Loga sámegillii. – There was one person who said to me: “If you are silent while you witness a form of discrimination, then you help to accept that it is happening.” That’s what municipal politician Ole-Ánte Turi (Kautokeino floittsameliste/GJL) tells news. In the last week, the spotlight has been on Kautokeino, after news published the case in which Kátjá Rávdná (25) tells her story of objectification and abuse in the village. Through the article, we get an insight into an attitude problem that must have existed in Kautokeino for a long time. For many, the article has been an eerie eye-opener. Ole-Ánte had to ask himself, has he helped to maintain such unculture in his home place? An unculture where lewdness of a sexual nature is almost considered inside. Ole Ánte Turi believes it is important to also look at one’s own attitudes. Photo: Privat It was not a pleasant thought, but still something Ole-Ánte had to reflect on. – Have I helped to accept this – in other contexts where I may have witnessed unpleasant things being said? That’s what I was thinking, he adds. Have your say on the matter here. Laughs off nasty comments Like Ole-Ánte, Deputy Mayor of Kautokeino, Elle Mari Dunfjell Oskal, has also let unpleasant comments pass. – It’s as Ole-Ánte says, it’s almost a bit sad to say. Sometimes I also feel that I can’t do it. That I just laugh it off if I get comments, she tells news. For her, it was hard to read the article about Kátjá Rávdná. – But it is important that the issue of abuse in Kautokeino is raised in the public eye, she emphasizes. Deputy mayor of Kautokeino, Elle Mari Dunfjell Oskal (Kautokeino Sami list/GSL). Photo: Ida Emilie Lindseth / news This week, municipal politicians in Kautokeino published an article in the newspaper Ávvir, in which they thank Kátjá Rávdná for her openness. In addition, the politicians reflect on what needs to be done to make Kautokeino a safe place to be. Among those who wrote the chronicle were precisely Ole-Ánte Turi and Elle Mari Dunfjell Oskal. Have you experienced unpleasant comments yourself or been subjected to harassment? (All answers are anonymous) Yes No Don’t know Show result Slibrighet part of the culture Both agree that it is about an unculture that has existed for a long time, and that it is now time to set limits. – The unpleasant words and the unpleasant way of being, it must be cut out, first of all, says Turi. He states to news that clear boundaries must be set for what is accepted, so that young people and everyone who visits Kautokeino will feel safe. – As Ole-Ánte says, we have to find common rules of the game, and talk about how we meet people. How is it okay to behave, and what is appropriate to say, adds Elle Mari. She hopes that the time has come for change. She says that there are aspects of Sami culture that have existed for a long time. Pages that include jokes, derisive comments and slurs. – We must look at what the municipal superintendent writes, whether these are parts of our culture that we must leave behind, she says. Working for more transparency For a year and a half, municipal chief physician in Kautokeino, Ánne Lájlá Westerfjell Kalstad, has prepared a new action plan for, among other things, the prevention of sexual abuse. This week she informed the municipal management about the work, which will be considered in October. – Abuse is a big challenge throughout Norway and Sápmi. Together, we must work more on prevention. Trygg i Kautokeino project must ensure that the whole community contributes, the municipal superintendent tells news. Ánne Lajla Westerfjell Kalstad leads the Trygg i Kautokeino project. Photo: André Bendixen She says that it is important that there is more transparency in Sápmi. – Safe in Kautokeino should lead to us talking more about these matters. It is important that the media illuminates them, so that politicians see that this is something we have to work on, she says. She further informs that this is a long-term project. – This is work where we will notice the results in five to ten years, because we want to work with it systematically, she explains. Vows to follow up the case Mayor of Kautokeino, Anders S. Buljo, states to news that this is a job he takes very seriously. He says that he has learned a great deal through the municipal superintendent’s sharing of knowledge. And that he thinks the article that sheds light on abuse in Kautokeino has been a wake-up call for many. – There is a lot of serious information coming out, he says, and acknowledges that the municipality has challenges that need to be worked on. The mayor of Kautokeino acknowledges that the municipality has challenges. Photo: Patrick da Silva Sæther/news Furthermore, he sees the importance of ensuring that the municipality has enough resources to carry out the prevention work. – We have to work with this plan daily, and keep it alive, he emphasizes. Chief physician in Kautokeino municipality Anne Lajla Westerfjell Kalstad is the sister of news Sápmi’s director, Johan Ailo Kalstad has not contributed to the case. Hello! Welcome to dialogue at news. Since you are logged in to other news services, you do not have to log in again here, but we need your consent to our terms of use for online dialogue Have you been subjected to abuse? You can apply for help here: Published 30.08.2024, at 19.02 Updated 30.08.2024, at 19.09
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Politicians in Kautokeino come to terms with their own attitudes – news Sápmi
