).
Published16.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Sinituuli Korja

Sinituuli Korja

Published16.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Sinituuli Korja is a PhD researcher at the University of Helsinki, Finland.
Published15.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Stina Aletta Aikio (Roos)

Stina Aletta Aikio (Roos)

Published15.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Stina Aletta Aikio (Roos) is a Deatnu Sámi experimental artist and a PhD researcher in Social Sciences at the University of Lapland, Finland.
Published16.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Svetlana Edygarova

Svetlana Edygarova

Published16.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Dr. Svetlana Edygarova is an Indigenous/Finno-Ugric studies lecturer at the University of Helsinki, Finland.
Published16.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Coordinators
Tiina Seppälä

Tiina Seppälä

Published16.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Coordinators
Dr. Tiina Seppälä works as a senior specialist (50 %) in the Centre of Excellence at the University of Lapland, and as a lecturer (50 %) in Global Development Studies at the University of Helsinki.
Published16.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Coordinators
Tuija von der Pütten

Tuija von der Pütten

Published16.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Coordinators
Tuija von der Pütten is a project coordinator and PhD researcher in the Faculty of Law at the University of Helsinki, Finland.
Published15.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Victoria Soyan Peemot

Victoria Soyan Peemot

Published15.5.2026 hoyry Tiimi Researchers
Dr. Victoria Soyan Peemot is a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Helsinki, Finland. She is a Tyva scholar and a native speaker of the Turkic-Tyvan language.