Sami Education

                                        

             In an article “Experiential Knowledge vs. Book/Classroom Knowledge,” Filippa Solomon describes the difference between Sami education and Western education. Solomon notes key learning styles that the traditional Sami culture valued, and compares it to the Western educational system. The Sami culture valued experiential knowledge (knowledge gained by performing specific jobs), apprenticeships (knowledge passed down from older generations to younger generations, and storytelling (knowledge of ethics and morals). In contrast, Western education was based mainly on bookwork. The differences between both educational systems can be best described by Solomon’s statement:

“While the western system of classroom/book learning leans on theoretical learning methods and places a value on how you fulfill the expectations put on you, the Sami way of learning is more of a truth, one that is tested on a day-to-day basis.”

Looking at the difference in valued knowledge can also show the difference between Sami education and Western Education. The article states that the Sami mostly value knowledge that is critical, and Western cultures value all knowledge even if it is not vital to the complete understanding of a topic. Solomon ends the article by talking about how the Western ways are already reaching the Sami, so the Sami will have to keep a strong cultural identity to share their views and knowledge with the world.

Filippa Solomon
Experiential Knowledge vs. Book/Classroom knowledge, http://www.utexas.edu/courses/sami/dieda/socio/exper-book.htm
Accessed July 21, 2013.

War on Sami

                                                    Picture from: http://www.sodatkuvina.cjb.net/

Have you ever considered what it would feel like fighting a war against someone you call your brother? Well the Sami have experienced this trauma and very clearly in World War II. The Sami felt the repercussions of the war. Although they are a very peaceful group of indigenous people, in this particular war they were practically forced to fight for their land rights' and even worse against their own kind. The reason for this is because the Sami are located in four different countries, but together are all known as the Sami. These countries are Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia.

The Sami came in very handy for this war in Europe; because of their culture they had already known skills passed down from generations that not many people had acquired such as being great skiers and navigating their way around unknown areas/trails. In the war they were used as navigators in long distance patrols. They ended up fighting with other Sami because a long time ago the regions in which the countries were dived was determined and that meant that the Sami were part of that country they lived in. So when their country fought the Sami were pulled into whatever was going on.

References:

Regering Kansliet

2010 The Sami- An indigenous people

http://www.samer.se/2137

Accessed July 17, 2013

Alehtta (Jessica Johnson)

2005 The Sami and World War II,

http://www.utexas.edu/courses/sami/dieda/hist/wwii.htm,

Accessed July 18, 2013

Reindeer Herding

    

     According to the article, it is not known as to when the Sami became affiliated with reindeer. Some sources have reported that the Sami were using them back in 500 A.D. for transportation, and others tell of the Sami hunting reindeer in the 9th century A.D. However, it is known that between the 16th and 17th centuries the Sami began to domesticate reindeer and became nomads with them. As wild reindeer numbers decreased, the Sami decided to make reindeer herding their main trade. They increased the mounts they had in their herds to aid in this process. Sami reindeer herding is now divided into 51 different communities, with agreements on how the land is divided for each herd during the summer, spring, autumn, and winter. It is believed that there are now 900 active reindeer herders and 300,000 reindeer in the Swedish territories alone.

     While the Sami that are known for reindeer herding are generally assumed to be from Sweden there are also  others located across country borders. These others are living in Sami communities from Scandinavia (Russia) and Norway.

Reference:

Dirk Sonniksen
Reindeer Herding in Sweden, http://www.utexas.edu/courses/sami/diehtu/siida/herding/herding-sw.htm,
Accessed July 21, 2013.

The Sami Language

The Sami language is Nature based.  It is extremely detailed with regards to the description of nature. There are about 300 words for describing snow and ice. Only a third of Sami are able to speak the language. Authorities believe their language is superior, so they teach that the Sami language is no good. Therefore, parents are afraid it might be dangerous for their children to learn the language. Nowadays, they have learned that all languages are equal, so the language is now growing.

                There is no single Sami language. Between all of the Sami groups, there are about 10 different, distinct languages. They are closely related, but one group of speakers cannot understand a different group’s language.  Due to authorities prohibiting the language in schools and at home, all Sami languages are now on their way to being extinct. Many people are attempting to expand the use of the Sami language; however, the legacy of cultural repression is still in existence.  Many Sami elders refuse to speak the language, which alienates the children who are now speaking it.

Sámigiella - an Arctic nature language - The Sami language, Galduorg, March 30, 2007 http://youtu.be/vkG7psgdl1o

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sami_people
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=v3SvXokCbi4

http://scandinavian.wisc.edu/dubois/Courses_folder/Sami_readings/Week3/LanguageToday.pdf

The Effects of Modernization on the Sami People

In ‘The “Finnification” of the Sami People’ Jesse Hirvela describes how the Sami, possibly the most indigenous people in the European Union, lost their culture to the modernization of Finland. The Sami are located in Finland, Norway, Sweden and the Kola Peninsula of Russia.  All four of these nations wanted to expand and to include the Sami people as a part of their population to help them build a nation. Because of this, the Sami were taxed by at least one nation and sometimes many governments. This forced them to increase their reindeer herding so the taxes could be paid with reindeer fur and meat.

Finland was one of the most brutal at oppressing the Sami culture. After World War Two, Finland was determined to rebuild itself and exceed its former glory. This meant the modernization of all areas of Finland, including Lapland that was home to the Sami people. Policies were put in place by the Finnish Government that forced the Sami to conform to Finnish culture, language and way of life. The Sami culture was seen as primitive and barbaric.

This oppression of the Sami people was a hushed topic in Finland until recently. Documentaries and Articles are beginning to be published with information about the Sami and how they were forced out of their way of life.  These publications include interviews with people who were forced to change their way of life, and children who were bullied in school by the Fins. The Sami people felt disrespected as a whole.

Today the Sami culture is endangered, but measures are being taken to preserve it. Classes are offered to learn the language for anyone who is interested. The Sami education movement began in the 1970’s and has grown steadily ever since.

References: 

Jesse Hirvela
2012 The ‘Finnification’ of The Sami People: A Silenced History. Electronic Document, http://crossingthebaltic.com/2012/09/21/the-finnification-of-the-sami-people-a-silenced-history/, accessed July 19, 2013.

Jennifer Foster
2000 Reindeer Herding in Norway. Electronic Document, http://www.utexas.edu/courses/sami/diehtu/siida/herding/herding-nr.htm, accessed July 19, 2013