The Absent Curriculum in Finnish History Textbooks: The Case of Colonialism

This article examines the gaps in relation to the Sámi people and the colonization of Sápmi (Sámi homeland) in Finnish history textbooks. In the Finnish school system, there is very little knowledge about the Sámi and the colonization of Sápmi. The article uses the concept of the absent curriculum...

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Main Author: Tanja Kohvakka
Format: Article
Language:Danish
Published: Cappelen Damm Akademisk NOASP 2024-03-01
Series:Nordisk tidsskrift for pedagogikk og kritikk
Subjects:
Online Access:https://pedagogikkogkritikk.no/index.php/ntpk/article/view/5843
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author Tanja Kohvakka
author_facet Tanja Kohvakka
author_sort Tanja Kohvakka
collection DOAJ
description This article examines the gaps in relation to the Sámi people and the colonization of Sápmi (Sámi homeland) in Finnish history textbooks. In the Finnish school system, there is very little knowledge about the Sámi and the colonization of Sápmi. The article uses the concept of the absent curriculum in order to highlight the gaps in history textbooks. The absent curriculum refers to topics and themes that could have, but have not, been included in the curriculum. Using discourse analysis, the article analyses two different time periods described in textbooks: the 19th and 20th centuries as well as prehistory. The results show that colonialist interventions in Sápmi are not conceptually tied to colonialism in the textbooks, even though some textbooks include descriptions of Finnish assimilationist acts in Sápmi. As regards to prehistory, the textbooks vary in their descriptions of the Sámi: some textbooks clearly define them as a distinct indigenous people, whereas others do not mention them at all. Finally, this article proposes some improvements that could enhance the inclusion of Sámi and colonization of Sápmi in history textbooks.
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spelling doaj.art-92a81cc15bb1404ea063ff5f31a16c802024-03-18T09:14:08ZdanCappelen Damm Akademisk NOASPNordisk tidsskrift for pedagogikk og kritikk2387-57392024-03-0110310.23865/ntpk.v10.5843The Absent Curriculum in Finnish History Textbooks: The Case of ColonialismTanja Kohvakka0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3033-8059Åbo Akademi University, Finland This article examines the gaps in relation to the Sámi people and the colonization of Sápmi (Sámi homeland) in Finnish history textbooks. In the Finnish school system, there is very little knowledge about the Sámi and the colonization of Sápmi. The article uses the concept of the absent curriculum in order to highlight the gaps in history textbooks. The absent curriculum refers to topics and themes that could have, but have not, been included in the curriculum. Using discourse analysis, the article analyses two different time periods described in textbooks: the 19th and 20th centuries as well as prehistory. The results show that colonialist interventions in Sápmi are not conceptually tied to colonialism in the textbooks, even though some textbooks include descriptions of Finnish assimilationist acts in Sápmi. As regards to prehistory, the textbooks vary in their descriptions of the Sámi: some textbooks clearly define them as a distinct indigenous people, whereas others do not mention them at all. Finally, this article proposes some improvements that could enhance the inclusion of Sámi and colonization of Sápmi in history textbooks. https://pedagogikkogkritikk.no/index.php/ntpk/article/view/5843absent curriculumcolonialismhistory textbooksSámi
spellingShingle Tanja Kohvakka
The Absent Curriculum in Finnish History Textbooks: The Case of Colonialism
Nordisk tidsskrift for pedagogikk og kritikk
absent curriculum
colonialism
history textbooks
Sámi
title The Absent Curriculum in Finnish History Textbooks: The Case of Colonialism
title_full The Absent Curriculum in Finnish History Textbooks: The Case of Colonialism
title_fullStr The Absent Curriculum in Finnish History Textbooks: The Case of Colonialism
title_full_unstemmed The Absent Curriculum in Finnish History Textbooks: The Case of Colonialism
title_short The Absent Curriculum in Finnish History Textbooks: The Case of Colonialism
title_sort absent curriculum in finnish history textbooks the case of colonialism
topic absent curriculum
colonialism
history textbooks
Sámi
url https://pedagogikkogkritikk.no/index.php/ntpk/article/view/5843
work_keys_str_mv AT tanjakohvakka theabsentcurriculuminfinnishhistorytextbooksthecaseofcolonialism
AT tanjakohvakka absentcurriculuminfinnishhistorytextbooksthecaseofcolonialism