– I didn’t imagine it would happen, but I think it’s nice, says Oline. The 14-year-old is in the 9th grade at Jordal School, but we meet her in the school yard at Oslo Sami School in Nedre Bekkelaget, a few minutes’ drive from Oslo S. Outside the school, the Sami flag is raised. It is Sami flag day to be marked. SAMI FLAG DAY: 9 November is the day of the establishment of the Sami Parliament in Finland (1973). It is one of 12 Sami flag days. Photo: Mette Ballovara / news Oline is proud of the flag. – I think it’s very nice, and it’s very well made. It represents many good things, she says, as she looks up to see if the gust of wind makes the flag move. Didn’t know if the offer Oline has Sami roots from Sør-Varanger in Eastern Finnmark. Although she will soon finish primary school, she has only had Sami for a little over a year. It turned out this way because the family did not know about the opportunities to learn Sami in Oslo. – Now that all schools get the Sami flag, and must inform new students, I think that more people will choose Sami in Oslo, says Oline. Swipe to see pictures from Oslo Sami school: Decoration of Oslo Sami school by artist Britta Marakatt-Labba. The school is part of Nedre Bekkelaget school. Official opening of Oslo Sami school and the arts was 22.09.2022. Photo: Mette Ballovara / news Sculpture made by Margrethe Pettersen. This is also part of the decoration of the Oslo Sami school. Here you can also see parts of the mural created by Britta Marakatt-Labba. Photo: Mette Ballovara / news The Sami flag is raised outside the Oslo Sami school/Nedre Bekkelaget school. The management group at the school has decided that they will fly the flag on all Sami flag days. There are a total of 12 Sami flag days. Photo: Mette Ballovara / news Yngvild Føyn Odden is head of department at Oslo Sami School. She believes that Oslo schools are now more aware of Sami students’ rights to education in Sami. The Sami flag is also an important marker for Sami content in schools, she believes. Photo: Mette Ballovara / news Mural by Britta Marakatt-Labba. – The decoration of Oslo Sami school is linked to Sami culture, tradition and identity in different ways, said Yngvild Føyn Odden when Oslo Sami school was opened in September 2022. Photo: Mette Ballovara / news Signage in three Sami languages at the front door of Oslo Sami school on Lower Bekkelaget. Southern Sami, Lule Sami and Northern Sami: Osloven Saemien Skuvle / Oslo Sáme Skåvllå / Oslo Sámi Skuvla. The school has around 50 pupils this school year. Photo: Mette Ballovara / news The mural is by the artist Britta Marakatt-Labba called “Starry sky”. She is a textile artist, painter and graphic artist from the Swedish side of Sápmi. Photo: Mette Ballovara / news Kubbekunst by Margrethe Pettersen at the front door of the Oslo Sami school. Pettersen is a contemporary artist and was born in Tromsø. Photo: Mette Ballovara / news For years, Sami parents and teachers have called for better organization of Sami education. The municipality has now drawn up a separate plan for how the offer in Sami will improve. – Many are proud The new Sami school at Nedre Bekkelaget was officially opened in September. – Oslo Sami school has become very nice. It is good for strengthening Sami education in Oslo. We also want to use it as a learning arena for other schools, says Director of Schools in Oslo Municipality, Marte Gerhardsen. 100 HAND FLAGS: Director of the Education Agency in Oslo municipality, Marte Gerhardsen, has 100 hand flags that schools in Oslo can borrow. Photo: Mette Ballovara / news There is still a lot of work to be done at the Oslo School to increase knowledge about the Sami, she points out. – We have a mission that all our 90,000 pupils in the Oslo School should know Sami culture, have an understanding and also arouse more interest. Then flags are one of many tools, says Gerhardsen. Do you own a Sami flag? No, haven’t. Yes, that’s great! Show result NOK 336,000 for flags The municipality asked all schools to notify if they did not have a Sami flag. Over 90 schools have now received Sami flags for flagpoles or balconies. The price tag was NOK 336,000. – It is clear that it costs a little, but it is important. Imagine all the students who see it being flagged. Many become proud, and many become curious, says Gerhardsen. FLAGS THEMSELVES: The municipality also has some larger flags that schools can borrow. Marte Gerhardsen will also fly the flag at home on 6 February. – I’m looking forward to that, she says. Photo: Mette Ballovara / news The flag can also make other students more curious about the Sami. – It is important for everyone else to also see that this is part of Norway. This is part of our culture, our history, which everyone should know something about, she says. Some might think it’s a bit rude to spend so much money on flags? – No, I do not think so. Maybe some. I think it is not. It is incredibly important that everyone who attends our schools, who has a Sami background, knows that it is recognized in a positive way, she says. PROUD: Ravna is very much looking forward to celebrating the Sami’s national day next year. – I am very proud, proud to be Sami, she says. Photo: Mette Ballovara / news – Was a little shocked Fifth grader Ravna (10) enters the library smiling, where we meet her at Hasle school. It is the school in Oslo that this year has the most Sami students. Raven is one of them. Now the school has a flying new Sami flag. – I think it will be really nice, that the Sami stand out a little more. There are a lot of people who don’t really know much about it, she says. That so many schools in Oslo will fly the Sami flag was a big surprise. – At first I was a bit shocked by it myself. I didn’t know they were going to do that, but I think it’s very nice that they are going to fly the flag, she says. HASLE SCHOOL: Assistant principal at Hasle School, Heidi Byom Nilssen and Ravna (10) are delighted that the school has received a Sami flag. Photo: Mette Ballovara / news Golden opportunity Assistant principal at Hasle school, Heidi Byom Nilssen, believes that the schools are more aware of Sami content. – The Oslo schools have a responsibility with this promise now. All schools at least have a golden opportunity to promote Sami culture, she says. The Sami flags are in the spotlight in this work, she believes. NEDRE BEKKELAGET: The Sami flag flies outside the Oslo Sami school at Nedre Bekkelaget. Photo: Mette Ballovara / news Favorite subject You regularly hear that in Norway there is still a great lack of knowledge about the Sami and Sami culture. Oline hopes that some of this will be rectified with the municipality’s flag purchase. – I really think it helps. Many more will ask questions and wonder what is going on, says Oline. The chat at the flagpole is over and Oline heads for the classroom. She will not miss this. Sami is her favorite subject. THREE LANGUAGES: At the front door of the Oslo Sami school there is a sign in three Sami languages. Photo: Mette Ballovara / news Explanation of the Sami flag
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Sami flag for all schools in Oslo: – It is important that everyone sees that this is part of Norway – news Sápmi
