Dialogue 2014: Sämij bivddieme — Sami Invitation

Notes from the public meeting concerning Umeå 2014's proposed programme area of Sämij Bivddieme - Sami invitation, which was organized by the Västerbotten Museum on Monday, 2 March 2009 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm.

Some of the participants at the meeting:

Ellacarin Blind — the person responsible for collecting project ideas for the program are Sämij Bivddieme - Sami invitation.
Fredrik Lindegren — head of cultural activities in the Municipality of Umeå and project manager of the European Capital of Culture venture.
Lisbeth Lundahl — professor of educational work at the Department of Children and Youth Education, Special Education and Counselling at UmeåUniversity. She has done studies regarding educational material in Sweden and has realized that there are deficiencies in the documentation of the Sami culture.
Daniel Kallos — member of the Steering Group of Umeå 2014 and represents the Left Party (V).
Karl-Einar Enarsson — deputy chairperson of the Umeå Sami Association.
Michael Lindblad — chairperson of the Umeå Sami Association.
Britt-Marie Barruk — member of the Umeå Sami Association.
Suzanne Martin — researcher at Umeå University. She is working on her dissertation about the representation of the Sami people in Scandinavian literature. She is from Berkeley, California, USA.
Inger Hellman — Gran Sami Village, she is self-employed in the tourist industry.

A Sami House


Ellacarin Blind welcomed everyone and summarized the discussions that had been held during the workshop for the invited representatives for the various institutions and organizations that had been held earlier during the day. One of the proposals was about a Sami House in Umeå.

Michael Lindblad commented that it is puzzling that the Sami architecture has not been used in more contexts. In Norway it is more common than here. He presented an idea about a large construction by the river, shaped like a Sami tent, but in blue glass. The round form can be interpreted in different ways. It can represent or contain the eight seasons of the Sami year, but other starting points for discussion are also possible. The building could be a beautiful postcard from Umeå, according to Michael. It is only our imagination that limits the development of a Sami House, he continues. It would also be a completely new stage!

The House could also contain a new restaurant with Sami cuisine on the menu, suggested Ellacarin Blind.

Britt-Marie Barruk felt that the Sami House could contain a special room where reindeer herdsmen could present their activities.

Perhaps even a round motion-picture theatre could be considered where one would be in the middle of the room. Then the audience could experience the sensation of being in the middle of a reindeer herd or on a mountain top.

Another thought was that every week different Sami craftsmen could exhibit and sell their work in the building.

Ellacarin Blind added that the House could also include premises for researchers.

Handicrafts and art


Daniel Kallos believed that it was important to include Sami handicrafts and Sami art when considering the Art Campus. It is important to show the presence of the Sami culture in Västerbotten and in Umeå.

Fredrik Lindegren replied that it is generally something that is in short supply, if you consider the selection of Sami art, literature and so forth.

Ellacarin Blind suggested that for example that a certain percentage of public art be reserved for Sami art. She felt that the Sami National Day should be observed by everyone in Sweden. Another suggestion for improvement would be that institutions and organizations should review how the Sami people are represented.

Michael Lindblad mentioned a suggestion about grazing reindeer sculptures on the UmeåUniversity campus. Such symbolic aspects have greater importance than you might think, he added. Another example is signs with Sami place names.

The Sami people come out of the wardrobe  


Inger Hellman related that much has changed in a short time. Not too long ago there were Sami elements closer to the communities, but nowadays it has almost disappeared.

Michael Lindblad pointed out that Inger herself is a symbol of how one must be a jack-of-all-trades today to make ends meet. This in itself is interesting, he added. One has to be innovative and creative.

Inger Hellman answered that for her it was not only about making money, but also about being visible, and being present in different contexts. In that way one is considered important — to be is to be perceived.

That was something Michael Lindblad could agree to. He said that highlighting the Sami has resulted in that more “have come out of the wardrobe". The number of members in the Umeå Sami Association has steadily increased. Michael Lindblad also said that the Umeå Sami Association has had discussions with BalticGruppen for a long while about the Sami House and that the Association tries to be active in many different ways. He told how the discussions with BalticGruppen have been exciting and they actually realized that the Sami culture can make Umeå more interesting, and that ventures like the Sami house contribute to Umeå's power of attraction.

How do we avoid an “exotic" label?


Daniel Kallos said that in the opinion of the Panel, the Sami perspective is important. But how can we create a distinct Sami profile? How can we transform this into a vital feature and how can we avoid an “exotic" label?

Fredrik Lindegren answered that all the program themes could of course include an exotic element, quite politically correct, or else one can focus on that which is controversial, that which provokes conflict. He pointed out that in our in-depth application we must also make our North-South partnerships more visible. This also applied to discussions with Sami culture.

It is our responsibility to present the Sami culture and the Northern Dimension to those in the South, said Daniel Kallos. He suggested a travelling exhibition that can be sent to southernSwedenor perhaps to the rest ofEurope. The Centre Culturel Suédois (CCS) in Paris could organize an exhibition with a Sami theme during the year 2014. In order to achieve a North-South contact we could arrange for another exhibition to be sent back here.

Fredrik Lindegren said that if Umeå wins the candidacy for the European Capital of Culture 2014, we would be commissioned to assume European responsibility. Then we can take responsibility for the indigenous population.

The vital Sami culture appears in the meeting.


Inger Hellman ask, "What exactly is Sami culture? Is it those who chant a 'yoik' in public? Am I a Sami cultural phenomenon? Did our forefathers see themselves as cultural? Did the expression even exist? I think that the most thing is that there are some vibrant people who feel it strongly in their heart. Culture must be based on something stable, some real.

Daniel Kallos wondered what Sami culture is and what it is not? Is there a genuine Sami poetry, are there any Sami poets who look upon themselves as genuine Sami poets? The interesting thing is that Sami culture must be defined from that which is Sami.

The fact that the Sami culture is alive and develops is the foundation, stated Michael Lindblad. Built on that, new forms of expression evolve. In an encounter with something else are one's own values are defined. The point of the European Capital of Culture is new meetings. We must continue to develop, both Umeå and the Sami culture!

Inger Hellman mentioned the Sami ´kolt´ (costume) has almost always evolved from different kinds of meetings. Pearls fromAsiahave for example met with tailors from Arjeplog.

Reindeer herding


More people should understand and be more knowledgeable about reindeer herding, thought Inger Hellman. Reindeer herding is a significant bearer of culture. One should be able to visualize the different parts that are involved, like with the smell of hides and the feeling of a marked reindeer ear. In the winter, Inger has a corral and a Sami tent in her farmyard. She receives foreign visitors and tells them about reindeer herding.

Michael Lindblad suggested that a small herd of reindeer could be driven through the city to an enclosure so that people would have the opportunity of hearing the sound, the clicks and grunting from the herd.

Inger Hellman said that from December to the end of March there were reindeer herds close to Umeå that could be herded closer to the downtown area. But she pointed out that they had to relatively tame reindeer and that such a project had to be planned several years in advance.

Opening of the European Capital of Culture


The possible opening of the European Capital of Culture year must be something grandiose, said Fredrik Lindegren. There are of course many years left, but we must have a plan. The opening should not take place on New Year´s Eve; it should be round 7 to 10 January instead.

The opening ceremony should provide a premonition and foretaste of what the rest of the year will be all about. Another starting point could be the Sami National Day, 6 February. At that time seminars and other types of festivities could be organized.
Michael Lindblad thought that the opening ceremony should definitely be held outdoors. It should be cold and have glittering snow. It should be televised.

Food


Experiencing Sami cuisine aroused people's feelings, said Britt-Marie Barruk. Reindeer meat and potato and flour dumplings should be served every week during the European Capital of Culture year.

In reality there is too little reindeer meat, said Michael Lindblad. That is due to grazing and other factors. Reindeer meat will always be exclusive.

But shop owners must also want to have reindeer meat in their shops, pointed out Inger Hellman. That is something that should be changed. Some restaurant should function as an ambassador for Sami cuisine.

Memorandum written by Maria Stam, trainee at the Information Office, municipality of Umeå.