CONFERENCE DAY ONE, MAY 4TH, 2022
1030-1130 Registration
1130-1230 Lunch
Session 1: A kairos moment for people-to-people reconciliation in Norway?
1230-1235 Practical information
1235-1245 Opening prayer
1245-1250 Welcome to VID Specialized University, by principal Bård Mæland
1250-1300 Opening of the conference, by Church of Norway representatives. Moderator of the Sami Church Council Sara Ellen Anne Eira, and moderator of the National Council of Church of Norway, Kristin Gunleiksrud Raaum.
1310-1325 Unpacking the conference theme, by Assoc. Prof. Tore Johnsen, KUN/VID Tromsø
1325-1340 Coffee break
Session 2: Practice-based stories: Eye-openers and new beginnings
1340-1440 Presentations and interaction with audience
- «Conversations about identity». Experiences from the student ministry at UiT, Tromsø. Student chaplain Tor Stranda, and leader of Sami Students Union, Northern Norway, Eli Karianne Vesterheim Hætta.
- Reconciliation from a Kven perspectice, Nora Marie Ollila Sandmo, Ruijjan Kvääniliitto / Norwegian Kven Association
- Reconciliation and the Forest Finns, Dag Raaberg, director Museum for forest finn culture in Norway
- An obstacle to the majority society? Paul Bendikk Jåma, moderator of the Sámi congregation of the South Sámi area
1440-1500 Coffee break
Session 3: Reconciliation as a public responsibility
1500-1600 Panel discussion with Runar Myrnes Balto, member of Sami Parliament Council, NRK Kvääni journalist Laila Lanes, Sámi artist Joar Nango, former leader of the Norwegian Kven Association, Hilja Huru, and Aftenposten commentator Harald Stanghelle. Panel moderator: Assist. Prof. Line Skum, KUN/VID Tromsø
1600-1615 Coffee break
Session 4: A Pilgrimage for Justice and Peace. An ecumenical conversation
1615-1715
Panel discussion with Presiding Bishop Olav Fykse Tveit, Church of Norway, leder i Samiska rådet i Svenska kyrkan, Erik Oscar Oscarsson, Bishop of Greenland Paneeraq Siegstad Munk. Moderator is Seforosa Carroll, Mission from the Margins/Ecumenical Indigenous Peoples Network, World Council of Churches
1730-1900 Dinner, canteen at VID Oslo (Diakonhjemmet)
2000 Evening service in Trefoldighetskirken. (Trinity Church) Bishop Olav Fykse Tveit preaches at the service. Greetings from Dagfinn Høybråten, Chair of the Norwegian TRC.
2100 Church coffee.
CONFERENCE DAY TWO, MAY 5TH, 2022
Session 1: Master narratives naturalizing the hierarchy of the Norwegianization policy
0900-0905 Cultural contribution, Vegard Bjørsmo, pianist Tobias Paulsen
0905-0910 Introducing the conference day
0910-0940 The Nordic-Germanic master race narrative in the cradle of the Norwegianization policy: Perceptions of the Norwegian “we” as a premise for subordinating “the other”. By Assoc. Prof. Jon Røyne Kyllingstad, Section for Museum of University and Science History, University of Oslo
0940-1010 Norwegianisation, colonization, and the need for theological decolonization. By Assoc. Prof. Tore Johnsen, VID Tromsø
1010-1030 Coffee break
1030-1130 Decolonizing Norwegian master narratives as a research challenge. Multi-disciplinary panel discussion. Panelists: Assoc. Prof. Per Kristian Aschim, Norwegian School of Theology; Prof. Em. Kirsti Strøm Bull, Faculty of Law, UiO; Doctor of history Steinar Pedersen; Prof. Aud Valborg Tønnesen, Theological Faculty, University of Oslo. Panel moderator: Gyrid Gunnes, Assoc. Prof., VID Sandnes.
1130-1230 Lunch
Session 2: The role and possibilities of civil society in public reconciliation processes
1230-1250 “Truth and reconciliation in Norway”: Reflections on a feature article, its reception, and beyond. By PhD candidate Elin Monstad, Department of Comparative Politics, University of Bergen
1250-1310 Civil society interaction and relations in the TRC process: Findings from the TRUCOM research. By Prof. Kjell Ole Kjærland Olsen, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway
1310-1330 Human rights as a point of connection for civil society involvement in public reconciliation. By Prof. Hans Morten Haugen, VID Specialized University
1340-1410 Trading justice for peace? Reframing reconciliation in TRC processes in South Africa, Canada and Nordic countries (book launch), By Prof. Sigríður Guðmarsdóttir, VID Stavanger / University of Iceland, Dr. Paulette Regan, Canada, and Dr. Demaine Solomons, University of the Western Cape
1410-1430 Coffee break
Session 3: Knowledge institutions and truth & reconciliation – situatedness and responsibility
1430-1450 Historical justice as a new discourse in historical research: Experiences and insights from the Church of Sweden's white paper project. By Prof. Daniel Lindmark, Umeå University
1500-1600 Panelists: Rev. Dr. Ray Aldred, Director of Indigenous Studies Program, Vancouver School of Theology; Prof. Tomas Sundnes Drønen, Dean at Faculty of Theology, Diaconia, and Leadership Studies, VID; Prof. John Klaasen, Head of Department of Religion and Theology, University of the Western Cape; Commissioner Anne Julie Semb, the Norwegian Truth and Reconciliation Commission; Laila Susanne Vars, Indigenous rights expert and Principle at Sámi Allaskuvla/Sámi University College. Panel moderator: Prof. Carola Lingaas, VID Oslo
1600-1615 Closing of conference. By Kristin Gunleiksrud Raaum, moderator of CoN National Council, and Bernd Krupka, center director of KUN / VID Tromsø