Anna-Leena Siikala Explained

Arja Anna-Leena Siikala (formerly Kuusi, née Aarnisalo, born Helsinki, 1 January 1943, died Espoo, 27 February 2016)^[1] was a professor emeritus at the University of Helsinki, specialising in folk-belief, mythology, and shamanism, along with oral storytelling and traditionality.

Education and career

Anna-Leena Siikala graduated as a Master of Philosophy from the University of Helsinki in 1968, took her licenciate degree in 1970, and Ph.D. in 1978. She was a professor of folkloristics at Helsinki 1995–2007. Siikala held the following professorships:

• 1995–2007: Helsingin yliopisto, Professor of Folklore.
• 1999–2004: Suomen Akatemia, Academy Professor.
• 1988–1995: Joensuun yliopisto, Professor of Folklore Studies.^[2]
• 1979–1982: Turun yliopiston folkloristiikan ja uskontotieteen vs. professori^[3]

She undertook fieldwork in Finland and the Cook Islands in Polynesia, and among the Finnic-speaking peoples of Russia, Udmurt people, the Komi peoples, and the Khanty people of Siberia.

Siikala's most important research projects were Myth, history, society: Ethnic/National Traditions in the Age of Globalization (1999–2004) and The Other Russia: Cultural Multiplicity in the Making (2004–2007). Together with Mihály Hoppál and Vladimir Napolskikh she edited the Encyclopaedia of Uralic Mythologies.^[4]

In 2009, Siikala was elected to the Akateemikko.^[5]

Publications

Anna-Leena Siikala had over 230 publications to her name. Key works are:

• The Rite Technique of the Siberian Shaman (Ph.D. thesis, FF Communications 220, 1978 and 1989).
• Interpreting Oral Narrative (FF Communications 245, 1990).
• Book: Suomalainen šamanismi: Mielikuvien historiaa. Helsinki. Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura. 1999 . 3rd . 1992 . Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seuran toimituksia 565. 951-717-704-6.
• Studies in Shamanism (Ethnologica Uralica 1992 and 1998, Budapest, with Mihály Hoppálin).
• Mythic Images and Shamanism. A Perspective on Kalevala Poetry (FF Communications 280, 2002).
• Return to Culture. Oral Tradition and Society in the Southern Cook Islands (FF Communications 287, 2005, with Jukka Siikalan).
• Book: Itämerensuomalaisten mytologia. Helsinki. Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura. 2012. Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seuran toimituksia 1388. 978-952-222-393-7.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Akateemikko Anna-Leena Siikala in memoriam. Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura. 2016-02-29. 2016-02-29.
2. http://www.facta.fi/tietosanakirja/85635 WSOY Facta. Siikala, Anna-Leena.
3. Web site: Koski, Kaarina. Folkloristi ja vapaa sielu. Haastattelussa Anna-Leena Siikala. Elore 1/2007. Suomen Kansantietouden Tutkijain Seura ry. March 8, 2016.
4. Web site: University of Helsinki - Anna-Leena Siikala. www.helsinki.fi. 2016-03-08.
5. Web site: Presidentti nimitti kaksi uutta akateemikkoa . The President appointed two new academicians . fi . YLE Uutiset . June 12, 2009. June 12, 2009.