Else Grete Broderstad

Else Grete Broderstad is a Professor of Indigenous Studies at UiT The Arctic University of Norway, based at the Center for Sami Studies in Tromsø. She serves as Coordinator of the Master's Program in Indigenous Studies and teaches multiple courses including Introduction to Indigenous Studies, Methodology and Methods in Indigenous Studies, and Indigenous Peoples - Politics, Institutions and Tools. Her academic work bridges political science with Indigenous rights and governance, focusing on the Sámi context in Norway and broader circumpolar regions.

Professor Broderstad's research interests span Indigenous rights and citizenship, cross-border reindeer herding, political procedures between Indigenous organizations and state authorities, and governance arrangements in the circumpolar North. She examines home rule and self-government arrangements, resource management, and conflicts between Indigenous peoples and industry. Her work is characterized by a strong engagement with truth and reconciliation processes, particularly regarding the Norwegian Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) that investigated historical assimilation policies toward the Sámi and Kven peoples.

Her recent publications reveal a clear thematic trajectory focused on truth and reconciliation processes (2023-2025), Indigenous knowledge systems in environmental governance, Indigenous-industry relations, and blue justice in coastal resource management. These works often examine practical applications of Indigenous rights in policy and decision-making processes, with particular attention to knowledge co-production, narrative ownership, and environmental justice frameworks. Much of her research involves collaborative work with scholars like Eva Josefsen and engages with contemporary political challenges facing Indigenous communities in the Arctic.

Professor Broderstad leads the research group Indigenous Peoples, Governance, Rights, Institutions and Democracy and is affiliated with several research networks including TriArc, Indigenous Citizenship and Education (ICE), and Global Research in Indigenous Studies and History (GRISH). She actively supervises students in the Master's programs Indigenous Studies and Governance and Entrepreneurship in Northern and Indigenous Areas, contributing significantly to the next generation of Indigenous studies scholars.

Her current projects include TRUCOM (Truth and Reconciliation Commission research) and Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Planning and Environmental Decision Making, reflecting her commitment to bridging academic research with practical applications for Indigenous communities and policy makers. Her work consistently addresses contemporary challenges in Indigenous-state relations while maintaining a strong theoretical foundation in political science and governance studies.