[Abstract]

In her presentation Outi Laiti w ill discuss\, based on her research\, the aspects of developing Sámi game d evelopers. Her journey introduces e.g. ethnoprogramming\, supporting Indige nous youth to achieve programming skills in basic education\, and Sami Game Jam\, the rapid-paced game developing event. This work speaks to Sámi empo werment in game design where a small minority multi-roling manifests from e vent planning to design and research. The presentation will also address ho w to employ Indigenous methodology in game research\, and what kind of aspe cts that choice might have.

[Bio]

Outi Laiti ( She/Her)\, Ph.D. is an Indigenous Sámi game researcher and designer. In 202 0\, gamesindustry.biz nominated her as one of the 100 Game Changers for her work on promoting e.g. Sámi gaming . She is an Associate researcher at the University of Helsinki Indigenous s tudies. Her field of research is education and computer science with a focu s on Sámi language and culture in digital games and programming. She is als o active in designing and co-organizing Sami Game Jams and has been involve d in several game development and educational projects in the past. Her doc toral thesis “Old Ways of Knowing\, New Ways of Playing” published in Janua ry 2021\, discusses the potential of collaborative game design to empower I ndigenous Sámi.

“Sami New Media and Digital Games” with D r. Outi Laiti (University of Helsinki)