Oppression and reconciliation

The Sami in Sweden have been discriminated by the Swedish state ever since the two people started living on the same land, not just through loss of land and grazing rights. In the 1920s and 30s, Sami men, women and children were subjected to humiliating physical examinations*. Sami children were taken from their parents and sent to ‘nomad schools’, a type of boarding school that was often located far away and lacked modern conveniences. The suppression of their religion, culture and language continued unabated.

In 2009 a new Swedish language law gave Sami children the right to learn the Sami languages in school. The position of Sami culture and language was further strengthened with the National Minorities and Minority Languages Act from 2010, along with the Sami people’s right to information and influence.

Since 1993 the Sami have their own parliament, Sametinget, giving Sami a better chance to influence public debate. However, the parliament is empowered only to deal with matters concerning hunting and fishing, reindeer herding, compensation for damage caused by predators, and Sami language and culture. Backed by the government, Sametinget has initiated a Truth and Reconciliation process. It aims to shed light on the violations and abuses that the Sami have been exposed to throughout history. 

Sami school

There are a handful of Sami schools in Sweden, for children up to the age of 12. Just like other schools the Sami school is compulsory and covered by the Swedish Education Act, but the education has more focus on the Sami heritage. At the Sami upper secondary school in Jokkmokk, students are offered – apart from the general curriculum – training in reindeer husbandry, traditional cooking, handicrafts and the Sami languages.

Sami culture

Sami culture is rich in handicrafts called duodji, made with natural materials such as reindeer antlers and decorated with elaborate ornamentation. The Sami Yoik, a singing form closely linked to their religion, has also survived into modern days and is now often blended with rock, pop or hip hop, with representatives such as Maxida Märak, Sofia Jannok and Jon Henrik Fjällgren. The Sami storytelling culture gains new perspectives through theatre, among others the Giron Sami Theatre in Kiruna.

'When I grew up, I lacked role models who had been through the Sami struggle for indigenous rights, so I felt like I had to become a role model myself.'