[lg policy] Norway: Prime Minister: repressive policy deprived Sámi people of language, culture

[Harold Schiffman]

 Prime Minister: repressive policy deprived Sámi people of language, culture
Erna Solberg addresses a dark history of Norwegian government policy
towards the country’s indigenous population.
By
Atle Staalesen <https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/profil/atle-staalesen>
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February 07, 2017

Speaking at the 100 years anniversary of the first Sámi congress, Prime
Minister Erna Solberg said the policy of «norsification» had forced many
Sámi to abandon their culture and languages.

«Several generations of Sámi were made believe that their speech and their
culture was something shameful, something which should not be kept alive».

The speech, available on the government website
<https://www.regjeringen.no/no/aktuelt/gratulerer-med-samefolkets-dag/id2537750/>,
was
delivered in Trondheim, the site where Sámi representatives from major
parts of Sapmi, the Sámi lands, gathered on 6th February 1917. That
historic assembly laid the foundation for the Sámi struggle for rights and
recognition, and is today celebrated annually as the Sámi National Day.

According to Erna Solberg, much has been done over the last decades to make
up for the injustices. But more is still needed.

«The Sámi languages, Sámi culture and industries remain vulnerable», she
underlined, and added that preservation and development of the Sámi
languages must remain a key priority.

«By means of experience exchange across the national borders, I believe we
can find solutions which secure a good future for the Sámi culture».

The speech was delivered as the Sámi parliaments in Norway, Sweden and
Finland are starting the ratification process of the new Nordic Sámi
Convention
<https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/2017/01/historic-sami-agreement-starts-long-way-towards-ratification>,
a document which will harmonise indigenous legal issues across the three
countries.

«We - the Sámi parliaments and the [national] governments, have a common
objective to reduce border barriers and enhance cooperation between Sámi in
our Nordic countries», the prime minister said.

With her speech, Solberg opened a three-day long anniversary celebration,
devoted to the Sámi culture, language, crafts and history. During the
event, the Tråante-2017, there will be a wide range og happenings in
Trondheim, and later also all over Sapmi, the festival program site says
<http://www.xn--trante2017-25a.no/>.
https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/life-and-public/2017/02/prime-minister-repressive-policy-deprived-sami-people-language-culture


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