“I am Sámi, but I am not a Sámi”

This article gives voice to coastal Sámi students and explores their negotiations over being or Norwegian within the education system. Through interviews, share insights on extent which focuses issues reflect upon identity. The how youths negotiate personal identity pre-existing structures by employing Archer’s theory structure agency as a backdrop. changing phases in ‘western’ societies view indigenous practices knowledges are applied together with (de)colonial perspectives understand (colonial) structures. Some key findings that students’ complex, official discourses seem restrict them from identifying ‘real’ Sámi, local is discursive void due unintended consequences resulting unification centralised In focusing using educational system backdrop, this seeks deepen understanding of society particular condition notions what it entails be