– Information about the Sami in today’s school work is far too thin and lacking. Therefore, new curricula must be developed from kindergarten to university, Henriksen believes. The politician from Alta is Sami himself and is not surprised by Amnesty’s report on Sami identity in social media. The report states that every fourth statement about the Sami on Facebook is negative. A CHALLENGE: Tor Bjørnar Henriksen believes that it can be extra challenging to debate Sami issues in the public space. – Racism is a thing, he points out. Photo: Hanne Larsen / news Henriksen has repeatedly experienced microaggressions against him when he debates Sami issues on social media or in the newspapers. That is, small jabs and disparaging comments that refer to his ethnicity. – Each individual comment may not be so bad. It is when the comments come every time one speaks out about issues that concern the Sami, that it feels like incitement or racism. – A freedom of expression problem A new report from Amnesty International Norway shows that the Sami are harassed in social media. Together with the analysis agency Analyze & Tall, Amnesty has gone through over 200,000 comments from Facebook pages and groups in the period between January 2019 and June 2023. Prejudice and negative stereotypes increased particularly during the heated debate about the Fosen case. SOCIAL PROBLEM: John Peder Egenæs says that freedom of expression and discrimination are two of Amnesty’s most important focus areas. – That is why it was important for us to create this report, explains Egenæs. Photo: Dan Robert Larsen / news Secretary General of Amnesty Norway, John Peder Egenæs, points out that such incitement in the public debate is a social problem. – We know that minorities who are exposed to stereotypes and prejudice often choose to stay away from the public conversation. Then we are faced with a freedom of expression problem, says Egenæs. Henriksen agrees with Egenæs. – Many young Sami are often met with ugly comments when they speak about Sami matters. Many may be intimidated from participating in the public debate. Then we have a democratic problem, Henriksen points out. BURNT: Law student Alva Gabrielsen Norvang (21) says that the harassment gets to her. – If more people speak out, more people will understand that the stereotypes about the Sami are not true, she says. Photo: Dan Robert Larsen / news Alva Gabrielsen Norvang studies law at the University of Tromsø. She experienced massive incitement by Sámi in connection with this summer’s debate about reindeer in Hammerfest. She says that negative statements about the Sami hurt both her, her family and friends. – I’m from Hammerfest. I had hoped that the attitudes towards the Sami would improve, but that has not been the case. It is painful to experience, says Gabrielsen Norvang. – No special rights Tor Bjørnar Henriksen points out that it is important to ensure that the information about the Sami is correct. – The Sámi Parliament and Sámi institutions must help ensure the quality of information about the Sámi. It is important to avoid perpetuating the stereotypes, explains the Rødt politician. INCREASED COMMUNITY: The Sami demonstrations against the wind turbines at Fosen are one of the issues that have created more debate about Sami rights. This has also led to more Sami unity. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB Henriksen highlights a term in particular that is often used against the Sami, namely “special rights”. Such “special rights” do not exist, he believes. – In order to preserve and develop the Sami culture, there is a need for positive differential treatment so that the Sami are given the same rights as everyone else in Norwegian society. This applies to the right to one’s own language, culture, industries and social life, emphasizes Henriksen. Access has been given to special treatment of some groups in the Equality and Discrimination Act. This special treatment, which is called positive discrimination, is a measure that can be used to promote equality. ON THE AGENDA: Sami Parliament Councilor Runar Myrnes Balto (NSR) believes it is time to put Sami identity on the national political agenda. – The authorities must launch campaigns against Sami identity and improve information about the Sami, demands Myrnes Balto. Photo: Dan Robert Larsen / news The Sami Parliament is creating a website against Samihets: samehets.no. – On this website you can get advice and tips about what can be done if you are exposed to cyberbullying. Among other things, about how to contact the police, informs Sámi Parliament councilor Runar Myrnes Balto. Amnesty proposes several concrete measures to ensure a better expression climate for the Sami: Better follow-up of those who are exposed to cyberbullying by creating a low-threshold provision for cyberbullying. Enough resources for the police’s work against online hate speech. The technology giants must stop promoting polarizing content and moderate the debate better.
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Rødt politician Tor Bjørnar Henriksen wants a national knowledge boost about the Sami – news Sápmi
