NEWS “At the present day, there is a lack of a holistic approach on Sami research in Sweden. There is a need for an entity that can gather and string together the knowledge that currently exists and which is constantly evolving,” says Peter Sköld, professor and director of the Centre for Sami Research at Umeå University.
The Centre for Sami Research or Vaartoe, which means “a mountain with wild miles view,” coordinates research related to the Sami, their culture, language, history and society, and initiates new research. There is now a strong desire to have similar approach at the national level.
“There is a lack of knowledge in regards to the conditions of the Sami. It exits in the Swedish as well as the Sami society. Policy makers, researchers, teachers, politicians, analysts, public officials and many often lack necessary background to deal with the matters concerning Sami issues,” says Peter Sköld.
The Sami are Sweden’s only indigenous people, and also throughout the whole of Europe in principle. The progress in Sápmi, the cultural region of the Sami people, can be described both in terms of successful collaboration and conflict.
“Nearly every year reindeer herders are in major legal trials with forest and mining industries on the right to use land and water, which is an area in need for increased research,” says Sköld. Other examples include the Sami quest for sustainable development in Sápmi, an area threatened by rapid environmental change. Research efforts in this area are essential for further development.
“Sami youth have alarmingly high suicide rate. Reindeer herding is the most dangerous profession in Sweden. Troublesome emigration rates are examples of other circumstances that have made the Sami push for more and better research.
Umeå University possesses outstanding opportunities to create an entirely unique research on indigenous peoples. There is nothing equivalent to the population data available at the Demographic Database. It includes individual statistics of all individuals who resided in Sápmi during 1750-1900.
“Each individual can be monitored from cradle to grave, during the entire colonization process," says Peter Sköld.
The Sami people are often perceived as a positive example for other indigenous peoples, in terms of rights, organization and life expectancy. Their experience is of global interest and Sami research is vital in the context of international research on indigenous people.
The objective of a national Sami centre will be to raise the general level of knowledge about Sami culture and conditions, according to Professor Sköld. The centre will respond to societal and scientific needs, and promote internationalization. There are similar national centres for Sami research in both Norway and Finland.
Quick facts about the Sami: • Sweden’s only recognised indigenous people • also one of five national minorities in Sweden • reside in four countries • speak nine different languages
• represented since 1993 by the Sámi Parliament
Vaartoe – Centre for Sami Research
http://www.cesam.umu.se/index_eng.html
10th Annual Sami Week at Umeå University
http://www.umu.se/english/about-umu/news-events/news/-newsdetailpage?contentId=32033&languageId=3
Editor: David Meyers