Sami Culture in a New Era: The Norwegian Sami Experience

by Harald Gaski (editor)

The Sami are an ancient Arctic culture struggling for existence while adjusting to a modern way of life. They represent values that have enabled them to survive for thousands of years in a harsh northern climate. Here Sami scholars investigate the manifold experiences of an ethnic minority in the welfare state of modern Norway.This collection of articles covers a wide range of topics in present-day Sami life. It deals with some of the problems connected to the modernization of traditional livelihoods, such as reindeer husbandry, and it also delves into the ever-recurring question of how to maintain the identity of a threatened minority. The new roles of education, health care, mass media, and literature are discussed, as well as Sami history from a frontier perspective.

223 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Carole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I knew nothing about the Sami people until a recent trip to Norway. It has been very interesting learning about these indigenous people from the European arctic north. There are parallels with our American relationships with the American Indians, but then things that the Europeans seem to have done better. There has been a lot of effort made to help/allow these indigenous people to protect their language and culture. This book is 25 years old, so I’m sure there is much more to be said today.

[Apostate · Rating 3 out of 5]

An fascinating glimpse into the modern lives of an interesting aboriginal people. A variety of subjects is covered by experts (many, if not all, of them Saami themselves). The cover photo moves me: one lone Saami flag being waved in a sea of Norwegian tricolors. The quality of the essays is a bit uneven & I wish it dealt covered the Saami living in Sweden, Finland, & Russia as well.