We three – Hae Seong, Wasiq, and Heidi – are a group of researchers from different geographical places, disciplines, and ontological spaces. The Indigenous Writing Retreat (hereafter “the Retreat”) in Gilbbesjávri/Kilpisjärvi brought us together and transformed our bounded ways of thinking about research, disciplines, identities and power relationships between them. The aim of the Retreat was to “provide the writers with an opportunity to develop their manuscripts, to extend Indigenous research networks, and to enable cross disciplinary conversations related to Indigenous research methodologies” (”Indigenous Studies Writing Retreat” 2019). In addition, the Retreat enabled us to explore the blurred boundaries of knowledge paradigms regarding what our relationships are towards Indigenous Studies and our presence in Sápmi. In this narration, we are relating to the latter experience with a multivoice narration conducted with the methodology of walking ethnography. During the process our narratives flow from an individual to a collective level. We shared many experiences with each other in the Retreat, but also connected individually with other humans, land, animals, trees, plants and spirits. Afterwards, we arranged a workshop to discuss our experiences of the Retreat and analyzed the impacts on us. From there, we continued writing the three stories individually, then returned, as a group, to discuss the relationships and significance to Indigenous research. To cross the cultural and disciplinary barriers between us, we tested visual and participatory methods to achieve a collective form of communication. These methods also proved to enable a discussion beyond conventional (academic) terms, allowing us to communicate about our diverse experiences.Peer reviewe
