By Omar and Amari
During this trip, we learned a lot about the Sami people, their culture, and their place in Norway.
We observed various exhibitions about the Sami people and their struggle for acceptance and fair treatment within Norwegian society. We learned about the dam that was built, which would result in the flooding of an entire Sami village, and the amount of protest and advocacy it sparked for Sami rights. This led to the Sami people eventually gaining a footing in Norway and advocating for equality and respect for their way of life. Since then, the Sami people have been advocating for themselves and working alongside the Norwegian government, engaging with royalty, and signing treaties to ensure that Sami tradition and their land are respected.
We got to see examples of modern Sami people and their place in society. Some worked regular jobs while others maintained the tradition of reindeer herding and fishing, but they all kept their Sami tradition alive and donated artifacts to the museum.
One point I found interesting was what our tour guide said about the Sami people and their influence on Norwegian culture. Norway has been influenced by Sami culture in many ways that are not immediately visible, and the country itself would not be the same without the Sami people. We not only learned about their struggles but also their accomplishments and way of life. Their use of tools for traversal, such as skis, was fascinating to see up close in the displays. We saw the tools they used for gathering and building, as well as those used for protecting their reindeer from predators.
One thing that stood out was the video featuring three Black men accompanying a Sami woman on stage during an event in 1960, a time when Black people in America were subjected to violent racism. Meanwhile, in Norway, they weren’t even seen as Black people; they were seen as Norwegians. This comparison is interesting because it shows one ethnic group (Black people) who were treated improperly in one place, in an environment where they are treated fairly, while a separate ethnic group (the Sami) in the same environment is treated with less regard for their humanity.
