LOHKANLIHKKU lukuonni

Written language is crucial for education, cultural heritage, and social participation, playing a vital role in shaping cultural identity. In the digital age, the permanence of written language allows universal access to content, making the preservation of written skills essential for Indigenous languages like Sámi. This project aims to enhance Sámi literacy through teacher education and the development of an educational game, addressing the current reliance of Sámi children on majority languages for digital reading and writing due to a lack of Sámi tools. Early support in reading and spelling is vital for improving literacy, cultural knowledge, societal participation, and overall well-being among Sámi learners. With global literacy challenges - nearly one-third of individuals struggle with simple texts - there's an urgent need for comprehensive reading support, particularly for children learning Indigenous languages. Teachershave recognized the need for Sámi digital tools and expressed interest in a Sámi version of a successful language game. This cross-border project involving Finland, Sweden, and Norway aims to co-create Lohkanlihkku, a scientifically backed digital tool tailored for Sámi languages, along with educational materials for hands-on training. By incorporating Sámi narrative traditions with graphics and sounds, the project will foster cultural appreciation and strengthen linguistic identity within an engaging digital environment. The tool will be freely accessible, benefiting teachers and learners in schools, at home, or remotely. After over a decade of requests from Sámi teachers and parents for a digital resource like Ekapeli, this initiative will provide Sámi learners with essential support. The project will document its development process, facilitating the creation of tools for other Sámi languages and promoting linguistic and cultural equality, ensuring equal opportunities for learning to communicate in written Sámi.