This is one of the results of a report commissioned by the Norwegian Institute for Human Rights (NIM). The report Attitudes about Sami and other minorities in Norway was presented today. The report is based on a quantitative survey carried out by Kantar Public in November 2021 on behalf of NIM. The purpose of the report The purpose of the survey is to identify and measure attitudes in the wider population that can affect the human rights of Sami and national minorities, and that can contribute to possible hate speech and discrimination. The survey shows that many in the population have little knowledge of the Sami and national minorities, and agree with stereotypes about the groups. In addition, we see that a significant proportion have observed hate speech against Jews, Sámi, Roma and Romani/Tatars in the last 12 months, and that hate speech against Sámi increases the further north you go in Norway. Source: NIM Too well assimilated to be a separate people? One of the questions in the survey was based on what is called “classic negative stereotypes about the groups”. The claim was: “The Kvens/Norwegian Finns are too similar to Norwegians and integrated into the rest of society to be called a separate people”. Here, 26 percent answered that they agreed with this statement. Are these attitudes a historical legacy from the policy of Norwegianisation, which sought precisely assimilation? Dagfinn Høybråten, head of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for the Norwegianization of Sami, Kven and Norwegian Finns, was asked that question during the presentation of the report. To that he answered an unconditional yes. He pointed to those in the Truth Commission having collected knowledge which shows that the Norwegianization policy has in periods been very effective and assimilation has taken place to a large extent. This is the main reason why one in four believes that the Kvens/Norwegian Finns are too similar to Norwegians, he believes. – Now you can see, from this stereotypical statement, that the Norwegianization policy is hitting back like a kind of historical boomerang. It is used against these minorities, says Høybråten. Less prejudice against the Kvens than the Sami Head of the Norwegian Kveners’ Association – Ruijan kvääniliitto, Kai Petter Johansen, says it is almost comical that so few people know about the Kvens, yet they think they are too Norwegian to be called Kvens. He believes that it is the invisibility of the women that makes people unable to see the difference. – Because of course we have adapted to society. We have lost the language, culture, properties and rights we had in the past. So you can understand that people cannot see that you are a woman. But we have our own language, culture and history. And that separates us from the rest of society, he says. Leader of the Norwegian Women’s Association, Kai Petter Johansen, says the survey confirms what they experience all the time. Photo: Norwegian Kveners’ Association – Ruijan kvääniliitto The survey shows that there is Sami hatred and prejudice against the Sami. The minorities, both Taters, Kvens/Norwegian Finns, Skog Finns and Jews, experience hate speech and prejudice. However, this happens to a lesser extent with Kvens/Norwegian Finns than with Sámi. Only three percent answered that they had observed hate speech/hate directed at women/Norwegian Finns in the last 12 months. But the proportion of people with a negative impression of Sami and Kven/Norwegian Finns is higher in northern Norway than the average for the whole country, 11 against 3 per cent in the south, the report shows. Confirms little knowledge about the Kven The survey also shows that many in the population have little knowledge about the Sami and national minorities. Four out of five answered that they know nothing, very little or quite little about the Kvens/Norwegian Finns. Only one in five knows quite a lot or very much. Kai Petter Johansen in NKF is not surprised. Most of it confirms what they already know. He says there has been no positive development regarding knowledge. – Pupils learn just as much about the Kven today as they learned 50 years ago. And I think that is very negative. And almost a little surprising. Høybråten also notices the lack of knowledge. – We face a lack of knowledge both among young people and among people who should be expected to have learned something, he says. He also points out that the knowledge of the Norwegianization policy is even weaker than the knowledge of the minority. The report comes with several recommendations on what should be done to raise awareness and to prevent incitement and bullying. – I think NIM has some very good recommendations that we take with us in our work as well, says Dagfinn Høybråten.
ttn-69
The Norwegian Institution for Human Rights presented a report on the Sami and the national minorities – news Kveeni
