The ApproFI Project

Welcome to our project website!

We are in the process of building and updating this website – stay tuned for updates in the coming weeks!

Our project examines the phenomenon of cultural appropriation, which in recent years has sparked media controversies both in Finland and globally. In Finland the appropriation of Indigenous cultures has particularly sparked scandals, as exemplified by cases involving imitations of Sámi gákti garments or the feather headdresses of Native North Americans. Although the concept of cultural appropriation has come to Finland relatively recently, Finns have borrowed symbolism from Indigenous cultures throughout the 20th century and used these visual elements in constructing Finnish identities. Our research team explores the kinds of meanings Finns have attached to Indigenous cultural symbols, objects, and practices at different time periods throughout the 20th century when borrowing and imitating them.

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Header photo: Publicstock, Creative Commons