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Sámi Language Policy in the Nordic Countries

Guy PuzeyUniversity

of

Edinburgh

Oilthigh

Dhùn

Èideann

British‐Irish Council Indigenous, Minority and Lesser‐Used Languages GroupLegislation Seminar7‐8 November 2013

Who are the Sámi?

Sámi

Saami

Old/politically incorrect names:

*Sami

*Lapps

*Finns (in Norway)

Sápmi

1. South Sámi (600)

2. Ume Sámi (10)

3. Pite Sámi (25-50)

4. Lule Sámi (1-2,000)

5. North Sámi (15-25,000)

6. Skolt Sámi (400)

7. Anár/Inari Sámi (300)

8. Kildin Sámi (600)

9. Ter Sámi (2)

Áhkkil/Akkala/Babinsk Sámi – possibly extinct

Kemi Sámi – extinct

Kainuu Sámi – extinct

Sámi languages (and latest numbers)

The Uralic languages

Identification as Sámi

Language

Ancestry/ethnic definitions

Place of residence

Occupation

Approx. 80,000-135,000 Sámi living in the Nordic countries.

20,000-30,000 speakers of Sámi languages.

Historical development of Sámi policy in modern Norway

Norwegianisation period c. 1870-1960s

Assimilation

Traditional culture > taboo/forbidden

Language ostracised

Nationalism (and fear of Finland?)

Territorial demarcation: borders

Land purchase rights linked to language

The Alta affair

Assimilation > integration

Constitution of Norway, Article 110a

(added 1988)

‘Det paaligger Statens Myndigheder at lægge Forholdene til Rette for at den samiske Folkegruppe kan sikre og udvikle sit Sprog, sin Kultur og sit Samfundsliv.’

‘It is the responsibility of the authorities of the State to create conditions enabling the Sámi people to safeguard and develop their language, culture and way of life.’

The Sámi Act 1987

Came into force 1989

All-encompassing law

Established Norwegian Sámi Parliament (Sámediggi) in Kárášjohka-Karasjok

Voting eligibility based on identity, language and ancestry

10,040 voters in September 2013 elections

International agreements

ILO Convention no. 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples (ratified by Norway in 1990)

European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages

UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007)

Language-specific legislation

Sámi and Norwegian ‘languages of equal worth’

Equal status in certain localities

Forvaltningsområdet for samisk språk[Sámi Language Administrative Area]

Right to reply

Translations of rules

Use of Sámi in court proceedings

Health and social sector

Individual church services

Right to leave of absence for education

Right to tuition

Municipal administration

Sámi in other legislation

Place-Name Act 1990, Article 9

‘Samiske og kvenske stadnamn som blir nytta blant folk som bur fast på eller har næringsmessig tilknyting til staden, skal til vanleg brukast av det offentlege t.d. på kart, skilt, i register saman med eventuelt norsk namn.’

‘Sámi and Kven place-names that are used among those who are resident in the place in question, or among those who have economic connections to the place, will normally be used by government bodies on e.g. maps, signs and in registers, together with any existing Norwegian name.’

A vandalised bilingual Sámi/Norwegian municipal boundary  sign from Gáivuotna‐Kåfjord.

Photograph: April 2007

Sámi parliaments/assemblies outside Norway

Sweden: Parliament since 1993 in Kiruna-Giron

4,530 voters in 2013

Largest party = Jakt- och fiskesamerna

Finland: Parliament since 1996 in Inari (Aanaar [in Inari Sámi] / Enare [in Swedish])

Elected by municipalities in Sámi Domicile Area in northern Finland

Russia: Unofficial Kola Sámi Assembly in 2010, not yet recognised by authorities but supported by other Sámi assemblies

International co-operation

Future Nordic Sámi Convention?

Arctic Council

International Barents Secretariat

Guy PuzeyUniversity of

Edinburgh

Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann

g.puzey@ed.ac.uk

British‐Irish Council Indigenous, Minority and Lesser‐Used Languages GroupLegislation Seminar7‐8 November 2013