– I think all indigenous peoples and minorities in the world have experienced disempowerment when others take their cultural symbols and individual brands, and make them their own – without asking for permission, says former Sámi Parliament president Aili Keskitalo. The two Sami festivals Riddu Riđđu in Kåfjord and Márkomannu in Vesterålen are now introducing ethical rules for festival participants. So-called “Festivalvett rules”. Festival manager at Riddu Riđđu, Sajje Solbakk, got the idea during a “Powow” with First-nation tribes in Minnesota. Now she wants to introduce the custom at her own Sami festival in Nord-Troms. Festival manager of Riddu Riđđu, Sajje Solbakk, wants to create a safe meeting for Sami and other festival visitors. Photo: Daniel Skog / Riddu Riđđu – Want to increase security During last year’s festival, the then festival director Sandra Márjá West was told that some festival guests had pretended to be Sami and drummed on a rune bomb (the article is in Sami). Another festival guest must have said that they were the same in their previous life. – Riddu Riđđu is a clear indigenous festival, and not a New Age festival. Our entire program and all our artists are indigenous. Then it is not appropriate to come here and pretend that you are the same, West said to news last year. This year’s Riddu Riđđu starts on Wednesday and continues into the weekend. Between 27 and 30 July, the next big Sami festival will take place this summer: the Márkomannu festival. In order to make the cultural meeting between Sami and people from other cultures as conflict-free as possible – the festivals have agreed to recommend the following ethical rules for the festival guests: Festival vet rules Photo: Inga Máret Solberg Åhrén / news Show moderation with alcohol use, especially for the sake of children Ask always ask permission before taking someone’s photo Be a good audience member by following the program post, without talking or making noise about what is happening on stage Be careful in the festival area, recycle waste and take all your things with you when you go Gákti ( cardigan) does not make anyone public property, do not touch or stroke others without permission Gákti is a garment for Sámi, and cannot be used by anyone without further ado Gákti should not be called a costume Many people speak Sámi at our festivals, if there is anything If you don’t understand, you can politely ask someone to translate. Show respect for our elders, and give them a seat. open and respect other people’s opinions – With these rules, we want to increase security among our festival participants, explains Solbakk. Was inspired in the USA It was during a trip to the USA that Solbakk had his first encounter with a Powow, where the tribes meet to dance ritually, in the same way as an indigenous festival. – Then we were handed a letter that showed which rules of the game applied during the event; so-called powwow ethics, she says. Solbakk believes it made it easier for her to avoid acting insensitively towards the American indigenous people. – Then I realized, for example, that feathers are sacred. When they fall to the ground, you should therefore not pick them up, she says. She took the idea home with her, and translated it into a Sami context. Ane Margrethe Ugelvik, from Tana, leads the Márkomeannu festival which runs from 27 to 30 July. Photo: Inga Máret Solberg Åhrén / news – Unwritten rules Festival director of the Márkomannu festival, Ane Margrethe Ugelvik, believes the ethical rules of the game are intended to create a positive cultural encounter between Sami and non-Sami festival-goers. – In my experience, Márkomeannu’s audience largely adheres to these festival rules from before, says Uglevik. – But those who are new to Sami society, or come from outside, may not have caught all the unwritten rules. Uglevik clarifies to news that this is largely intended as guidance, and is not a prohibition list. – I don’t imagine that we will need to go around enforcing these rules, she says. Sami researcher and historian Mikkel Berg-Nordlie is with his family at Riddu Riđđu this weekend. Photo: Sajje Solbakk Losing culture and identity Mikkel Berg-Nordlie is a researcher at Oslo Met, and a historian. He says that some of the rules presented by the festivals are intended to avoid what he calls cultural appropriation. – This is basically about when someone uses cultural traits that belong to a different ethnic group than their own, explains Berg-Nordlie. He clarifies that the expression is also used if someone uses symbols from another’s culture, but presents it as part of their own culture. The Kiwi cardigans are among the most famous cases of cultural appropriation, of Sami culture, in recent years. During a gathering for Kiwi employees in 2010 in Tromsø, all participants were given green Kiwi cardigans. Photo: PRIVAT – The kofta is meant for Sami In particular, the kofta, called “Gákti” in Sami, is important for the Sami, explains Berg-Nordlie. – For many Sámi, it will be perceived as inappropriate if someone who has no Sámi connection uses it, says Berg-Nordli. Festival manager Solbakk nevertheless clarifies that they do not believe that only Sámi can wear a cardigan. – We do not try to define who can wear the cardigan. We say who it is intended for, and that it should not be used without further ado, says Solbakk. Aili Keskitalo believes that minorities and indigenous peoples have a need to protect what is their primary identity marker. – Perhaps the ethical guidelines at the festivals can contribute to an awareness-raising process; that we can simply inform each other that not everything that has been done historically in this context is okay. The biggest Sami festivals: Photo: Steve Nilsen / Steve Nilsen/Márkomannu Riddu Riđđu Festivála is an international indigenous festival that takes place annually in Manndalen in Kåfjord municipality in Nord-Troms. The festival is linked to the Center for Northern People in Manndalen. For over 30 years, Riddu Riđđu has worked to create a stronger awareness and pride around the Sami. Gradually, the festival has grown larger and become a significant and important part of Sami cultural tourism in the Sea Sami areas. The festival is outdoors and has programs for the whole family. “Riddu Riđđu” – means small storm on the coast and is a Sea Sami festival. From the Riddu Riđđu festival website. Márkomeannu is a Sami festival at Gállogieddi on the Norwegian side of Sápmi in Tjeldsund municipality in Sør-Troms. The festival has a clear Sami profile, and Márkomeannu presents Sami artists, artists and cultural practitioners from all over Sápmi at the festival. The program is varied and you will find music, visual arts, performing arts, literature, seminars, sports, walks, markets, children’s programs and youth programs at the festival. Translated into Norwegian, Márkomeannu means “spettakel in the field”. The festival takes place in what is called a Markasami settlement area, which stretches over Hinnøya in Vesterålen. Are Sami drums sacred? Another point the festivals agree on is that Sami drums are sacred, and should only be used by “those who are suitable”. Nordli-Berg believes this should be discussed in more detail. – Although they have clearly been used ritually historically, and are also used that way today. He points out that the Sami drum is also used as a musical instrument. – So here the rules are a bit narrow, to a greater extent than what is real practice in today’s Sami society, he believes. Solbakk still believes that there are many emotions connected to the use of drums, even if they are not only used ritually. She still does not rule out that non-experts may be allowed to use the Sami drum to practice at the festival – But at the same time, you must have a certain respect for the drum and its use, says Solbakk. Will drop “tulle-joik” “Juoiggus (joik) shall not be imitated”, the festivals have agreed. – A well-known way of promoting Sámi unity is to jockey for someone, explains Solbakk. She says many Sámi, especially in city streets in the late hours of the night, experience that “tulle-joik” is used as harassment. – There is something that we cannot accept happening at our festivals, she says. At the same time, she emphasizes that this happens to a greater extent in society. – This is our way of drawing attention to this, and signaling that it is not okay, concludes Solbakk. Former president of the Sámi Parliament, Aili Keskitalo, is currently a political advisor at Amnesty International. Photo: Dragan Cubrilo Easier to be visible together Aili Keskitalo reminds that Sámi, who show off their own Sámi identity, are often vulnerable and exposed. – We have examples of Sami in cardigans being harassed, and even subjected to violence, she says. – It is not always easy to dare to make yourself visible with your background, in foreign environments. She believes that festivals can make it easier to be visible together, and that it is important to explain to the world what is perceived as infringement. – Then we can also use such rules to make our festivals safer arenas for everyone, concludes Keskitalo.
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Sami festivals introduce bans on “tulle-joik” and unskilled drumming – news Troms and Finnmark
