Figure: Sámi Storytelling Space: A virtual environment for immersive listening and intergenerational dialogue. Source: Qureshi et al. (2025).
New research from the Interreg Aurora funded project Indigenous Digital Storytelling with New Media project was presented 8 December 2025 at the MUM 2025 conference (24th International Conference on Mobile and Ubiquitous Multimedia), hosted by Kore University of Enna in Italy. The poster paper, “Speculative Design Explorations for Sámi Digital Storytelling Futures,” investigates how speculative design methods can support future imaginaries for Sámi digital storytelling. Grounded in Indigenous principles of reciprocity, care, and storytelling sovereignty, the work explores how emerging media practices can remain aligned with cultural values while opening new pathways for expression.
Rather than focusing solely on current technologies, the research uses speculative design to imagine alternative futures, highlighting how Sámi storytelling can evolve on its own terms, guided by Indigenous knowledge systems and relational ways of thinking. The paper is authored by Project Manager, Dr. Amna Qureshi, Siiri Paananen, Axel Niemimäki, and Professor Pigga Keskitalo, representing a collaboration that bridges design research, education, and Indigenous studies. Presented within an international forum on mobile and ubiquitous media, the work positions Sámi digital storytelling within global discussions on technology and design futures—while firmly centring Indigenous perspectives.
The contribution further demonstrates how the project is advancing both theoretical exploration and methodological innovation, expanding the role of speculative design in supporting culturally grounded digital futures. The paper is available via ACM Digital Library: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3771882.3773956
Figure. Linguistic sovereignty lens. A speculative wearable enabling consent-based translation. Source: Qureshi et al. (2025).
Reference:
Qureshi, A., Paananen, S., Niemimäki, A., & Keskitalo, P. (2025). Speculative Design Explorations for Sámi Digital Storytelling Futures. In S. Sorce, P. Elagroudy, & M. Khamis (Eds.), MUM ’25 : Proceedings of the 24th International Conference on Mobile and Ubiquitous Multimedia (pp. 477-479). ACM . https://doi.org/10.1145/3771882.3773956
Learn more about the project Indigenous Digital Storytelling with New Media
