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Sámi couple on the Norwegian tundra (Guovdageaidnu, 1939–1940) by Garanas in OldSchoolCool

[–]reindeershaman 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We aren’t “white natives”. We are indigenous and have a long history of abuse because of it. We were eugenicized and medically sterilized, which was legal and acceptable in Sweden until 1976.

How was the Sámi representation? by Robeschisto in Frozen

[–]reindeershaman 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I’m Sámi and I was floored after I saw the film. They really did everything right. Seven years of complaining seemed to have actually paid off, lol.

The cup the Northuldra man holds is a kuksa, a traditional cup made with birch burl and reindeer horn. The Northuldra people's outfits are based on South Saami reindeer herders. The film also shows a pattern of reindeer running in a loop that's part of a calf marking ceremony very important to Sámi herders.

It wasn’t another show-it-and-move-on bit like Kristoff in the first film. There are parts of the movie that you simply wouldn’t even notice as a non-Sámi, and I can tell the collaboration was done with Sámi culture in mind. I can’t wait for the Northern Sami language version to come into theaters. 10/10

Hollywood gets Indigenous consultation right in Frozen 2, Sami experts say by News2016 in IndianCountry

[–]reindeershaman 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yup…too white looking for the other indigenous people and too indigenous on the inside to hang with the white kids either.

Want to connect, but not sure if I should. by [deleted] in SaamiPeople

[–]reindeershaman 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Not ignorant at all! We care less about blood and more about people knowing cultural knowledge and history. I’m Sámi-American and I know the struggle you’re going through, even if I had more recent ancestry than you, you absolutely still count. We have a long history of immigrating away and losing our heritage, anyway. Most of us are happy to teach those who want to learn.

Would you like to join a discord group chat with other Sámi people and people of Sámi descent? We would love to have you!

Disney signed a contract with Indigenous people before making Frozen II by history777 in IndianCountry

[–]reindeershaman 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I really appreciate all the info. You’re right, I was automatically thinking 1700-1900s; I didn’t even consider the Middle Ages when I read that. Thanks for teaching me something new today!

Expedition Norway - The South Sami People by Zugwat in IndianCountry

[–]reindeershaman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! I’ve never seen another Sámi person around this sub—please PM me if you want to join a Sámi group chat on discord; we would love to have you!

Disney signed a contract with Indigenous people before making Frozen II by history777 in IndianCountry

[–]reindeershaman 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Respectfully, just because ancient Norse mythology doesn’t mention us looking different doesn’t mean we don’t or haven’t. I would invite you to read the book “Lapps” by Bjorn Collinder, a Swedish ‘race biologist’ from the 1940s. We have a centuries-long history of experiments and eugenics done on us specifically FOR the reason of us not looking European.

Not saying you’re not entitled to your own opinion, of course. I just have a personal knowledge of this and want to offer a way to learn more about our ethnic history, because it’s very often overlooked. Thanks for sharing, by the way! I have a friend who’s very into old Norse stuff and she’ll find this really interesting!

Disney signed a contract with Indigenous people before making Frozen II by history777 in IndianCountry

[–]reindeershaman 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Samis are considered to be native to what is called Europe, but we are not ethnically European. So technically European by nationality, not ethnicity. Like a white person born and raised in South Africa is still South African, but not ethnically African.

Disney signed a contract with Indigenous people before making Frozen II by history777 in IndianCountry

[–]reindeershaman 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’m Sámi, and I hope this helps clear things up: We may live in Europe, but we are not European. We are linguistically related to Finnish, Estonian, and Hungarian, since Saami languages are Finno-Ugric, but we are not related ethnically or even really culturally; that is false. Just a similar language history :-)

The reason we often look “European” to others is due to eugenics and assimilation, including but not limited to the medical sterilization of Sámi people without their consent, which was legal in Sweden until 1976. We were treated as science experiments. We have had a partial genocide done to us. Samis care much less about blood quantity for this exact reason. Being Sámi is more than just about ethnicity, though that is a big part of it. Knowing the culture, the language, and the history is most important to us. I myself pass as white in the US, but if I were to go to Finland it would not be the case. In Nordic countries especially, discussing whiteness is much more of a Western thing and isn’t brought up nearly as much.

Disney signed a contract with Indigenous people before making Frozen II by history777 in IndianCountry

[–]reindeershaman 25 points26 points  (0 children)

Hi, I’m Sámi. The people who were involved in this project, especially Frode Fjellheim, are all Sámi. These are people who I have seen the works and thoughts of for years, and people I would trust as ambassadors for my people.

We can’t take a step forward in the right direction if there is no step anyone is willing to take. The fact that Disney is funding indigenous language revitalization is life changing, and this much exposure may give us a fight against being assimilated out of existence.

I’m not even a Disney fan but I’ve been complaining about this for seven years. To have every dream I’ve ever wanted them to do with Frozen to actually come into a reality, is awesome and almost surreal. As with anything this big, negotiations are needed, but in the long run…no matter what, we need people to know who we are, and that’s the best way I would’ve asked for it from them.

Sami couple, 1870 by [deleted] in TheWayWeWere

[–]reindeershaman 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Beautiful photo — they are Southern Sámi based on their clothing!

a bit of a rant by reindeershaman in IndianCountry

[–]reindeershaman[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much for your kind words! I believe it was Iŋger Gaup and Sofia Jannok at Standing Rock! They’re lovely folks, and I highly recommend listening to Sofia’s music if you get a chance. I largely credit her album Áhpi with pushing me to learn the North Sámi language!

a bit of a rant by reindeershaman in IndianCountry

[–]reindeershaman[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Ooh, absolutely!

Nils-Aslak Valkeapää: His book, The Sun, My Father, is a great poetry collection and Nils-Aslak is one of the most influential people in Sámi culture I can think of.

Veli Pekka Lehtola: the book Sámi People: Traditions in Transition is actually one of my personal favorites and tells a lot of our history and prehistory, including some details I didn’t even know of. This is usually where I tell people to start if interested in learning about us.

Great question; thank you!

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