TRiNC: Truth & Reconciliation in the Nordic Countries

Inspired by previous Truth and/or Reconciliation processes abroad – not least in Canada – Norway, Sweden and Finland have agreed to establish national Truth Commissions and/or Truth & Reconciliation Commissions in order to deal with the long-term effects of historical injustices committed against the Sami people in alle three countries; the Kvens in Sweden and Norway, Norwegian Finns and Forrest Finns in Norway and Tornedalians and Lantalaiset in Sweden.

This project studies what happens, when the TRC model, which has evolved as a measure to create and secure peace and stability after armed conflict or civil war, moves into a Scandinavian context. The project studies how core concepts such as reconciliation, truth, violence and sovereignty may transform in the meeting between political representatives of indigenous people and national minorities meet with state representation.

It is especially the assimilation policies of the Scandinavian welfare states and historic reform programs in terms of Health and Education, which occupies the processes. The processes will thereby challenge the central elements in the self-conception of the Scandinavian welfare states.

The project deals both empirically and theoretically with the clashes between conflicting perceptions of the past, and the importance which historiography plays to indigenous peoples and national minorities, not least in terms of demands for land and resources in Northern and Arctic Scandinavia. 

Astrid Nonbo Andersen, PhD, Senior Researcher, DIIS 

Astri Dankertsen, PhD, Professor, Nord University

Malin Arvidsson, PhD, Senior Lecturer, Child Studies, Department of Thematic Studies. Linköping University

Rachael Lorna Johnstone, SJD, Professor, Ilisimatusarfik & University of Ákureyri

Otso Kortekangas, PhD, Postdoc, Åbo Akademi University