This seminar brings together experts in Sámi, Shipibo, and Evenki musical traditions to explore the role of Indigenous song in shaping relationships with the environment. It will examine elements of convergence and divergence across Circumpolar and Amazonian cultures, often described as “animist.”
The seminar is followed by a practical workshop on “yoik,” the traditional Sámi singing style. (No singing experience required).
Open to all.
Abstract
“Singing” is often recognized as a human universal, present across all societies. However, various Indigenous communities suggest that singing can extend beyond the human realm, integrating broader networks that include animals, spirits, and places, thus serving as a vital link between people and their environment.
This seminar will initiate an interdisciplinary dialogue among experts focusing on three Indigenous communities: the Shipibo of the Peruvian Amazon, the Evenki of Siberia, and the Sámi of Northern Europe. Despite their geographic distances, these groups tend to show similarities in musical traditions, including the predominance of vocal music, shamanistic legacies, and songs for animals, as well as in ontological perspectives often described as “animist,” which may view non-human entities (such as animals, spirits, landscapes, or plants) as potential agents.
Following individual presentations on each ethnographic context, a round-table discussion will seek to identify convergences or divergences in the musical traditions of Circumpolar and Amazonian cultures. The discussion will focus on music’s role in nurturing environmental relationships and its evolution amid recent social, cultural, and environmental changes.
The seminar will end with an immersive and practical workshop led by Elin Kåven, introducing attendees to foundational elements of the Sámi singing tradition known as “yoik,” complementing theoretical discussions with active participation.
Programme
12:30 – 14:00 Paper presentations
14:15 – 15:15 Round table
15:30 – 17:30 Yoik workshop (Sámi singing)
Participants
Bernd Brabec is an Associate Professor at the University of Innsbruck. As an ethnomusicologist, he specialises in Indigenous music and rituals among the Shipibo-Konibo in Peru. He is the author of Die Lieder der Richtigen Menschen (Songs of the Real People, 2015) and has explored songs in relation to knowledge, ontology, and aurality.
Alexandra Lavrillier is an Associate Professor at the Université Paris-Saclay. Her research focuses on Siberian nomadism, reindeer herding, and cultural changes among the Evenki. She conducted 12 years of fieldwork and published on issues such as social organisation, perceptions of climate change, rituals, and songs.
Nicola Renzi is a PhD Candidate at the University of Bologna and the University of Helsinki. His work investigates the Sámi yoik, Indigenous acoustemologies, and sonic interactions between humans and non-humans. He is currently engaged in a participatory research project aimed at collecting Sámi listening histories and mapping the sound and music ecosystems of Sápmi.
Elin Kåven is a renowned yoiker, singer and songwriter from Karasjok, known for her ability to weave together Sámi mythology and music. For over 20 years, she has been an important voice in Sámi music through her many projects. She regularly leads yoik workshops – also online.
Stéphane Aubinet is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Oslo. He is the author of Why Sámi Sing (Routledge, 2023). His research combines ethnographic fieldwork and comparative methods to explore ontological and affective dimensions of songs.