Loga sámegillii. Oslo is often called Norway’s largest Sami city. That’s probably not entirely true. Both Tromsø and Alta have, among other things, several people registered in the Sami Parliament’s electoral roll. There are few statistics on the Sami, and no one knows for sure how large the population is. Nevertheless, it is probably not wrong to say that quite a few Sami live in Oslo. Soon the capital will also be given a Sami name. SAMI NAME: Oslo municipality, together with the Sami community in Oslo, is in the process of getting a Sami name adopted for Oslo. The sign in the picture can be found at Samisk hus in Oslo. Photo: Mette Ballovara / news Oslo has a cooperation agreement with the Sami Parliament, but like other cities with Sami settlements, they are now being challenged to become an official Sami city. The agreement does not obligate the municipality as much as it does if Oslo becomes a Sami municipality. The Sámi Parliament therefore encourages cities with a Sámi population to apply to become Sámi municipalities. ELECTION CAMPAIGN: Election booths in a row at Karl Johan. The parties get the occasional question about Sami policy, but this is usually a topic that is not so visible in Oslo politics. Photo: Mette Ballovara / news Two large parties in the thinking box Several major cities in Norway have already sent such applications. news has contacted the nine largest parties in Oslo to hear what they say to the Sami Parliament’s call Five parties want Oslo to become a Sami city. Only one party answers no to this, while three parties have not taken a position on the matter. Swipe to see what the different parties in Oslo think about this: SV wants Oslo to become a Sami municipality We benefit from making demands on ourselves. We have something to live up to. It has been the country’s capital during the period in which we pursued an aggressive Norwegianization policy. We also have a responsibility here for the history behind us. Ola Wolff Elvevold, SV’s fourth candidate in Oslo. Ap has not taken a position on the matter We will create an action plan for how to protect and strengthen the Sami population and Sami culture and identity. When that plan is to be drawn up, it is natural to decide whether Oslo should be an official Sami city. Rina Mariann Hansen, mayoral candidate for the Labor Party in Oslo. Liberals positive that Oslo will become a Sami municipality Liberals would like to contribute to Oslo becoming an official Sami city. Many Sami live in Oslo, and we are positive about doing what we can to ensure good Sami services for those in the Sami population who want it.Hallstein Bjercke, first candidate for Venstre in Oslo Christian People’s Party open to considering Oslo as a Sami city Krf in Oslo is positive that Sami language and culture are given a greater place in our city. We are open to considering Oslo as a language stimulation municipality, but we have not taken a final position on this. Øyvind Håbrekke, first candidate for Krf in Oslo The MDG is for Oslo to become Sami As the capital, Oslo has clear obligations to safeguard the rights of the Sami population. It is crucial that the children in the city receive a basic introduction to Sami history and culture, as part of Norwegian education. Sirin Stav, first candidate for Oslo MDG. Høyre has not taken a position on the matter Oslo Høyre has not yet taken a decision on whether Oslo should become an official Sami city. Mehmet Kaan Inan, 8th candidate for Høyre in Oslo. Rødt would like Oslo to become Sami municipality We have a (relatively) large Sami population here, and a vibrant and active Sami environment in our city. The only thing missing would be that the capital does not take special responsibility for our indigenous people. Mari Rise Knutsen, third candidate for Rødt for the city council in Oslo FRP does not want Oslo to become a Sami municipality, even though we understand that municipalities in areas where the Sami have strong historical and cultural affiliation officially becomes Sami, it appears a little unnatural for Oslo to do the same. Maria Zähler Political deputy, Oslo FrpSenterpartiet wants Oslo to become a Sami municipality Oslo has great potential for improvement in strengthening Sami work. The cooperation agreement has not been enough. Then becoming a Sami town can be important. The understanding of how important it is to have predictability for the Sami kindergarten is one example. Morten Edvardsen, first candidate for Oslo Sp SV: – Capital under aggressive Norwegianization All five parties who answer yes to Oslo becoming a Sami city believe that Oslo is special committed to promoting and making Sami culture visible, because the city is the country’s capital. SV also reminds of the responsibility to correct injustice, which the Truth and Reconciliation Commission imposes on the whole of Norwegian society. Then Oslo also has a job to do, the party believes. – It has been the country’s capital during the period when we pursued an aggressive policy of Norwegianisation. We have a responsibility for the history behind us, says Ola Wolff Elvevold. He is the 4th candidate for SV in Oslo. Advantages of becoming a Sami municipality Sp, Rødt, SV and MDG also believe that by becoming a Sami municipality, it can ensure greater financial predictability and security for the Sami kindergarten in Oslo. It is currently managed by the district of Grünerløkka, and has for several years in a row risked cutbacks when the district has to save money. The parties believe that responsibility must be shifted from the district to a higher political level. Sami municipalities receive extra money to strengthen the Sami language and culture. This is also an important argument that Oslo should become a Sami municipality, several of the parties who are positive about this point out. Do you think Oslo should become a Sami city? Yes, I think so. No, I don’t think so. Well, I’m not sure about that. Show result Short-spoken Conservative politician Of the nine parties, it is the Conservative Party that is the most tight-lipped about this issue. – Oslo Høyre has not yet taken a decision on whether Oslo should become an official Sami city, replies Mehmet Kaan Inan (H). He is the cultural and education policy spokesperson and the 8th candidate on the party’s electoral list in Oslo. The Christian People’s Party (KrF) replies that they are open to considering Oslo as a language stimulation municipality, which is one of three categories that Sami municipalities can choose from. – KrF in Oslo has not taken a position on this, but is positive that Sami language and culture should be given a greater place in our city and in the municipality, says Øyvind Håbrekke, who is the party’s leader in Oslo. THE ROLE AS THE CAPITAL IS OBLIGATED: More investment in teaching both its own population and visitors about Sami culture is one of the things that Oslo can do better, by becoming a Sami city. This is the view of several of the parties who want Oslo to become a Sami city. Photo: Mette Ballovara / news Ap: – Taking a decision on this when an action plan is drawn up The Labor Party has also not taken a decision on whether Oslo should become a Sami municipality. They are working on the case. – In the programme, we have decided that an action plan will be drawn up to safeguard and strengthen Oslo’s Sami population, Sami culture and identity and nursery and education facilities. It is natural that we decide whether Oslo should be a Sami city, when the action plan is drawn up, says Rina Mariann Hansen (Ap) She is the Ap’s mayoral candidate in Oslo. 2016: In 2016, Oslo municipality signed a cooperation agreement with the Sami Parliament. It remains to be seen whether Oslo will take a step further and apply to become a Sami municipality. Photo: Mette Ballovara / news No to a Sami city – yes to a Sami name The Progress Party (Frp) is the only one of the nine parties to answer that they do not want Oslo to become a Sami municipality. They believe that this is not natural because Oslo is the capital of all of Norway. The party, on the other hand, is positive about the capital being given a Sami name. – We appreciate the Sami presence in Oslo’s diversity of different cultures and people from all over the country and the world. And we think it is good that we get a Sami name for the capital, writes Oslo Frp’s political deputy, Maria Zähler, to news. Read the Sámi Parliament’s call to become a Sámi municipality On 30 May 2023, the Storting adopted changes to the Sámi Act, which mean that the Sámi Act’s language rules are now adapted to the needs and language situation of the various municipalities in the administrative area. – It is gratifying that the change in the law is in place. Now municipalities must start the application process, says Sámi Parliament councilor Mikkel Eskil Mikkelsen (NSR). The change in law means that there are now three different categories of municipality within the administrative area for Sami languages; language development municipalities, language revitalization municipalities and language stimulation municipalities. Language development municipalities and language revitalization municipalities must have the highest level of rights, and correspond to municipalities that are part of the current administrative area. Language stimulation municipalities will be for municipalities where the Sami population has mainly moved, and do not have the same connection to the Sami language. – With a differentiation of the rights and different municipal categories, we hope that more municipalities will become part of the language administration area, says Mikkelsen. – Every new municipality in the administrative area for Sami languages will help preserve and develop the Sami languages. We also hope that this will result in us getting municipalities in the Skolte, Pite and Umesami areas as well, says Mikkelsen. Source: The Sami Parliament WANTS A SAMI NAME: Frp does not want Oslo to become a Sami city, but they think it is good that the city is in the process of getting a Sami name. Photo: Mette Ballovara / news Can apply to become Sami municipalities – three categories Now also municipalities that are outside the areas that are considered to be traditional Sami settlement areas can apply to become Sami municipalities. These can be municipalities that have a certain proportion of Sami immigrants, such as cities in Norway. From May 2023, three different municipality categories adapted to the different language situations in Norwegian municipalities have been introduced: Language development municipality: Sami and Norwegian are equal languages. Everyone has the right to be served in Sami when addressing public agencies, both in writing and orally. Sami must be equal to Norwegian internally in the municipal administration and in the municipal council. Municipalities proposed to be included in this category: Kautokeino, Karasjok, Nesseby and Tana Language revitalization municipality: In this category there is no right to a simultaneous oral answer in Sami There is no requirement for internal use of Sami in the municipality Municipalities proposed to be included in this category: Porsanger, Kåfjord, Lavangen, Tjeldsund, Hattfjelldal, Hamarøy, Røyrvik, Røros and Snåsa Language stimulation municipality: The minimum requirement is Sami language provision for children, young people and the elderly living in the municipality. This applies in particular to the cultural school, to the health nurse, after-school care, day center for the elderly and so on. Here, the municipality has great freedom to establish offers that suit the needs of each individual municipality and the population. It ensures that language stimulation municipalities initiate measures that contribute to strengthening language and culture. Language stimulation municipalities will be for municipalities where the Sami population has mainly moved, and do not have the same connection to the Sami language. Source: Sami Parliament Call from the Sami Parliament to municipalities in Norway.
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These want Oslo to become a Sami city – news Sápmi
