There are not many Sámi political issues that involve Niillas Magnus Skoglund (22). He lives in Karasjok, one of Sápmi’s core areas. He himself thinks that he lives a good life there, and does not feel that Sami activism is needed there. – “ČSV” are Sami who take up a lot of space and are supposed to be a bit extremist, he says. CARE: Niillas Magnus Skoglund now works as a carpenter, and is not afraid to express his opinion on certain types of matters. Just not ČSV, because it doesn’t concern him so much. Photo: Line Alette Bjørnback Varsi / news – They take up so much space There are many opinions about what it means to be “ČSV.” One of the most widespread is that it stands for “Čájet sámi vuoiŋŋa”, or wise Sami spirit. It has also been used as a battle cry during the Alta case. As a guest in the news podcast “Gozuid Alde”, Niillas Magnus gets to express his thoughts and opinions about the term. The presenters Ella Marie Hætta Isaksen and Sajje Solbakk are among the young Sami who call themselves just that. Niillas Magnus is invited because presenter Sajje knows that he does not like this term as much as she does. GOZUID ALDE: A new season of the Sami podcast has been launched. – They take up so much space that the rest of the country thinks that all Sámi are as easily offended as they are, says the guest. He is a little afraid that “ČSV’ers” are dividing Sami and Norwegians, but also Sami among themselves. – Do you perhaps have any prejudices about “ČSV’ers”? – Yes, the young “ČSV’s”, replies Niillas Magnus. He says that this does not apply to everyone, and thinks Sami politician Beaska Niillas is a positive “ČSVer”. Ella Marie thinks that different perceptions of the term are very exciting. That people can think so differently about the same thing. Activism in the family Sajje, Niillas Magnus and Ella Marie all have a background where Sami activism has been in the family. Some of Sajje’s family members were activists in the Alta case, others have helped start up the indigenous festival Riddu Riđđu. She herself helped get Tromsø in as a Sami language management area. Niillas Magnus says that my mother was an activist during the Alta case, and that grandmother and father were very strict about speaking correct Sami. Ella Marie is herself an activist. She says that even as a child she had strong opinions. At school, she could yell at other children because they spoke Norwegian. Activism and extremism In the podcast studio, we reflect on the fact that certain things that were a reality in the past are not a problem for young Sami today. Niillas Magnus says that certain issues, such as agriculture, are something he cares about. And he likes to share his thoughts about it on social media. CARES ABOUT AGRICULTURE: Niillas Magnus is not indifferent to social issues, just Sami activism. Photo: Private But Sami issues are not something he spends time on. – I feel good here in my home village of Karasjok, and here I speak Sami every day. I don’t experience racism, so I’m fine, says Niillas Magnus. He thinks it is problematic if Sami involvement becomes too extreme. Or that you can no longer joke and joke about the Sami. – The more ČSV people shout, the less I listen to them, says Niillas Magnus. He understands that Sápmi needs activists, but that this is not so important in Karasjok. – If I’m going to be able to live in Oslo and at the same time keep my Sami identity, then I have to go out and fight for Sami rights every single day, explains presenter Ella Marie. Ella Marie says she feels she was born to fight for the Sami. ACTIVIST: Ella Marie Hætta Isaksen is a visible person in demonstrations for Sami rights. The picture was taken in connection with a film recording. Photo: Siv Dolmen / More film – It’s a shame that some people think like that. There are many young Sami who get involved in Sami politics, and who themselves front issues that concern Sami society. One of them is the leader of the youth organization Sáminuorra, Sara Elvira Kuhmunen. YOUNG POLITICIAN: Sara-Elvira Kuhmunen is politically active, and fronts Sami and indigenous issues around the world. Recently, she participated in COP27 in Egypt. Photo: Edmund Grønmo She has not heard the podcast with “ČSV” as its theme, but thinks it is sad that some young Sami see activism as something negative. – Even the smallest matters lead to one being visible, and that one is then also heard in larger matters, says Sara-Elvira. That there are people who do not like to be visible, or to fight for issues, shows that people are different. And Sara-Elvira thinks that’s perfectly fine. Used as an insult, Niillas Magnus goes on to say that he is fed up that he can no longer joke about the Sami. He particularly remembers one time when he joked that he liked to mix Norwegian words into his Sami. Then someone got mad at him. – In such cases, I may have used “ČSV” as an insult, he says with a laugh. And although he criticizes young “ČSV’ers”, Niillas Magnus still does not cut everyone across the board. He describes ČSV as something positive in the past. That they were the ones who really worked for Sami rights. Something he himself does not feel like doing. – I was created by my mother and father to live, not to fight for Sami rights, says Niillas Magnus. Do you care about ČSV? See the entire podcast here, with Norwegian text. Watch the film Rahčan with Ella Marie Hætta Isaksen here: The Sami artist Ella Marie is torn between city life in Oslo and her roots in Finnmark. She decides to leave the city to save Repparfjord.
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Guest in the podcast Gozuid Alde: – “ČSV” is a Sami that takes up a lot of space – news Sápmi
