Sámi youth health, the role of climate change, and unique health-seeking behaviour

• Published in: International Journal of Circumpolar Health
• Main Authors: Emilie Kowalczewski, Joern Klein
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2018
• Subjects: Health and well-being; climate change; Sami youth; reindeer herding; “Norwegianization”; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic; Circumpolar Health; Climate change; International Journal of Circumpolar Health; sami
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1080/22423982.2018.1454785; https://doaj.org/article/27e8120c3fb14bfdabcc1f9289a1b5c6

The goal of this cross-sectional qualitative study was to assess the impact of climate change on Sámi youth health, health care access, and health-seeking behaviour. Indigenous research methodology served as the basis of the investigation which utilised focus groups of youths and one-on-one interviews of adult community leaders using a semi-structured, open-ended questions. The results of the focus groups and interviews were then analysed to identify trends. We found that Sámi youth mostly associate the implications of climate change to their culture andcultural practices rather than the historical influence the environment had on Sámi health. They also take part in unique health-seeking behaviour by utilising both traditional and Western medicine simultaneously but without interaction due to social and structural factors. Our findings suggest that the health of Sámi teens is not tied to the environment directly, but through cultural activities.