– It is very close to my heart and my family. There are so many emotions connected to this language that it is impossible to describe, says Simon Forsmark (33). MOTHER TONGUE TEACHER: Simon Forsmark is a non-Samese mother tongue teacher for Lycksele municipality in Sweden. Photo: Josefine Holgersson / SVT The language he speaks is Umesami. It is on Unesco’s list of the world’s most endangered languages. He is one of 10 people who recently completed a three-year education in Ume Samian at Samernas Utbildningscentrum in Jåhkåmåhkke/Jokkmokk in Sweden. – This is my way of taking back a part of our family’s history. Continuing to carry it forward, and rediscovering my history, is important to me, he says. In Norway, there are few people who speak the language, but the situation for Umesami is slightly better in Sweden. Cut ties with Ume Sami Simon today has no one in his immediate family who speaks Ume Sami. This despite the fact that grandparents spoke the language. He has recently found out why it turned out that way. In the village of Bergnäs (Giertsjávrrie in Ume Sami), which lies between Sorsele and Ammarnäs in Sweden, the elderly decided in 1925 that they should stop speaking Sami to their children. – It was a shame to be Sami and they wanted the children to avoid problems, he explains. LANGUAGE BATH WITH “MÁNNUO”: The dog “Mánnuo”, which means moon in Norwegian, is Simon’s constant travel companion. – It only understands Umesami, he says jokingly. Photo: Private Was used to tell secrets Simon is proud that he is helping to preserve his grandfather’s language. – In 1925, my grandfather was 14 years old. He knew the language. And my dad’s older siblings have heard some Ume Sami expressions growing up. I have heard that now, when they have learned that I am taking back our language. It’s fierce, says Simon. It was only in very special cases that exceptions were made to this “language ban”, after 1925, says Simon: – From that year, Umesami was only spoken if someone was going to share a secret, or if there were problems, he says. PRAISE TO THE TEACHER: Course participants photographed with teacher Sara-Helen Persson. – She deserves a lot of praise, say Simon and Helena. The course does not give university credits, but is proof that the participants have good basic knowledge of Ume Samian. Photo: The Sámi Parliament – Brings to life the voice of the ancestors There are few statistics on users of the Sámi language. Some would say that the total number of speakers of Ume Sami is still in the double digits. Others may have slightly more optimistic estimates. THE SAMEI Parliamentary Assembly: In the spring, the Sámi Parliament will deal with a case about non-Saami language revitalization in Norway, says Sami parliamentary councilor Mikkel Eskil Mikkelsen. Photo: Vaino Rensberg / Sami Council Sami Council Mikkel Eskil Mikkelsen is happy about the group that has now completed the course in Sweden. – The fact that the number of people who know Umesamian now increases by ten people is no less than formidable. There is an increase of several tens of percent, says Mikkelsen, who speaks Lule Sami himself. He is greatly impressed by Helena, Simon and their coursemates who have now received proof of their knowledge of Ume Samian. – The language is the voice of our ancestors. And I want to say to everyone who speaks Sami and who wants to learn it, that it is an incredibly important effort in continuing the culture they are part of, says Mikkelsen. – To feel whole as a human being Helena Isaksson (63), one of Simon’s coursemates, also feels a responsibility to preserve the language. – I would say that Simon and I are brave, doing this on what I would call shaky legs. Maybe we can inspire others. The most important step is to dare to use the language, she says. FEW WHO CAN SPEAK: Helena and Simon both live in Umeå. They are happy that they can meet and speak Ume Sami together. Photo: Josefine Holgersson / SVT Helena makes no secret of the fact that the course has presented challenges at times. – Some things happen to me as a person. I realize that I am also doing this for my parents’ sake. Both my parents are dead, but I managed to interview my mother. She said that it was a shame to be the same. The 63-year-old is happy that she defied her ancestors’ choice to let the language disappear. For her, it is now about feeling whole as a person. – When we know that some things have been taken from us, such as language, it is incredibly healing to take it back. I would say that this is vital to me. It strengthens my Sami identity, says Helena. Watch Simon and Helena speak Umesami: The language Simon Forsmark and Helena Isaksson are learning is, according to Unesco, one of the world’s most endangered languages.
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Simon and Helena have learned Umesami – one of the world’s most endangered languages according to Unesco – news Sápmi
