Loga ášši sámegillii. – I wish I knew I was Sami because I didn’t think the Sami language was that important at school, says comedian and former foster child Trine Lise Olsen. The Sami surrounds her in her home. On the walls and in the cushion design in the sofa. It is important for her to be proud of her roots. Especially after over a hundred years of Norwegianization policy towards Samar. It is a dark chapter that many look back on with horror. The Council of the Sami Parliament nonetheless draws parallels to this period when it comes to the situation for Sami foster children today. – We don’t know anything about Sami children in the care of children’s welfare. Not how many there are, and not whether they get to grow up with their language and their culture, says Sami parliamentary councilor Runar Myrnes Balto (Norwegian Sami National Association). He is supported in this by the Norwegian Foster Home Association. CONCERN: Runar Myrnes Balto (NSR) believes that child protection lacks up-to-date systems and methods to meet the new Child Protection Act. Photo: Hans Ludvig Andreassen / news – Modern form of Norwegianization In the new Child Protection Act which came into force on 1 January this year, the cultural rights of children are strengthened. This stipulates that child protection must take into account the ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious background of the children at all stages of a child protection case. But because there is no overview of Sami foster children, it is difficult to secure the cultural rights. – We at the Sami Parliament are very concerned about whether they will be allowed to grow up with their language and culture. Things indicate that many people do not get it, says Balto and continues: – I think you can say that it is a modern form of Norwegianisation, since the child is moved to families or institutions and loses his Sami identity and culture, and is not allowed to use his language . When asked what the Directorate for Children, Youth and Families (Bufdir) thinks about parallels being drawn to the history of Norwegianisation, divisional director Kjetil Andreas Ostling replies that the current policy is clear. – We must always be aware that we take care of Sami children’s rights as indigenous people. But the policy here is very clear: children have the right to maintain their connection to culture, language and religion, and we must constantly work for that. NASAK: Kjetil Andreas Ostling in Bufdir believes that much has been done to strengthen the work with Sami foster children, including the establishment of the National Sami Competence Center (NASÁG/NASAK). Photo: Håvard Greger Hagen / news Collaboration project to secure the children Balto and the Sami Parliament receive support from Secretary General Tone Granaas of the Norwegian Foster Home Association. They have recently entered into a cooperation agreement, first mentioned by Ságat, with the aim of helping to ensure that the rights of Sami children are taken care of. It is indeed very random if Sami children’s rights are fulfilled, Granaas experiences. – Soon a survey will be published in which child protection managers have been asked if they have tools that enable them to map and secure Sami children’s rights. Over fifty percent answer that they don’t know if they have, says Granaas. CULTURE: The project “One home, two cultures” is part of the collaboration between the Norwegian Foster Home Association and the Sami Parliament. – We want to contribute to Sami children’s rights to contact with culture and their own language in foster homes being fulfilled, says Granaas. Photo: Stig Jaarvik / news Child protection does not register ethnicity because it can be sensitive for children, explains Ostling in Bufdir. – It may be uncertain whether the children identify with the culture under which they are registered, so this must be resolved on an individual level. Granaas believes that a solution to this could be to register languages instead. – Something has been lost As a child, Olsen lived in many different foster homes. It was only after her studies that she herself found out that she was Sami. – Something has been lost during my childhood because I did not know that I was Sami. It would have been nice to be able to take part in the culture earlier and perhaps be a little more secure in who I am as a whole. PROUD: Olsen is cut straighter in the back as soon as she puts on the hat that belongs to a cowl. Photo: Stig Jaarvik / news Olsen has long been open about his background as a foster child, and several times pays tribute to foster mother Ragnhild in the media. When she discovered her Sami roots, something fell into place. – Then I felt that there was a connection between me, mum Ragnhild and foster grandmother. Being moved from home to home as a small child is burdensome in itself, she says. – But knowing that the culture is with you when you move must make it so much better. When you come to a new home, you have to follow the routines that the family has. But of course you are allowed to bring your own culture into it, you are still you. And an important part of culture is language. She says that the Sami language has many words that do not exist in Norwegian. – I have Sami friends who speak proper Sami. When they have to explain, they say “there is no Norwegian word for it”. There are things like this that you miss when you don’t know the language. It’s small things like being able to joke with each other in your own language. Lack of Sami-speaking foster homes Another reason why it is difficult to secure the cultural rights of Sami foster children is that there are not enough Sami foster homes, according to Granaas and Balto. – With the policy of Norwegianisation, which is driven against the Sami people, there is also mistrust from the Sami community towards the Norwegian authorities with good reason. It can therefore be difficult to get hold of Sami-speaking foster homes, says Granaas.
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Sami parliamentary council and the Norwegian Foster Home Association fear Sami foster children will lose their culture – news Culture and entertainment
