Traditional Sámi Child-rearing in Transition Shaping a New Pedagogical Platform

The study is based on fieldwork, with a variety of participation, observations and interviews. The outcome of my research is a description of the ideas, the philosophy of Sámi parents, grandparents, grand-grandparents and others Sámis. In this paper I am going to focus on some of the findings I have for the model of learning. The main goal seems to be preparing for life, to develop independent individuals who can survive in a given environment and to give the children self esteem and zest for life and joy. The findings highlight the institutional arrangements and practices that are settled to fulfill these strivings. A traditional saying mirrors in a holistic way the philosophy of learning in a Sámi context; ¿Gal dat oahppá go stuorrola¿, means that he/she will learn when he/she grows up little by little. In this saying we recognice the generousity, the positive expectations, the understanding of the potential to learn that every child has. The challenge now is in cooperation with schools and preschools to implement, integrate and renew this traditional model for learning, a new research and development project to carry on with.