Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic

🎮✨ History in the making! What might just be the world’s first computer game in Ume Sámi (ubmejesámiengiälla) is in development – and it’s happening thanks to our incredible partners Biblioteksutveckling Västerbotten and Kajaani University of Applied Sciences (KAMK), as part of the N-LITE project! Recently, the team was in Sorsele/Suorssá for an unforgettable Motion Capture session, where characters were brought to life with help from local youth, talented actors, the game’s creative team, and the fantastic folks at Suorsán girjjievuarkká./Sorsele Library. Some voices from the youth involved: 🗣️ “It was exciting and fun because no one had done it before. I'm excited to see the final result!” 🗣️ “The game will be a new way to learn Ume Sámi – and I’m so proud to be part of it!” The story – written by Anna Nutti Wiandt and Sara Ajnnak – unfolds along the Vindelälven River. The player takes on the role of a character who discovers a broken Sámi drum in an attic. Lost from Sápmi for generations, the drum’s symbols have faded – and it’s up to the player to restore their power through a series of missions. Even more powerful? The drum is real. Once confiscated in the 18th century, it was kept in a French museum before finally returning home to the Ájtte Museum in Jokkmokk in 2024. It has not yet been permanently returned to Sápmi, but ongoing efforts are being made to bring it home for good.  Ume Sámi is one of the most critically endangered languages in the world, and this game is not just entertainment – it’s preservation, education, and celebration. 🌍 Developed within N-LITE, funded by the EU through the Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eH3K_dHz #NLITE #UmeSami #Sápmi #RegionVästerbotten #KAMK #IndigenousLanguages #ImmersiveTech #GameDev #CulturalHeritage #MotionCapture #Vindelälven #Suorssá

At the end of February, THREADs and our partners gathered in Borås for a two-day workshop. Hosted by Science Park Borås, the event focused on exploring practical solutions for handling textile waste in the Northern Periphery and Arctic region. With the theme "Re-imagine textile," the discussions centered around redefining textiles as a valuable resource and highlighting the critical role design plays in enabling circular flows. Read more of our trip on our website: https://lnkd.in/d89c2t3G Kajaani University of Applied Sciences (KAMK) Municipality of Kittilä University of Borås Luleå Miljöresurs Remiks Icelandic Textile Center Technological University of the Shannon Western Development Commission Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic #interregnpa #textilewaste #Interreg #project #circulareconomy #wastemanagement #sustainability

🌍 The N-LITE team recently gathered in Kainuu, Finland for our 14th partner meeting! From immersive tech demos to literary tours in Sotkamo and Kajaani, we explored how culture and innovation can shape the future of tourism in the NPA region. 📚✨ Proud to support SMEs, celebrate heritage, and empower youth through digital tools: https://lnkd.in/eh7KcVyK #NLITEProject #LiteraryTourism #ImmersiveTech #NPARegion #CulturalHeritage #SustainableTourism Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic Kainuun liitto Elina Keränen Minna Komulainen Mary Keaveney Imelda McCarron

On March 3rd, high school students from Menntaskólinn á Ísafirði, the local college in Ísafjörður, visited Vestfjarðastofa to learn about social entrepreneurship. The students, who are taking a mandatory course on ideas and innovation, received a presentation from project managers Steinunn Ása Sigurðardóttir and Anna Sigríður Ólafsdóttir. Vestfjarðastofa is a regional development agency working to support communities across the Westfjords of Iceland. One of its initiatives is participating in MERSE - Business Models Empowering Rural Social Entrepreneurship - voicing the rural norm. This visit was part of the effort to raise awareness among young people about how they can use innovation to make a positive impact on their communities💡🚀✨ Nearly 40 students attended the session in two groups, accompanied by their teacher, Ólöf Dómhildur Jóhannsdóttir. After a short introduction, the students brainstormed ideas for social innovation projects in four key areas: ✅ Environment and nature ✅ Opportunities for young people in the Westfjords ✅ Local communities ✅ Accessibility for disadvantaged groups A defining feature of social innovation is identifying and addressing gaps in services that governments and municipalities may not be able to fill. Naturally, many student ideas focused on improving services for young people, such as youth centers and more recreational opportunities. Others tackled infrastructure challenges, calling for better roads, improved public transportation, and fuel stations in smaller villages. The students have now worked on developing their own innovation projects. Today they will present their projects at the annual Vörumessa MÍ (MÍ Product Fair). This event, held at Vestfjarðastofa’s premises, is open to the public and will showcase the students' creative solutions for improving life in the Westfjords. It will be exciting to see what ideas they bring to the table! 👏 #CommunityDevelopment #SustainableSolutions #CommunityEngagement #CollaborativeEfforts #EmpowermentProjects #ChangeMakers