Jana Lamatsch holds a Master’s degree in Social Anthropology and Sustainable Development from the University of Bern, Switzerland. Her master’s thesis is based on a 3 month long ethnographic research in Yukon, Canada. It focuses on the intricate dynamics between indigeneity, immigration, and settler colonialism, bringing attention to ongoing legacies of Canada’s colonial past on these relations.
Jana’s research interests lie at the intersection of collaborative methodologies, memory practices, archives as well as socio-ecological relations. She is particularly drawn to how these areas engage with broader discourses on sustainable development, extractivism and questions of representation. Her interest to the Arctic region is driven also by the possibilities Arctic stories and voices offer to build alternative narratives to dominant global discourses.
Since 2023, Jana has co-curated the “Arctic Voices” film and event series in Bern, a platform aimed at amplifying indigenous and Arctic perspectives. Central to her work is the question of how to foster meaningful collaboration and relationship-building across disciplines, geographies, and cultures. She is passionate about creating spaces where film, art, and academic discourse converge, allowing for new forms of knowledge transmission and cultural exchange. She sees friendship and relationship building as a heart piece of every project and collaboration.
