The first thing was to adapt the Robotour for Seniors model as Robotour for Sami Seniors. The model needed adjustments because we had different time and robotic resources available for this study, and also the language was a very important aspect to adapt. Immediately we noticed that it would be impossible to make this kind of cultural study without the local researcher, who takes the most responsibility of the cultural adaptation, facilitation of the sessions, and interpretation of the results. Without the local researcher, everything can go really wrong. The other thing we noticed was that a proper rehearsal session is needed before entering the actual research context in order to make sure that the whole research team knows their roles, tasks, and the flow of the session.
The first workshop took place in a small and beautiful village Karigasniemi, near to the border of Norway. We started very early, drove 2 hours from our hut at Saariselkä, and reached the village together with the sunrise. At this time of year, sunrise in north means that sun is hardly rising above horizon. However, the light is the most amazing and I fell in love with this combination of soft colorful light behind the fells, glistening snow, cold air and complete silence.
13 Sami seniors and their club leader were present in Karigasniemi village house. The Karigasniemi workshop run in northern Sami language. Every workshop started with short introductions and warm-up discussion, followed by Paro robot introduced and discussed. Paro raised mixed feelings in the first workshop. Part of participants liked it and talked gently to it, while others did not want to interact. Anyways, Paro enables a lot of talk and discussion. Well, this group was very talkative by nature, and almost all of them had several stories to be told during the session.
Nao-robot with a short physical exercise program was the second robot after the lunch break. By then, the atmosphere had clearly changed, and now most participants showed their interest towards Nao. Nao was commented to be too slow. Now it was very clear for the observers, which people out of this group were very interested in in getting to know about the robots, and who would not care less. One person commented: “If the next robot is even better than this, I will get wild!” Another person said: “Now the situation is so that you girls pack your robots and go back home.” It seems that the third robot, Furhat, was the favorite robot in this workshop. Conversation with Furhat raised a lot of questions and discussion, and the humoristic approach expressed by Furhat was liked a lot. In the end of the session, there was a long chat about Sami language development in the AI and robotics field.
Next day in Inari. The group had slightly different profile compared to the first place. The workshop run in Finnish and Sami mixed. There were 11 participants present. Paro received mainly positive comments and a lot of gentle talk when it circulated from lap to lap. However, the participants wanted some animal shape, which would be more familiar for them, for example Lappish owl, dog, or rabbit. Nao was considered a bit intimidating by this group, like a small macho guy with scary ears and eyes. However, they considered the Sami speaking ability of Nao as amazing. The need for Sami language on robots was discussed a lot. Furhat’s emotional expressions were very interesting for this group, as well as the OpenAI conversation with Furhat. However, it was a pity that the conversation with Furhat was now only available in English. The group commented in the end that they learned a lot about the robots during the workshop. Thus, we can conclude that Robotour activity can enhance robot literacy among the participants.
The third workshop took place in even smaller village, Vuotso. Again, a group of six friendly and very active seniors gathered. One participant came late because she was feeding her reindeers. Most of the participants interacted with Paro, but one participant did not want to do it due to furry coat that she thought was very dirty after so many people touching it. Robots seemed to cause strong emotions. One of the participants had imagined a specific type of robot already in 1950. That was an imaginary small old woman who played hide and seek with a small girl. One participant placed Paro on the floor because the place of animals, such as dogs, is on the floor. When we brought next robot, Nao, one participant shouted: “Bring it here and kick it to start!” The same participants called Nao’s hands as hooves and she called all the robots as devils. In this group, there was a lot of discussion about the robots’ data collecting and security. People in this group also considered robots too slow, both mentally and physically.
My main impressions (as an external observer coming from different culture) were the following. Robots are still quite far away from this culture, and their form factor is very machinery. Robots would need some cultural adaptation. Maybe the robots’ design could somehow take inspiration from nature. Also, robots could talk about culturally suitable content and old times rather than being too much contemporary. Sami languages are very expressive and emotional, and it would be very important to have these languages on robots. The people who participated liked humor and humoristic approaches on robots. The robots are too slow for Sami people, they should be much faster, both in their movements and speaking. The main interpretations of the collected data will be made by Sami researcher Maiju.
Warmest thanks for the participating Sami people, which welcomed us to have this Robotour with them! There is much we learned about your culture, and we hope that the created lovely connections will stay forever! We hope to be back.
Written by Robostudio researcher Aino, translation to Northern Sami made by Maiju
Ps. We also experienced many highlights of Sapmi (Samiland) – Aurora Borealis, Indigenous peoples’ Film Festival under the stars in snow theater Inari, reindeers, willow grouses, etc. etc. Skiing in Saariselkä was also pretty much enjoyed in everyday basis. Love it.
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Translation in Northern Sami by Maiju Saijets:
Ođđajagimánus 2025 mii Robostudio olbmot oaččuimet earenoamáš vejolašvuođa dahkat dutkanmátkki Sápmái ovttas doavttirgráđadutki Maiju Saijetsiin (Lappi universiteahtta). Dutkanmátki gulai MediaRoboLit 65+ -prošektii ja ulbmilin lei čađahit golbma earenoamáš bargobáji golmma sierra gilážis: Gáregasnjárggas, Anáris ja Vuohčus. Loga dán teavstta viidásabbot vai beasat gullat veháš min vásáhusain!
Vuosttažettiin heiveheimmet Robotour for Seniors -málle Robotour for Sami Seniors -mállen. Mii fertiimet heivehit bargobájiin ovdal geavahuvvon málle dán dutkamuššii, go mis ledje dál geavahusas veháš eará robohttaresurssat go ovdal. Dasto fertiimet váldit vuhtii bargobájiid ollašuhttimii geavahuvvon áiggi, sámegiela ja sámekultuvrra. Fuomášeimmet dalán, ahte dákkár kulturdutkamuša livčče veadjemeahttun dahkat báikkálaš dutki haga, go sonhan dat váldá stuorimus ovddasvástádusa das, ahte váldá dutkamušas vuhtii kultuvrra ja giela sihke bargobájiid jođiheames ja bohtosiid dulkomis. Báikkálaš dutki haga buot sáhttá mannat oalát endorii. Nubbi ášši, maid mii fuomášeimmet lei dat, ahte ovdal go mannat dutkanbáikái, ferte hárjehallat albmaláhkái ja sihkkarastit dan, ahte olles dutkanjoavku dovdá rollaidis, bargguidis ja bargobáji jođu.
Vuosttas bargobádji dollojuvvui unna ja čáppa Gáregasnjárgga gilážis, lahka Norgga rájá. Vulggiimet hui árrat johtui, vujiimet guokte diimmu Suoločielggis ja joavddaimet Gáregasnjárgii oktanaga beaivvážiin. Dán áigge jagis, go skábma lea justa nohkan, beaivi illá badjána horisontta bajábeallái. Čuovga lea čáppis, ja ráhkásmuvven dása, go duoddariid duohkin oidnojedje ivnnit, muohta šealgái, lei buolaš ja máilbmi lei áibbas jaskat.
Golbmanuppelohkái boarrásut olbmo ja sin riekkesdoaimma jođiheaddji ledje čoahkkanan Gáregasnjárgga gilidállu Giisái. Gáregasnjárgga bargobádji jođihuvvui davvisámegillii. Juohke bargobádji álggii oanehis láidehusain ja liggedallamiin, dasto oassálastiide čájehuvvui Paro-robohtta ja ságastallan joatkašuvai. Paro bohciidahtii ruossalas dovdduid vuosttas bargobájis. Oassi oassálastiin liikui dasa ja háleštiige dasa litna jienain, go fas nuppit eai háliidan vuorrováikkuhit dainna. Oppalohkái, Paro mielddisbuvttii ollu ságastallama. Dát joavku lei muđuige hui hállái, ja measta juohke ovttas ledje ollu muitalusat maid juohkit bargobájis.
Nao-robohtta ja su jođihan lášmmohallanboddu lei nubbin doaibman bargobájis dalán lunšša maŋŋá. Dassážii atmosfeara lei čielgasit muhttašuvvan, ja dál eatnašat oassálastit čájehedje beroštumi Nao-robohttii. Su dadje leat goittotge menddo njoahci. Dán muttus lei viehka čielggas observánttaide, geat joavkkus ledje beroštuvvan diehtit eanet robohtain ja geat beroštedje dain uhcit. Okta kommenterii: “Jus čuovvovaš robohtta lea vel buoret go dát, mun dájáskan!” Nubbi fas kommenterii: “Dál lea dilli nu, ahte nieiddat báhkkejehket din robohtaid ja mannet ruovttoluotta ruoktot.” Orui, ahte goalmmát robohtta, Furhat, lei dán bargobáji bivnnuhamos. Ságastallan Furhatiin bovttii ollu gažaldagaid ja ságastallama. Furhat-robohta humoristtalaš lahkonanvuohki lei dakkár, masa olbmot liikojedje. Bargobáji loahpas lei guhkes ságastallan sámegiela ovddideamen AI (dahkujierpmi) ja robotihka suorggis.
Čuovvovaš bargobádji lei Anáris. Joavkkus lei veháš earálágan profiila go vuosttas báikkis. Bargobádji jođihuvvui suoma- ja sámegillii. Mielde ledje 11 oassálasti. Paros bohte eanaš positiivvalaš kommeanttat ja oassálastit hálle dasa litna jienain seammás go robohtta jođii askkis nubbái. Oassálastit goittotge smiehtadedje, ahte muhtin eará ealli livčče sáhttá leat sidjiide velá vuohkkasat, ovdamearkka dihte vilges skuolfi, beana dahje njoammil. Nao lei dán jovkui veháš balddihahtti, unna macho-almmái balddihahtti beljiinis ja čalmmiinis. Goittotge, Nao sámegiela dáidu čokkii rámi. Robohtaid sámegiela dáiddu dárbbus ságastallojuvvui ollu. Go Furhat čájehii dovdduid, joavku lei hui beroštuvvan das, dego maid ságastallat Furhatiin OpenAI vehkiin. Váidalahtti lei, ahte Furhatiin sáhtii ságastallat dušše eaŋgalsgillii. Bargobáji oassálastit kommenterejedje, ahte sii ohppe ollu robohtain dán bargobájis. Nuba mii sáhttitge namuhit, ahte bargobájit sáhttet oahpahit oassálastiide robohttalohkandáiddu.
Goalmmát bargobádji lágiduvvui velá uhcit gilis, Vuohčus. Dáppe guhtta ustitlaš ja virkos oassálasti ledje čoahkkanan deaivvadeapmái. Okta oassálasti bođii veháš maŋŋelis go son lei biebmamin bohccuid. Eatnašat vuorrováikkuhedje Paroin, muhto okta oassálasti ii háliidan leat dahkamušas dainna, go son jurddašii Paro guolgá lea duolvvas go nu máŋgasat leat njávkkadan dan. Robohtta orru boktimin garra dovdduid. Okta oassálastiin muitalii, ahte son lei govahallan robohtaid juo 1950-logus ja muitalii, ahte son lei duhkoraddan čiehkástallama robohtain. Okta oassálastiin fas bijai Paro láhttái dasgo elliid báiki, dego beatnagiidge, lea láhttis. Go mii buvttiimet jovkui oaidninláhkái čuovvovaš robohta, okta oassálasti čurvii: “Buvtte dan deike ja čievččas johtui!”. Seamma oassálastit gohčodii Nao gieđaid guobirin, ja son maid gohčodii robohta biron. Dán joavkkus lei ollu sáhka das, maid dieđuid robohtat čogget ja dorvvolašvuođas. Dán joavkkus oassálastit maid jurddašedje, ahte robohtat leat menddo njoazit, sihke fysalaččat ja psyhkalaččat.
Mu váldoáiccut (olggobeale olmmožin, guhte boahtá eará kultuvrras) ledje čuovvovaččat. Robohtat leat ain oalle guhkin dán kultuvrra ja olbmuid árgabeaivvis. Robohtaid hámit leat velá oalle mašiinnaláganat ja robohtat dárbbašivčče kultuvrralaš heiveheami. Várra robohtaid hábmemis sáhtašii váldit inspirašuvnna luonddus. Robohtat maid sáhtašedje hállat kultuvrii heivehuvvon áššiin ja boares áiggiin milloseabbot go dán áiggi áššiin. Sámegielat leat hui ealli ja ekspressiivalaš gielat, ja dain leat ollu dovddut. Livčče dehálaš oažžut dáid gielaid maid robohtaide. Olbmot, geat oassálaste bargobájiide liikojedje humoristtalaš lahkonanvuohkái. Sápmelaččaide robohtat leat menddo njoazit, dat galggašedje leat johtilabbot, sihke hállamis ja lihkastagaid dáfus. Dehálamos dulkojumiid materiálas dahká Maiju, geas lea sámi duogáš ja gii máhttá sámegiela.
Liekkus giitosat Sámi olbmuide, geat válde min ja Robotour vuostá iežaset lusa! Lea nu ollu oahppanláhkái din kultuvrras, ja mii sávvat, ahte leat gávdnan agibeaivvi ustibiid! Sávvamis mii beassat boahtit ruovttoluotta!
Dán teavstta lea čállán Robostudio dutki Aino, ja davvisámegillii teavstta lea heivehan Maiju.
Ps. Mii maid vásiheimmet ja oinniimet maid earenoamáš ja čáppa áššiid Sámis – Guovssahasaid, Skábmagovat-filbmafestivála muohtateáhtera Anáris, bohccuid, rievssahiid jna. jna. Maiddái čuoiggadeapmi Suoločielggi lahtuin measta beaivválaččat lei oalle fiinna vásáhus. Ráhkistin dan.
