A unique picture book features two Indigenous languages and English

For the first time, a picture book is being launched that combines Lule Sámi, English, and Māori.

The initiative comes from Nord University, which aims to elevate Indigenous languages both nationally and internationally.

The book will be launched on April 13 during NORLA, the prestigious children's and youth book fair in Bologna, where Norway is the guest of honour in 2026.

With around 30,000 visitors, this is a stage few projects gain access to – and a clear signal that the book resonates with others.

Building bridges between languages and cultures

The goal of the book is both clear and ambitious: to strengthen both Lule Sámi and Māori through English as a bridging language.

At the same time, it aims to give children and young people access to new perspectives on language, culture, and identity. The book highlights global themes such as plastic pollution in the ocean, sustainability, the climate crisis, and gender. 

The story follows two Māori researchers who travel to Norway to investigate a stranded whale – a narrative that connects nature, science, and culture across continents.

The starting point is the earlier bilingual publication Ábiid plástihkat – Plasten i havet (Plastic in the Sea), written by Rita Sørly.

It has now been further developed into a new, trilingual version titled Mij le ábijn dáhpáduvvamin? He Aha te Raru ki Tai? What’s the Matter with the Sea?

A long-awaited resource

There are currently almost no children’s books combining Sámi languages with English, and none that bring together these three languages in a single publication.

This makes the book an important contribution both in schools and libraries in Norway, New Zealand, and internationally.

It can be used in English teaching, in work with Indigenous perspectives, and as part of more multilingual education.

A desire to build understanding

Researcher and one of the translators of the book, Maria Nayr de Pinho Correia Ibrahim, describes the project as both personally and academically important.

“I am thrilled to see this book finally published! This book was born out of a need to bridge the gap between curriculum demands to integrate Sámi perspectives in our teaching and my quest for picturebooks that would allow me to do just that in English language education," she says.

She also highlights the book's visual and thematic strengths.

"This book, with its vibrant colours and multiple shades of blue, addresses environmental problems, as it weaves together two Indigenous cultural perspectives. Bringing these languages together reflects a desire for greater understanding, curiosity, and empathy in a world that sometimes feels cruel. I hope that in classrooms worldwide, this book builds intercultural and linguistic bridges for Indigenous and minority cultures,” Ibrahim adds.

Language strengthens pride and belonging

Co-translator Charlotta Maria Langejan highlights the importance of literature in minority languages.

“For a language to survive and develop, it must be actively used. Children’s and young people’s literature in particular gives the language room to live. When children and young people can read books in their own language, it strengthens confidence, pride, and a sense of belonging," she says.

She also underscores a fundamental principle:

"Children have the right to learn and read in their own language. This book is important in that regard,” she says.

International significance

The project has been developed in collaboration with publishers in both Norway and New Zealand. According to Rose Martin, dean of the Faculty of Education and Arts, the book shows what is possible when academic communities and cultures meet. 

“This is an inspiring example of how collaboration across languages, cultures, and Indigenous contexts can create new spaces for visibility, recognition, and learning," says Martin, who is originally from New Zealand.

She particularly points out how Lule Sámi is placed in a broader context:

"It's especially meaningful to see Lule Sámi presented alongside te reo Māori and English in a way that both honours the language itself and places it within a wider international conversation,” she says.

A small book with a wide reach

Nord University and the Centre for Sámi and Indigenous Studies are responsible for preserving and strengthening South Sámi and Lule Sámi language and culture. 

“The book is a concrete example of how the Lule Sámi language is brought forward in a trilingual international context. In this way, Lule Sámi gains a new visibility internationally and shows that the language has a natural place in global cultural expressions. This makes us very pleased,” says centre director Tove Mentsen Ness.

With its three languages and strong themes, the book is more than a story. It's a tool for learning, bridging the gap between cultures, and a clear signal that minority languages have a place in the world, she believes.

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