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Post by Humppaporo on May 12, 2006 21:19:34 GMT 2
I wanted to start a news and discussion thread about this subject many times, but always ran up the fact that I couldn’t find an English news source about this subject. I was triggered again by a very impressive article about Mari Boine, for me one of the greatest women ever. The problem is that it’s not in English, but in Norwegian and translated by Tea to Dutch for her fascinating Lapland abc. On this Dutch site is always very interesting and sometimes terrifying news about the Lapland region. The interview in DutchThe interview with photo’s in NorwegianAn older interview in English It always concerns me how very heavy and extensive the suppression of the Sámi people always has been (especially by Christianity), and how this people still is discriminated. It’s hard to imagine that a people with such a special and rich culture is treated like this in such an educated culture as Europe’s. An interesting site about the Sámi is boreale.konto.itv.se/samieng.htmMari Boine: “I always dream to be comic. But I love most, most of all to sit by the sea, in the moonlight in a warm country, and write my book. Then I will sing till I pass away. But I don’t want to pass away before I die. I don’t want to be bogus.”
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Post by frostheim on May 12, 2006 22:08:42 GMT 2
The two essays I worked with this week both handled namely the Sámi culture, the Sámi rights in the society and the formation and markers of their ethnic identity as a whole. Some of the source materials used in them if interested; hopefully they can be found also elsewhere: Barth, Fredrik (ed.): Ethnic Groups and Boundaries (1970) Hajdú, Péter (ed.): Ancient Cultures of the Uralian Peoples (1976) Jentoft; Minde; Nilsen (eds.): Indigenous Peoples - Resource Management and Global Rights (2003) Kulonen; Seurujärvi-Kari; Pulkkinen (eds.): Saami, The - A Cultural Encyclopaedia (2005) Seurujärvi-Kari & Kulonen (eds.): Essays on Indigenous Identity and Rights (1996) Staecker, Jörn (ed.): The European Frontier - Clashes in the Middle Ages (2004) Btw. Ulla-Maija Kulonen is the professor and chairperson of our Finno-Ugric Department, in addition Irja Seurujärvi-Kari is our teacher in the North-Sámi language and Risto Pulkkinen has kept us lectures namely considering the Sámi culture, mythology and beliefs etc.
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Post by Humppaporo on May 16, 2006 17:07:41 GMT 2
I found a recent article about Mari Boine in English hereHer new album 'Idjagiedas' (do you want the night to take your hand? = stay the night) just recently came out.
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Post by ina on May 17, 2006 8:08:50 GMT 2
It's very interesting to see some discussion about Mari Boine in the korpiklaani forum! It's no wonder, because people who like shaman are usually interested in the samí culture, too. (Not in every case, of course, - but it happens to me; If like some band/artist from some particular country or language, i always get very excited of the culture of this land and want to learn more) And as far as i know, Mari Boine is one of the brightest stars in the music scene of the samí people (which aren't quite many, but the number is growing which is good) I once saw a documentary about mrs. Boine and I did learn much how the scandinavians did ruin much of the samí culture in the earlier decates with forcing them to become christian and giving up for their own habits and manners. Mari Boine was a good excemble of a child who was raised to be ashamed of her native culture; She told in the documentary that if she for exemble heard joík on the radio, her father always changed the channel and she did exactly the same when she was older. The fact that one day she wanted to accept her own culture and write songs in her native language and even became "a spokeswoman" of the samí culture all over the world is remarkeble. The only artist I know who sings in the samí language, (If we not count Mari Boine, of course:P)) is the rapper Amoc. You can listen to his songs here www.mikseri.net/amoc
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Post by Humppaporo on May 17, 2006 10:00:20 GMT 2
A very interesting article about shaman and shaman drums is hereIt's devastating to read what happened to the Sámi. Shamanism was seen as a type of devil worship. Shaman drumming, and ritual practices put them in league with the devil. Consequently, Christianity characterized Sámi noaidi as witches who consulted demons, and persecuted them mercilessly.
One last account of Sámi persecution deserves mentioning.
In 1688 the county governor and the bishop (Swe. superintendent) made a journey of inspection through the lappmarks. The Saamis were summoned and threatened with ‘temporal and eternal punishment’ if they did not hand over their drums and ‘idols.’
One of the Saamis who handed over a drum in this year was the Pite Saami, Lars Nilsson. When he later lost his son, he used a drum in a futile effort at bringing him back to life. He was prosecuted, but at the district court sessions he explained outright that he would “observe and use the custom of his forefathers, in spite of what higher or lower authority in this case would now or in the future prohibit him from doing”. He was sentenced to death, the judgment was ratified by the court of appeal, and he was thus decapitated and burnt at the stake “together with the tree-idols he had used and the divination drum and the tools belonging to it.” The execution was held in the presence of his kinsman, who had been summoned to attend. (Ahlbäck and Bergman 32)A little quote from this article... Still wondering how people can be so short sighted and stupid
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Post by Lionheart on Oct 16, 2006 9:55:00 GMT 2
Sámi win first price Date added: Feb 27, 2006 Sámi win first prices at Liet International 2004 Sápmi (Lapland) is once again the big winner at the alternative Eurovision songfestival for minority languages, Liet International, which was being held in Ljouwert/Leeuwarden, the Netherlands last Friday. ‘Accesible song’ Sápmi born Niko Valkeapää won the festival with his song Rabas Mielain. He was voted first by the official jury as well as by the audience. The official jury called Rabas Mielain a very authentic and an highly accesible song. Niko performed the song in traditional gákti. Read the complete article here www.liet.nl/article.php?l=7&a=11Thought this would be nice to know Even internationally Sami music is quite appreciated It was the third year in a row they won the competition
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Post by varjotuuli on Oct 16, 2006 10:34:41 GMT 2
It always concerns me how very heavy and extensive the suppression of the Sámi people always has been (especially by Christianity), and how this people still is discriminated. It’s hard to imagine that a people with such a special and rich culture is treated like this in such an educated culture as Europe’s. Jes thats true, but not only the Sámi people are discriminated......it happens all over the world......for example Native Americans, Hereros (Afrikca), Aborigines......and so on......... i am starting to think that this is a part of our world....like Darwin was saying......"Only the fittest will survive" ........but it is sad to see how this theory is working between humans who say that they are "thinking" creatures..........
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Post by Lionheart on Oct 16, 2006 10:48:27 GMT 2
No good example comes to mind of where one of the 4 big religions ( Christianity, Islam, Jews, Hinduism) and more traditional cultures and/or religions have lived together without one of the 4 big religions suppressing the local religions and culures. Even the 4 big religions can't live next to each other. Even within the religions themselves there is room for arguments about what's better and what's not.
The charm of most smaller religions/cultures is that they are quite simple... leaves less room for interpretation of any kind. Lately there seems to be little more care and attention for the local cultures as people finally start to realize how important these are.
As for the Sami people, they have been suppressed badly but it seems that lately thigs are changing. After all Sami is the second official language in Norway and in the northern province in areas with a Sami majority it is even the first language. Same goes for Finland ( at least... last time I was there it seemed that there was some sort of... uprising). I have no idea about Sweden but to me it seems that lately the relatively smaller cultures within Europe are... getting more attention and more is done to preserve them.
Of which I think that it is a very good thing.
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Post by wolferin on Oct 17, 2006 3:46:49 GMT 2
I was triggered again by a very impressive article about Mari Boine It always concerns me how very heavy and extensive the suppression of the Sámi people always has been (especially by Christianity), and how this people still is discriminated. It’s hard to imagine that a people with such a special and rich culture is treated like this in such an educated culture as Europe’s. I was surprised, I thought the ethnic conflics and discrimination were "patent" of other regions. I once saw a documentary about mrs. Boine and I did learn much how the scandinavians did ruin much of the samí culture in the earlier decates with forcing them to become christian and giving up for their own habits and manners. I read all the links. I was impressed by the facts and how Mari Boine returned to her native roots, thus provoking attention to the Sami culture. Shamanism was seen as a type of devil worship. Shaman drumming, and ritual practices put them in league with the devil. Consequently, Christianity characterized Sámi noaidi as witches who consulted demons, and persecuted them mercilessly.
One of the Saamis who handed over a drum in this year was the Pite Saami, Lars Nilsson. When he later lost his son, he used a drum in a futile effort at bringing him back to life.
Some years ago I saw a Russian movie "Coocoo bird"(Kukushka). There played one Finnish actor, but I can't remeber the name, but the protagonist's name was Veiko. The movie was aboout the Winter war 1939/40 - one Finnish soldier and one Russian soldier, due to different circumstances, got to the house of a Sami woman. The three of them were talking different languages and didn't understand each other. The two men were turning from enemies to friends and v.v. several times. The woman saved the lives of both of them... and at the end she had twins. The most interesting moment was when Veiko was wounded and near to die, the woman took a shaman drum and began to beat it and howl like a dog. The soul of Veiko, going on a road to outer world, turned back and came again in the body, so he was saved. In this film was shown this old shaman practice giving results. Surely this woman was noaidi, she told her grandma was. It means this rituals survived somehow. People must take much care about preserving the cultures of the minorities. It's a pity, many rare believes, languages and traditions are lost nowdays.
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Post by HerraHirwi on Oct 17, 2006 4:33:34 GMT 2
Some years ago I saw a Russian movie "Coocoo bird"(Kukushka). There played one Finnish actor, but I can't remeber the name, but the protagonist's name was Veiko. The movie was aboout the Winter war 1939/40 - one Finnish soldier and one Russian soldier, due to different circumstances, got to the house of a Sami woman. The three of them were talking different languages and didn't understand each other. The two men were turning from enemies to friends and v.v. several times. The woman saved the lives of both of them... and at the end she had twins. The protagonist Vei kko in Kukushka was played by Ville Haapasalo, a famous Finnish actor who has created a career as an actor in Russia. Skolt Sámi woman Anni was played by Anni-Kristiina Juuso; she's native Skolt Sámi speaker and she used her mother tongue in all the dialogue of her in the film. And the film was about in the end of Finnish Continuation War (1941-44). The movie in itself is excellent, because of the use of three different languages. The idea is brilliant, the manuscript is well written and the story is interesting. I liked a lot of this movie. For more information, check this out! The other good film about Sámi people (North Sámi this time) - which is the first and only film made completely in North Sámi is Ofelas (The Pathfinder), made in 1987. I've seen this film few times and it's one of my very favourites. It tells about a young boy Aigin, who sees how his family is murdered brutally by invading Chuds (Chuds can refer either Norwegians, Swedes or Finns). Aigin succees to escape a destiny of his parents and wants to revenge. He volunteers as a pathfinder to the Chuds, who are not used to wandering in dangerous mountain cliffs.. We watched a little this film with Kuuraparta in our course of Sámi literature last year. This film shares all the trademarks of the traditional Sámi folk tales, one of the important issues is that a Sámi hero always wins his opponents with being clever - never with the counter violence. For more info about this film, check this out!
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Post by wolferin on Oct 17, 2006 14:01:01 GMT 2
The protagonist Vei kko in Kukushka was played by Ville Haapasalo, a famous Finnish actor who has created a career as an actor in Russia. Skolt Sámi woman Anni was played by Anni-Kristiina Juuso; she's native Skolt Sámi speaker and she used her mother tongue in all the dialogue of her in the film. And the film was about in the end of Finnish Continuation War (1941-44). Thank you for all the information. Sorry, I mixed the wars.The spelling of Veikko - I improvised after the Bulgarian subtitles, I couldn't guess "kk". The film was really very good one. The victory of life despite the war, language differences, prejudices, etc.
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Post by Humppaporo on Oct 18, 2006 22:19:54 GMT 2
Thank you for the info. I borrowed this movie today from a classmate, read something about it and it really seems a good one. Curious to see it.
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Post by jarmo on Dec 21, 2006 12:11:59 GMT 2
Today an article in our paper about Russian Samí around Murmansk. These "asphalt"-Samí want to get back to the old Samí traditions. So the modern Samí youth gets together to discuss how the traditions and the people can be saved (or at least kept alive). They don't speak any Samí, and they lost their traditions and culture because the Sovjet-Union ordered every ethnic group to go to school... This killed the Samí (there). There were still some Raindeer farms left, but like the old Kolchoz idea. Now there are very few left, for the people of the kolchoz drink too much and can't manage to keep the farm going. Maybe the youth can go and learn from the few raindeer farms that still exsist. Mainly I think it's good that they want to get back to/learn about their culture.
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Post by Socke on Feb 4, 2007 0:00:35 GMT 2
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Post by frostheim on Feb 4, 2007 13:51:09 GMT 2
Na do lea goddjes bohccot dan govas! \o/ (transl. "Well but there we've got some cute reindeers in that picture")
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