Let the River Flow. An Indigenous Uprising and its Legacy in Art, Ecology and Politics

by Katya Garcia-Anton (Editor), Harald Gaski (Editor), Gunvor Guttorm

The Áltá Action (c. 1978–82) radically shook the course of history in the Nordic region. Its call to ‘let the river live’ rallied against the construction of a large dam across the Álttáeatnu river on the Norwegian side of Sápmi, the Sámi homeland. The Action catapulted the demands for Indigenous sovereignty to the forefront of the politics of the time, and grew into an unexpectedly broad movement of solidarity in which Sámi artists played a central role. Many key questions raised by the Áltá Action pertinent in the region and beyond remain unresolved today. Let the River Flow makes essential reading for any discussion regarding how governments, artists and citizens will act upon these questions within the frame of today’s worldwide call for decolonisation and Indigenisation.

New essays by 24 leading Indigenous artists, writers and scholars as well as allies, together with key existing texts, focus on the significant political and artistic reverberations of the Action past and present. These include current Indigenous discourses and protests across Sápmi, and internationally. Let the River Flow addresses readers with an interest in decolonial, Indigenous, solidarity and environmental questions within artistic practice and beyond.

Contributors: Sebastián Calfuqueo Aliste, Matti Aikio, Ivar Bjørklund, Mari Boine, Daniela Catrileo, Carolina Caycedo, Raven Chacon, Eva Maria Fjellheim, Katya García-Antón, Harald Gaski, Gunvor Guttorm, Aslak Holmberg, Chief Arvol Looking Horse, Sofia Jannok, Rauna Kuokkanen, Wanda Nanibush, Beaska Niillas, Synnøve Persen, Katarina Pirak Sikku, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Niillas A. Somby, Paulus Utsi, Nils-Aslak Valkeapää, Magne Ove Varsi. Edited by Katya García-Antón, Harald Gaski and Gunvor Guttorm (OCA / Valiz, 2020).

Genres: Indigenous

297 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[Sav :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book and carried it around while traveling for a few months - it disintegrated and now it is a mere stack of paper. But it’s a cool stack of paper. The style of storytelling is artistic and unique. I think it offers a lot of insight into successful land sovereignty movements (with legal/institutional resources too!). I recommend- although it is a bit dense.

[Rascal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very beautifully designed book, a lovely gift from my sister in law (though the cover did detach from the spine of the book, and I only took it out of the house once). I didn't know about the Alta Action, and was nice to learn more about the Sami people. An important corrective.