‘Both right nearby and far away: Rural Sámi entrepreneurs’ engagement with spatial contexts’

Abstract

This study contributes to the debate on the role of spatial contexts in rural entrepreneurship. Drawing on rural and indigenous entrepreneurship theory, we explore how four Sámi entrepreneurs from Sweden and Norway engage with their spatial contexts. We employ a multiple-case study design, an interpretive philosophy of science, and elements from indigenous research methodologies. Our findings demonstrate that the entrepreneurs engage both within and across their spatial contexts, encompassing environments both nearby and far away. We also identify drivers and practices associated with this entrepreneurial engagement. Based on the findings, we develop The Sámi Entrepreneurial Engagement Framework. The framework serves as an illustration of how a Sámi perspective adds new insight into the field of rural entrepreneurship and offers a comprehensive lens for understanding entrepreneurial engagement with spatial contexts in culturally rich and environmentally sensitive settings.