ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the political and social dimensions of Sámi research in relation to two different processes: the development of Indigenous studies as a discipline, and the digitization of academic communication. The increasing prominence of Indigenous studies is changing the ways in which researchers are expected to describe, include and establish dialogue with Indigenous communities in research. Simultaneously, researchers are facing growing demand to establish strong online presence, as for instance employers and funding agencies are encouraging them to disseminate their research findings and knowledge through different media channels, social media accounts and so on. By exploring how individual researchers negotiate such expectations in their own work, this chapter asks how these two influences impact upon the field of Sámi research. One major issue identified is the discrepancy in temporalities between media communication and research, as well as between funding agencies and research in practice. This study also gives us indications about the role that social media might play in communication of research beyond an academic audience and readership. A web presence and the use of social media for communication can have an impact and be successful, but strategies and professional support for implementing those are often lacking or underdeveloped, resulting in an often inefficient and potentially time-consuming form of media use with limited benefits for Sámi communities and the researchers themselves.
