Three out of four Sami have experienced Sami identity. Youth councils from Finnmark, Innlandet, Troms and Nordland will do something about it. Together, they have drawn up a “democratic checklist” against Sami identity, which was launched on the first day of Arendal Week. – Measures must be taken – It is precisely that it must be simple and concrete, says Thea Matilde Moldstad (18) to news. Thea Matilde Moldstad (18) talks about Sami identity during Arendal Week. Photo: Ingrid Elise Trosten / news She is a youth representative in Innlandet and has worked with the checklist. Now she hopes it will be a good measure in the fight against Sami identity. “Measures must be taken so that the Sami are made visible in society, and not harassed or harassed,” says Moldstad. – But will the checklist actually reach those who incite? – In the long run, I think so. It can help the politicians to highlight how common Saminess is in society, says Moldstad. Democratic checklist for preventing Sami unity Together with the Youth County Councils in Innlandet, Trøndelag, Nordland, Troms and Finnmark, the European Wergelands Center and the Narvik Center Foundation have prepared a democratic checklist for all municipalities and county municipalities. The checklist is literally a list where municipalities and counties can cross off as measures on the list are met. The checklist includes measures such as: ☐ Has your municipality introduced measures against Sami unity where this is needed? ☐ Has the municipality drawn up an action plan against Sami unity? ☐ Do the schools work actively to prevent incitement, offensive behavior and hate speech? Source: The Narviksenter Foundation and the European Wergelands Center To ensure that measures are taken During the event “Together for Sameness” in Arendalsuka, the checklist was handed over to the Ministry of Culture. One of those who attended the event was State Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Even Aleksander Hagen (Ap). Even Aleksander Hagen (Ap) is happy with the checklist, and says it will be important in the government’s work towards Sami unity. Photo: Vetle Mathiesen Knutsen / news – How do you reach out to those who are agitating with this checklist? – It is not the Sami population that can take responsibility for overcoming Sami identity. It is the entire population that has to deal with it, says Hagen. – That is why we in the government have said that we need an action plan to overcome Sámi unity, he adds. Hagen hopes the checklist can help more people gain more knowledge of what the consequences of incitement can be. – You don’t really understand how hard this hits and that what you say or do is really inappropriate. – Concrete tool! Lan Marie Berg (MDG) was also a participant during the event in Arendalsuka. Lan Marie Berg (MDG) believes that Norwegianisation is part of the reason why incitement of the Sami is still a problem. Photo: Vetle Mathiesen Knutsen / news She believes that part of the reason why Saminess arises comes from the Norseization. For over 100 years, the Norwegian state had a policy that the Sami should be “Norwegianised”. This happened, among other things, by sending Sami children away from their homes and to boarding schools. – One of the important things is that we acknowledge what has happened and make sure that it spreads among the population, so that the Storting understands what abuse we have carried out, says Berg to news. The most important thing going forward is to ensure that indigenous people do not continue to be run over, says Berg. – I think this is a very concrete tool to make sure that you evaluate better, says the representative of the Storting in the end about the checklist that the youth councils have made. Lan Marie Berg (MDG), Anja Jernsletten of the Sami youth organization Noereh, Sami Parliament Councilor Mikkel Eskil Mikkelsen, Lasse Eriksen Bjørn of the SV and State Secretary Even Aleksander Hagen took part in the panel discussion on the prevention of Sami unity. Photo: Vetle Mathiesen Knutsen / news – Be a little straight-faced In a meeting with experienced politicians and state secretaries, Thea Matilde stood firm and straight-faced. She encourages more people to be in the face of harassment in society. Thea Matilde Moldstad believes the checklist can give politicians something concrete to aim for in their work against incitement. Photo: Vetle Mathiesen Knutsen / news – Be straight-backed, bring out the northerner, or the southerner, in you and speak up! Show that we as a nation stand together and take care of our indigenous people, she says. Published 13.08.2024, at 07.48
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Hope checklist can prevent Sami identity: – Sami must be made visible – news Sápmi
