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Trondheim wants to preserve and promote Sami culture
Mayor of Trondheim Rita Ottervik and the President of Sami Parliament Silje Karine Muotka signed a historical mutual co-operation agreement, the Norwegian city announced on their website.
Mayor Ottervik stated on social media: A truly historic day in Trondheim. Trondheim municipality has signed a cooperation agreement with the Sami Parliament. It obliges us to ensure good conditions for the Sami language and culture in our city.’’
The Sámi are Finno-Ugric-speaking people who live in the Sápmi region, which includes significant parts of northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia’s Murmansk Oblast. Around 80,000 Sami are estimated to live in these four countries today, with nearly half of them residing in Norway.
Trondheim is also the largest city in the South Sámi region. Sami people from all Sami language groups have settled down in this Norwegian city. Between 150 and 200 people were involved in the Sami community in Trondheim last year.
Despite the fact that the Sami people are well-integrated into the broader community, there is growing interest in the their language and culture. The cooperation agreement between the two parties aims to preserve and develop the Sami language, culture and society in Trondheim. At the same time, it will also serve to promote the Sami culture among the non-Sami residents of Trondheim.
The municipality of Trondheim stated that it will inform citizens on a regular basis about the issues that are of interest to members of the Sami community, such as Sami kindergarten programs, the right to Sami language training, Sami language services, and interpreting services.
Furthermore, the art and culture of the Sami will be displayed in public areas throughout Trondheim. The Norwegian city is also working to provide a meeting space for Sami events, which is being done with the help of Sami organizations active in Trondheim. (photo credit: wikimedia)
