– I can understand how intensely uncomfortable it must be for Sandra Borch’s family, what is happening now. And I recognize how Sami identity is made a public matter. That’s what President of the Sami Parliament Silje Karine Muotka from the Norwegian Sami National Confederation (NSR) says. After the news case, in which two genealogists have concluded that Sandra Borch does not meet the current criteria for standing in the Sami Parliament, there has been an uproar in both social and editor-controlled media. Sandra Borch herself posted a Facebook post on Sunday evening, before the news case came out, that she experiences news’s methods as ethnic scrutiny. – Fragile identity In the post, she writes, among other things: “I myself am confident in my own Sami identity, but fear that news’s Norwegianization agents will cause others more shame and more uncertainty in a fragile identity.” Borch has received broad support among others who believe that it is “unworthy that news goes out and looks for so-called cheaters”. The debate has largely revolved around whether one can feel like a good enough Sami, and whether Norwegianized Sami can be required to prove that their ancestors spoke Sami. The criteria for being able to be part of the electoral roll and vote in the Sami parliamentary elections are that you must feel like a Sami and that at least one of your great-grandparents spoke Sami as their home language. news’s investigative editorial team, which created the case, has engaged two genealogists to find out whether Sandra Borch meets the criteria. They have concluded that she does not. Complained Sandra in 2013 The background for the news case is a complaint from 2013, from when Borch joined the Sami community. The announcement caused reactions from one of Borch’s fellow villagers in Lavangen in Sør-Troms. The person believed that Borch was not Sami. At the time, the complaint was not accepted by the Sámi Parliament. Sámi Parliament President Muotka understands very well that it is upsetting when one’s Sámi identity is reviewed in full public view. At the same time, she believes that the rules of the Sámi Parliament must be followed. She will not comment on individual cases beyond that. Muotka believes Sami politicians must expect their Sami identity to come under scrutiny when they seek power in the Sami parliament. – I have experienced that, and many others have experienced it, says the Sami parliament president. Project editor in news’s investigative journalism department, Robin Mortensen, says that news does not question Sandra Borch’s Sami background or identity. – We have examined whether the Sámi background stands up with regard to the criteria the Sámi Parliament has set in relation to being able to participate in the number of electors, says Mortensen. Photo: Hanne Larsen / news Sore topic In light of the pre-intoxication policy, Mortensen understands that sore feelings arise when Sami identity becomes a topic. – It cannot, however, prevent news from conducting critical journalism in relation to the legitimacy and support of the Sámi Parliament. Mortensen reminds that the Sami Parliament must be the most important voice for strengthening Sami language and culture. – If it falls away, then the Sami voice no longer has a place in Norwegian society. The Sami Parliament represents an important voice for this minority in Norway, says the editor. Mortensen says that they have given Sandra Borch full opportunity to respond to the criticism and to prove that she meets the criteria for the Sami population. However, Borch has not been interested in contributing to this in the news case. Published 04.11.2024, at 17.36 Updated 04.11.2024, at 18.04
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The president of the Sámi Parliament understands that the case of “cheating Sámi” is painful for Sandra Borch’s family – news Troms and Finnmark
