2019 Chapters (Layout Features)

Further Assimilation

Lifjell, Ole-Henrik

My name is Ole-Henrik Lifjell. I am a 24-year-old Sámi on the Norwegian side of Sápmi. I am what you call an Åarjel-saemie, a southern Sámi. Sápmi is the term we Sámi use to refer to the geographical area in which we reside. This includes the countries of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. The Sámi are widely spread out and there are cultural differences and differences in language between us, even though we are one People.

We see that the way the Sámi are treated by governments also differs among the four countries in which we live. This has historically made—and still makes—it difficult for us Sámi to stand united as one People. We do not face the same challenges in our respective countries, and the governments in each country have different histories in the way they treated our ancestors (and how that has led to the way we are treated today). This is something that, in my experience, is dividing us Sámi.