With this appointment, he brings his considerable knowledge, experience, and contributions in the areas of indigenous education issues and traditional knowledge to continue to serve the goals of the University of the Arctic.
Key tasks for this position are to strengthen the voice of indigenous peoples throughout UArctic, promote traditional knowledge within educational programs and research, and ensure that UArctic is responsive to the educational needs of the North’s indigenous peoples. Jan Henry Keskitalo is uniquely suited to this important position.
Born and raised in the Sami village of Kautokeino/Guovdageaidnu, Mr. Keskitalo is a highly qualified indigenous academic who also possesses a broad range of international teaching and research experience in multiple cultural and linguistic settings. He is also a fluent speaker and writer of the Sami language. He has led and participated in political and planning bodies and contributed to strategic developments related to a broad range of educational issues.
Former rector of Sami University College in Kautokeino, Norway from 1989-1996, his extensive career in education and indigenous leadership includes serving as chair of the Sami Education Council, Norway, from 1987-1993, Chair of Board of The Resource Center for Indigenous Rights (GALDU) in Norway from 2002 to 2009, and since 2008 has been Executive Chair of the World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium.
Download the Press Release (PDF).
Jan Henry Keskitalo named as UArctic’s Vice-President Indigenous Affairs
Thu, Jun 10, 2010
Jan Henry Keskitalo was introduced as UArctic’s first Vice President Indigenous Affairs during the recent Council of UArctic meeting in Yakutsk, Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia, on June 4. Keskitalo recently completed his second term on the University of the Arctic’s Board of Governors, where he had served since 2002.