Keskitalo was born in Utsjoki in 1972. She earned her first degree in education in 1997 from the University of Lapland and worked as a teacher.[1] She graduated with a MA in 2008, from the same university.[1] She undertook doctoral research at the University of Lapland and graduated in 2010 with a PhD which explored Sámi cultural sensitivity through educational anthropology.[2]
Research
Keskitalo researches Sámi education in contemporary and historical settings and has published widely on the subject, including on the history of Sámi education in Norway.[3] Another aspect of her research is how cultural backgrounds influence perceptions of nature in the education system.[4] She is a proponent of the right for Sámi children to be able to learn their languages.[5]
In 2014 she began work at the University of Helsinki.[1] She is project lead at the Institute of Migration, exploring multicultural childhoods in Lapland.[6]
Politics
Keskitalo was elected a member of the Sámi Parliament in 2016.[7] She is a deputy member of the Enontekiö Vitality Committee.[8] Keskitalo was re-elected from 2020 until 2023.[9]
