The Northern Path

The Winter 2007 issue of the American Saami journal Baiki has a review of an English-language reference work on the Saami:

The Saami: A Cultural Encyclopedia
Ulla-Maija Kulonen, Irja Seurujärvi-Kari and Risto Pukkinen (eds.) Helsinki, Finland: Sumoalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura, 2005, 498 pages.

The review was quite positive, and indicates that the book would be of interest to the general lay reader. The book is available in the US from Finnbooks. Their website goes on to describe the book in more detail:

The multidisciplinary book is an outcome of a project launched and coordinated by the Saami Studies Work Group at the University of Helsinki. It presents the national character of the Saami and its manifestations from a point of view within the Saami culture itself. It is part of the great change in Saami research, which began in the 1970’s: the shift from Lappology to Saami Studies. In general and specialized articles, the encyclopedia presents not only the languages, history, mythology, folklore, music, economy, livelihoods and media of the Saami but also the indigenous peoples’ movement, human rights questions, education, art and social conditions. The nature and environment of Sápmi (Saamiland) are also dealt with as important background factors. Words and concepts that are characteristic of Saami culture are defined, and there are etymological articles about many Saami words. The encyclopedia is illustrated with numerous photographs and maps.

As this book aims to ensure that the voices of the different Saami groups themselves are heard, particular emphasis has been given to information about their own minority groups, such as the Kola Peninsula, Inari and Skolt Saami, who until now have been largely ignored by mainstream Saami Studies.

The book is a result of the efforts of more than 50 writers, which represent a number of academic institutions in Finland, Sweden, and Norway as well as various Saami institutions.

According to an April 4 press release at Sami information site Samer.se, Swedish Culture Minister Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth is positive toward an official request to return Sami remains located in Swedish museums. The Sami site quotes an April 3 press release by Liljeroth:

I understand that the Sami wish to rebury their ancestors, rather than having them in museum storerooms. I will work toward having these remains returned where they belong as soon as possible. We are now in dialogue with the authorities to make this a reality. This is a question of ethics and morality coming from the heart; to speak of research value and the like must then come in second place. [my translation — ed.]

In autumn 2006 the government conducted an inventory of indigenous people’s remains in Swedish museums. In February 2007, the Sami Parliament requested that Sami remains be returned. The issue has been debated in the media since then, and the debate is sure to continue.