– The fact that we did not get a majority for this, we think is extra painful, because we debated this on the same day that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission presented its report, says parliamentary representative Hege Bae Nyholt from the Red party. Together with SV and Venstre, they had proposed giving all women the right to language training. Today, only primary school pupils in Troms and Finnmark get this opportunity. But the parties did not get the rest of the Storting on board with the proposal. In the adjoining room at the Storting, the report from the Truth Commission was presented, with the three ethnic groups Kven, Sámi and Forest Finns present. Hege Bae Nyholt from Rødt, together with SV and Venstre, proposed that Kven throughout the country should have the right to learn Kven. But the parliamentary majority said no. Wants a targeted plan For Trygg Jakola, who is a great champion of Swedish language and culture, this was a coincidence with a twist. – It is a paradox that while the report was presented with many good measures, the majority in the Storting does not support that Swedes throughout the country should be given the right to learn Swedish, he says. – It could have been a first step in reconciliation if that proposal had been accepted. Trygg Jakola from the Kven village of Vestre Jakobselv, has for many years worked to spread knowledge about the Kven language and culture. Photo: Sidsel Vik / news Kvener, or Norwegian Finns, are a minority with Kven and Finnish languages. In the first part of the 20th century, the Kven language was dominant in several Finnmark villages, including in Vestre Jakobselv in Vadsø municipality. This led to the Norwegian authorities demanding that Kven children must not speak Kven at school. Today, Trygg Jakola is one of the few who can master the language. He believes the Truth and Reconciliation Commission will come up with several measures that can strengthen the language. – The commission wants a targeted plan to strengthen the Swedish language in many arenas, especially in schools. After all, it was here that Norwegianization had the strongest effect. The Truth Commission and several other professional bodies also recommend extending the right to learn Swedish to the whole country, not just Troms and Finnmark. The government said no State Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Kjetil Vevle, says the lack of teachers means that they cannot support the proposal to give all women the right to language training. – We cannot legislate rights that we know the municipalities have no opportunity to fulfill, because we do not actually have enough qualified teachers who can teach Swedish, he says. The government nevertheless gives the Kven language and culture a handshake by allocating more money for teaching aids. State Secretary Kjetil Vevle in the Ministry of Knowledge says that everyone who has applied for support to create Kven textbooks will receive money. Photo: Ministry of Education Vevle says they have increased the money pot from NOK 2.5 to 9 million. – We see that several applications have come in that are of good quality, and that work with solid professionals in the language. – Good news for the Kven language is therefore that everyone who has applied to develop teaching aids will have that application approved. Vevle also says that the government wants children and pupils throughout the country to learn more about the national minorities. It must be included in the teacher’s plan for kindergartens and schools. The shortage of teachers can be solved with distance learning Kai Petter Johansen is the leader of the Norske Kveners Forbund. He is very happy that the government is giving support to everyone who is making textbooks. The women’s leader says this provides new opportunities for all women who want to learn their language. – We want to work against the politicians so that schools in the rest of the country that want to provide Swedish education receive grants on the same terms as Troms and Finnmark. But when it comes to the teacher shortage, Johansen believes that it can be solved with distance learning. – This is already done in several schools in teaching in Swedish and Sami. Kai Petter Johansen, head of the Norske Kveners Forbund, is happy that extra money is being given for teaching materials. His goal is that all Kvens should be able to learn Kven. Photo: Bernt Olsen / news Wants language cooperation with neighboring countries Johansen points out that in Sweden and Finland the number of people speaking Swedish – and the closely related language Meänkieli (also known as Tornedal Finnish) – is increasing. He therefore wants increased cross-border linguistic cooperation between the countries. – In Sweden, they have distance learning all over the country, and everyone has the same right to language training in Meänkieli. There is no reason why they should be able to do it, and neither should we. – We have all the opportunity in the world to collaborate and draw parallels between the countries.
ttn-69
Thinks language training could be the first step towards reconciliation – But the Storting said no – news Troms and Finnmark
