You would imagine that, in the Nordic countries, known for their advanced social level, the governments would care about and nurture their northern natives. You would imagine that they'd keep a close eye on their well-being and make sure they would live at peace on their ancestor's lands... Well, you were wrong ! This ready-made assumption has been spread around by a bunch of old touristic clichés where in fact the reality of it is far worse. Not only nowadays but even before, in the past history of the Sami.
First people of the vast lands of northern Europe, the Sami have been through colonization, forced Christianity conversion, separation of their own land, Sápmi, between Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. Throughout the years, people have tried to make them forget about their own language, their traditions by formatting the young minds in boarding schools to better assimilate them. Even if the Sami are a pacifist people, they ended up rebelling themselves to finally obtain a Sami parliament in each of the three nordic countries, at the end of the 20th century. Parliaments without any decisive power but all in the defence of Sami rights, juristically protected by international conventions on indigenous peoples.
Nordic states financially support Sami institutions and culture. The Sami also benefit from their status as citizens of rich countries. The threats are elsewhere, calling into question their traditional way of life and their cultural identity. The industrial development keeps on invading and destroying the natural lands where the Sami reindeer live and migrate. This makes it increasingly difficult for the reindeer to find food and to isolate themselves during the breeding season. Whether it be mining or forest exploitation, high-tension wires, wind energy parks, dams, leisure cabins in the tundra, all of these elements endanger the surival of the migrating reindeer herders. Although they represent a minority among their people, these half-nomads are an essential pillar for the Sami culture, starting with their language. They also have to cope with climate change which favors the alternation of rain and frost covering the lichen pastures with a layer of hard ice which prevents the reindeer from feeding.
As of now, a new threat has appeared which, nonetheless, was more or less already present but tends to strengthen itself according to various testimonies : harassment, despise, even violence towards those who remain faithful to their traditions by wearing the Sami outfit or, according to some local people, they occupy too much space with their reindeer. Those threats and exactions are giving birth to a feeling of guilt and some health issues among some Sami. Up to the point that Norway, where reside most of the Sami people, has recently named a Truth & Reconciliation Commission, mirroring a bit what Canada did lately, where the school system for indigenous was referenced to as a "cultural genocide". Finland and Sweden have decided to follow Norway's example.
" Indigenous peoples are extraordinarily fragile in the sense that they are a small number, marginalized. All direct or indirect threat almost takes on a genocide allure since it imperils the entire existence of a group. "
(Jean-Pierre Massias, public law professor at Pau's University and President of the Francophone Institute for justice and democray)
TO WATCH
- the Sami Blood film (Sameblod in Swedish) by Amanda Kernell (2016) : in 1930, Ella-Marja, a young Sami girl from a family of reindeer herders, endures humiliations in her boarding school and decides to escape her condition.
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Film trailer on YouTube - Spring of the reindeer documentary, by Omar Agustoni & Pierre Marc (2015)
> Documentary trailer on our page Sami love