Writer, playwright, singer and language worker, Siri Broch Johansen, Juho-Sire (56), grew up with Norwegian as her mother tongue, although her father spoke Northern Sami. news meets Broch Johansen and his daughter Kátjá Rávdna Broch Einebakken (24) at the National Theater between the preparations for the reading of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report, which was handed over to the Storting on Thursday 1 June. – My father married a Norwegian woman, and at the time it was believed that teaching a child several languages would only lead to confusion in the child’s head, says Siri. Had to fill the void Siri’s involvement in languages began at a young age, and in her early 20s she devoted all her time and resources to learning the language she herself never learned. – I was very young when my father died, and it was like a big void that I had to fill, says Siri. After her father passed away, it became important for her to continue the Sami language that he had spoken. But underneath it all, she had a greater motivation. If Siri was ever going to be a mother, she wanted to be a mother who spoke Sami. Siri Broch Johansen learned the Northern Sami language fluently, after only a couple of years of hard work. Photo: Joachim Henriksen Wanted to give Sami as her mother tongue When Siri became a mother, she quickly realized that she could no longer live in Tromsø. She had to move to a core Sami area, so that her daughter could learn Northern Sami both at home and at school. – I have always chosen the Sami language. Although I know that I have a better command of Norwegian, Sami is my heart language, she says with tears in her eyes. The daughter, Kátjá Rávdná, says that she often thinks about how lucky she is to have grown up with Sami as her mother tongue: – When I am now a young Sami adult and have more Sami friends who are starting to learn the language and take in the Sami culture and identity, I realize what a gift my mother has given me. – It doesn’t come for free Siri believes that those who want to learn Sami must have an inner motivation and be prepared for hard work. – Learning Sami does not come for free, and someone who does not have a strong inner desire to learn the language will not be able to do it, says Siri. She asks her daughter if she moralizes too much, and Kátjá Rávdná quickly answers “yes”. She believes that the picture is much more nuanced. – For someone who has lost the language, it is psychologically demanding to learn Sami. It’s not just a foreign language, it’s the language you and your family had but were deprived of, says Kátjá Rávdná. Siri looks at her daughter and nods. – You are absolutely right Kátjá Rávdná. I had completely forgotten the feelings in it. It’s a good thing you arrested me for that, the mother adds. Mother and daughter on the same stage After the report was presented, the reading of the over 700 pages began at the National Theater in Oslo. The reading lasted over 35 hours, and the report is read by representatives from national institutions, performing artists, celebrities and ordinary people. The mother and daughter are among those who were asked to read aloud from the report. – It makes me incredibly proud that both I and Kátjá Rávdná, who belong to two different generations, get to read from the report, says a deeply moved Siri. Siri read out from the report on Friday night, a couple of hours before her daughter took the stage later that night. Photo: Ida Emilie Lindseth / news – I don’t think Norwegians will listen Kátjá Rávdná expresses gratitude that they have included the harsh words in the report. But for her, the result of the commission’s work is no surprise. – Finally they tell the truth we all knew. I grew up with racism as a result of the Norwegianization policy. I have always known that Norwegianization never stopped, points out Kátjá Rávdná. She adds that she is tired of hearing that Norway’s dark past belongs to the past, not the present, and hopes that Norwegians will finally listen. – Maybe Norwegians will finally listen, but I doubt it. In any case, now it is at least on paper, so I still have hope, concludes Kátjá Rávdná. Kátjá Rávdná Broch Einebakken read out personal stories from the report. Photo: Ida Emilie Lindseth / news – Gives a lot of hope Frank Jørstad is the theater manager of Kvääniteatteri, which has taken the initiative for the reading “Norway listens – A scenic reading of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report”. Jørstad believes the story of Siri and Kátjá Rávdná is special. Theater director of Kväänitatteri, Frank Jørstad, is among those who have invited the around 100 different representatives to read from the report. Photo: Ida Emilie Lindseth / news – Siri and Kátjá Rávdná have together taken back the language that the Norwegianization policy brutally deprived them of, says Jørstad. Jørstad recognizes himself in the story of both mother and daughter, as he himself and his children have not had the opportunity to learn their mother tongue, Swedish. – Siri has taken responsibility and shown that it is possible to take back the language, which gives me and many others hope, he says.
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