Sámi is cool!

Sámi parliament’s report on

the Sámi language

March 18, 2004

Contents of report

• 1. Introduction• 2. Language policy as a concept• 3. Basis of the Sámi Parliament’s work on

language• 4. About the Sámi language in general• 5. The Sámi Parliament’s priority measures• 6. Language groups• 7. Economic and administrative consequences

1. Introduction

• This report is the basis for a broad and comprehensive dialog concerning Sámi language policy.

• The Sámi Parliament is responsible only for the development of language, but also for culture and society, and if they are to have a future, it is necessary to establish a bilingual society where possible.

1. Introduction, cont’d.

• Language is the vehicle for a culture, and through language a person is socialized into a society.

• Language is one of the most fundamental parts of the Sámi identity, for it contains values, experiences, and information about the Sámi people.

• The value of the language means a lot for a person’s self-image.

2. Language policy as a concept

• Language policy concerns a language’s public status, and also involves protection of the language. Policy includes rules for: orthography, new terminology, use of foreign and borrowed words. Policy should also provide for implementation.

2. Language policy as a concept, cont’d.

• It is important that the rights of language minorities be protected.

• In the EU the recognition and protection of language diversity is a central question.

3. Basis of the Sámi Parliament’s work on language

• Sámi and Norwegian are languages with equal status. Various laws and regulations hold the Norwegian state responsible for the Sámi language.

• Laws strengthening the use of the Sámi language:– 1987 Sámi law -- established the Sámi

Parliament and other rights, amended in 1990 to include legal right to use Sámi

3. Basis of the Sámi Parliament’s work on language, cont’d.

• More on the 1987 Sámi law:– This law merely sets a minimum standard,

merely invites public institutions to consider the needs of Sámi-speaking users.

– Defines the Sámi administrative area, in which people have the right to received public services in Sámi.

3. Basis of the Sámi Parliament’s work on language, cont’d.

• ILO Convention 169: The Norwegian state is legally and politically responsible for strengthening the Sámi language and providing conditions for Sámi education and use. Article 82 of the convention states: “Measures shall be taken to protect and promote the development and use of the original languages of the people in question.”

3. Basis of the Sámi Parliament’s work on language, cont’d.

• The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, ratified by EU in 1992 -- protects minority languages because European culture is a composite of many cultures. Article 7 of the Charter holds the nation-states responsible to take concrete measures to protect regional and minority languages, so that they will be visible in politics, legislation, and use. Article 15 establishes a reporting system on how a country’s policy is implemented. Norway has ratified this Charter.

3. Basis of the Sámi Parliament’s work on language, cont’d.

• Norwegian Parliament reports -- In each session of Parliament there is a report on the measures taken to strengthen the Sámi language, culture, and society. These reports say:– It is important to protect the Sámi language in all parts

of society. Sámi is a threatened language. Sámi culture, history, and place names need to be made visible, both publicly and in the school system.

• The Sámi Parliament has expressed its satisfaction with these intentions.

3. Basis of the Sámi Parliament’s work on language, cont’d.

• The Sámi Parliament’s plan for 2002-05: “We can manage with Sámi” -- to protect, revitalize and develop the Sámi language because it is the fundamental criterion for ensuring the future of the Sámi culture. A living language must be used in everyday life, both in the home and in the public arena.

3. Basis of the Sámi Parliament’s work on language, cont’d.

• Collaboration with district administrations -- they have worked out a plan for how they will fulfill the demands of language regulation. The Sámi Parliament acknowledges these intentions and notes that the agreement gives the Sámi Parliament and the Troms and Finnmark administrations the duty to develop the Sámi language.

3. Basis of the Sámi Parliament’s work on language, cont’d.

• Nordic language collaboration -- the Sámi language committee (est. 1971, since 1997 coordinates efforts in Finland, Sweden, Norway, under Sámi parliamentary council since 2002) -- official organ that makes decisions concerning the language, made up of 12 members representing the languages & countries, each with 4-yr terms -- the language committee 1) protects and promotes the Sámi language, works on developing terminology and standardization, maintains contacts with institutions in the Sámi lands and internationally

4. About the Sámi language in general

• The Sámi languages (northern-, lule-, southern-, ume-, pite-, enare-, skolte-, kildin-, ter-, akkala-) are spoken in four countries. Internationally Sámi is a threatened language. Sámi speakers live in small sparsely scattered communities. There has been legislation to protect Sámi and it is still needed. The Sámi law in Norway secures basic rights to use the Sámi language. It is important to incorporate a bilingual language policy throughout all sectors of society. The Sámi language cannot be developed if the language is not used and visible.

5. The Sámi Parliament’s priority measures

• Making the Sámi language visible: If the language is to survive, it must not only be heard and spoken, it must be seen. There should be bilingual signage on roads and in towns, hotels, busses, planes, shops, and public agencies. This should include private enterprises also, and the Sámi Parliament is prepared to assist them. They will also assist in translating laws and regulations into the Sámi languages.

5. The Sámi Parliament’s priority measures, cont’d.

• The need for the Sámi language -- there should be opportunities to use Sámi in all levels of society, so that using Sámi is a natural experience, so that Sámi-speaking children feel secure. There is no educational program for Sámi interpreting in Norway, and interpreters cannot be authorized. The Sámi Parliament will work to establish an educational program. The “We can manage with Sámi” campaign will encourage use of Sámi. The Sámi Parliament will work to create an oversight organ to make sure Sámi is used in public institutions. The Sámi Parliament will set an example by using Sámi as the main language of administration and offering education for its members who need Sámi instruction.

5. The Sámi Parliament’s priority measures, cont’d.

• Language plans:– The Sámi Parliament will update its language

policy in all Sámi districts– The Sámi Parliament asks the municipalities

and district administrations in the Sámi administrative area to create language development plans

5. The Sámi Parliament’s priority measures, cont’d.

• Information:– The Sámi Parliament will ask the public agencies to

actively inform people of their rights to use Sámi, and will continue their own work in publicizing the duties and rights concerning Sámi language and education. They will encourage public institutions to use Sámi. They will consider a project to inform parents and people who work with children about bilingualism. They will send a brochure about bilingualism to all households in certain districts.

5. The Sámi Parliament’s priority measures, cont’d.

• Municipalities in Sámi administrative area

• Spent 33.85M Kr (approx. $5 M) on language issues in 2004.– Sámi Parliament will request regular meetings

with municipalities to discuss use of Sámi– Sámi Parliament will encourage the

municipalities to give priority to measures for development of Sámi.

5. The Sámi Parliament’s priority measures, cont’d.

• Funding for projects (5M Kr allocated in 2004)– Every year the Sámi Parliament will identify

priority initiatives for funded projects.– The Sámi Parliament will work to allocate

funds to those areas where the language is not so strong.

5. The Sámi Parliament’s priority measures, cont’d.

• Expansion of the Sámi administrative area– The Sámi Parliament will consider sending out

preliminary inquiries to several municipalities to ask if they could be included in the Sámi administrative area.

– The municipalities that are interested can get information about what it entails from the Sámi Parliament.

5. The Sámi Parliament’s priority measures, cont’d.

• Language centers -- 7 language centers were established in 2004 in Norway, and a research center needs to be established.– The Sámi Parliament will work to establish

more language centers.– The Sámi Parliament will support the

establishment and maintenance of a language research center for Sámi.

5. The Sámi Parliament’s priority measures, cont’d.

• Sámi language committee– The Sámi Parliament will have a unified Sámi

language policy in Norway, and will participate in the establishment of a common North Sámi word data base.

5. The Sámi Parliament’s priority measures, cont’d.

• Terminology and collaboration– Work on Sámi terminology must be supported

and developed, especially for areas where it is most needed, such as schools.

– The Sámi Parliament will update the Sámi word database to include also lule- and south- Sámi terms.

– Work on terminology must be coordinated across national boundaries.

5. The Sámi Parliament’s priority measures, cont’d.

• Children and young people– The Sámi Parliament will initiate a “Sámi is

cool” youth campaign.– SP will consider supporting social gatherings

for youth and children where learning and use of Sámi is central.

– SP will work to ensure that children have equal opportunities to develop their language both inside and outside the administrative area.

5. The Sámi Parliament’s priority measures, cont’d.

• Children and young people (cont’d.)– SP will encourage municipalities to buy Sámi books so

that children will have access to them.– SP feels it is important to establish exchange programs

so that young people can live with Sámi speaking families in order to learn Sámi.

– SP will consider supporting means to recruit more men into working at kindergartens and schools.

– SP will support production of electronic Sámi educational materials.

5. The Sámi Parliament’s priority measures, cont’d.

• The elderly– SP will support terminology projects in

the health and social sector.• Sámi people and non-Sámi people who

don’t know Sámi– SP will support efforts to provide free

Sámi instruction for people who want it.

5. The Sámi Parliament’s priority measures, cont’d.

• Sámi people and others who do know Sámi– SP will support language development in the

administrative area including language and culture measures.

– SP will begin a literacy program in all Sámi districts for people who have not learned to read and write Sámi.

– SP will make word lists available to the population.

5. The Sámi Parliament’s priority measures, cont’d.

• Technology– SP will support production of Sámi language

computer games and translation of games that already exist.

– SP will work to finance spell/grammar-check and speech synthesizing programs.

5. The Sámi Parliament’s priority measures, cont’d.

• Media and literature (SP’s language board went to Wales in 2003 and saw how they were dealing with the same problems):– SP will give regular support to the Š magazine (for young

people) and the development of others– SP will consider a stipend for authors who write for young

audiences– SP will support the Sámi language offerings on internet,

video, and radio– SP will work to have Sámi TV news offered every day and

to extend broadcast hours– SP will work to have daily Sámi TV programs for children

and youth

5. The Sámi Parliament’s priority measures, cont’d.

• Sámi place names and signage– SP will support Sámi place name projects– SP will consider undertaking a major place

name project in collaboration with the northern municipalities.

– SP will ask central authorities to provide Sámi signage in conformity with the place name law.

5. The Sámi Parliament’s priority measures, cont’d.

• Evaluation of Sámi language– SP will take the initiative to evaluate the use of

Sámi in public settings– SP will participate in the evaluation of the Sámi

law’s language regulations.