“How many Sami languages are there?” There are currently ten Sami languages. Unfortunately, all the Sami languages are defined as endangered languages on Unesco’s list of endangered world languages. In Norway we have three official Sami languages; Northern, Southern and Lule Sami. Southern and Lule Sami each have a few hundred active users. Northern Sami is a larger language, with several thousand active users in Norway. Ter-, Ume-, Enare-, Pite-, Skolte-, Akkala- and Kildin Sami are the other Sami languages. Language is one of the most important identity markers for the Sami today. Sami artist Katarina Barruk is one of the few people in the world who speaks non-Sami. Photo: Jonna Dunfjeld-Mølnvik / news Some of the languages, such as Umesami, have fewer than twenty active users in the world. And there are several similar examples. All over Sápmi, work is therefore underway to put the Sami languages back on their feet. Cardigan Many people wonder about various things about the cardigan. In many ways, one can compare the Sami kofta with the bunad. In other ways they are different. Here are the main features: The cardigan shows where you are from. In some places the kofta is different from town to town, in other places there is a common kofta form for a larger area such as counties. The cardigan can show whether you are married or not. Most cardigans should be worn with a belt. Most cardigan belts have buttons made of horn or silver. If the buttons are round, it shows that you are unmarried. If they are square, you are married. But these “rules” are, as I said, different from place to place. Although there is a strict set of “cardigan rules”, it has become more common to be able to experiment with different fabrics and colours. Here, Ane Margrethe is wearing a men’s jacket. Not everyone thinks the strict gender norms for the cardigan are okay. “Why is it called National Day?” Language has power. So also simple words. For example, the word “national day”. Every February 6, the use of the word national day must be explained. The Sami do not have their own state. A common misconception is that “nation” means “state” or “country”. According to the Great Norwegian Encyclopedia (SNL), nation is a term with several meanings: a group of people with a common social and cultural identity; a state formation or a state comprising a group with a common identity. The Sami are a people group with a common social and cultural identity, which is why the day is called national day. According to the Language Council, both “Sámi national day” and “Sámi people’s day” are found in legislation and the public sector. news uses the word national day rather than Sami people’s day following a recommendation from the Sami Parliament. So do many other media, bodies, actors and organizers. “Why isn’t the Sami’s national day a holiday?” Many people wonder why National Day is not a holiday in Norway. The short answer is that the politicians have not decided that it should be a day off. Several also suggest “swapping” days off. For example, changing Ascension Day with the Sami’s national day. What do you think? Should the Sami’s national day become an official holiday? Yes, I think so! No, we have enough days off. I don’t really care. Show result
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“Why is it called National Day?” This is what people wanted to know about the Sami’s national day – news Sápmi
