There have probably never been more Sami people together in one place anywhere in the world, than i the Norwegian city of Trondheim last week. The Sami are the people of the North, the only people in Europe recognized as an indigenous people, and they came from all the four countries where the Sami lives. That is from Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. Their common nation is Sápmi.
The occasion was Tråante 2017, a celebration marking the 100 years that have passed since the first congress for the Sami people. That meeting was held in Trondheim between February 6th and 9th in 1917. Everyone was welcome of course, regardless of cultural background. But it was fascination to see so many Sami people with all their different national costumes, all over town.
During the celebration there will be a certain focus on democracy, justice and diversity. Tråante 2017 is also meant to give people better understanding about the Sami people; their culture and history during this centennial.
Nils-Anders og Per Maguns Appfjell, fra Brurskanken Rein, Helgeland in Nordland county. Their families are reindeer herders and they are also selling their own products, made of reindeer meat in different traditional ways.
There were many concerts in the opening week, among them Kalle Urheim from Tysfjord. Urheim mix modern music and old Sami traditions from his region, which is lulesami region. There were also a lot of different exhibitions, and I will recommend to join some Tråante events anywhere in Sápmi this year.
From the exhibition of the Norwegian photographer Torgrim Halvari. He has travelled to all the four countries in Sápmi, to make the collection: 100 Sámi Portraits. In this picture, Ida Marie Bransfjell, photographed in front of her own portrait. Bransfjell is a Sami politician represented in the Sami parliament, and also the project manager of Tråante 2017.
Traditional Sami houses, one for storage, at the Sverresborg cultural museum in Trondheim. This house, a gåetie, was built by Daniel Mortensson in the 1800s, and transfered to the museum in 1934. The Sami were then nomadic, and this gåetie was used in winter times.
There are more photos from Tråante 2017 on this link.
And there are some from the Sami fashion show in Trondheim last week on this link.
Link to my own exhibition, Båatsoe, a documentary of the South Sami reindeer herders, shown in a gallery in Trondheim now, and in two ther galleries later this year: https://bentehaarstad.wordpress.com/2017/01/25/baatsoe-living-with-reindeers/
That’s a fantastic post of the Sami people wth good information and top photo’s.
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Thank you very much Natuurfreak.
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Superbes photos ❤
Excellent weekend Bente
Salutations amicales
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Thank you Pierrette, merci. I hope your weekend was fine too. Have a lovely week.
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Fabulous post, Bente. I learned a lot and your images are wonderful. I was in Norway this past year and loved every minute of it. A beautiful part of the world!
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I am glad you liked the post Jane, and also your visit to Norway. The Sami people are so few and I think they deserve more people to know about their culture and way of life.
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Fine post!
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Thank you very much Harrie.
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Wow, that’s quite the celebration. The costumes and colors on their own are a visual smorgasbord for a photographer.
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Yes, the different folk costumes around the world is always so interesting. And beautiful. The details in these ones tells from which part of Sápmi the person is comming from. They tells a lot of stories. Thank you Emilio.
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gorgeous photos …
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Thank you Nancy. Best wishes to all you 4-legged friends.
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Superb photos Bente. I love their colourful dress.
No doubt easy to see on a snow covered landscape.
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Sure, easy to see on a snow covered landscape. But these dresses are more for the festive days, and usually not used while working with reindeers or other kind of work. But of course, many also have work clothes that shows their cultural heritage. Originally the everyday materials were mainly leather and fur. Reindeer fur is exceptionally good for keeping warm at 40 below zero. Thank you Vicki.
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Beautiful post, Bente! I went to Jokkmokks marknad the same week. Hope it is OK I linked to your post!
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Lucky you too, and I am sure the market at Jokkmokk was an adventure. It would have been interesting to visit northern Sweden once to see this market. Thank you Leya.
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Thank you!
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Great post and beautiful photos from the Sami people Bente, thanks for this blog, before I saw your blogs, I don’t no notting about this people.
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Great to know that there are things to learn. And thank you for your nice words Ann!
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Your welcome, and I love it to learn about this people Bente.
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How very interesting! This is so little known over here!
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I am glad you find it interesting. Thank you Fatimasaysell.
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Thank you for sharing! Love the photos, and love learning about the Sami. Always love seeing and learning about indigenous peoples, and now I am doing work on my family history (Ancestry.com), one of my great grandfathers came to the US from Tromso (??) in Norway, so I’m happy to learn more …..
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I also like learning about the differnt indigenous peoples around the world, and I am so lucky I have a group of them living and working in the mountains surrounding my home. You have family from Tromsø. That town is up north, in the middle of Sápmi. You might even have a Sami connection. Best of luck Barbara.
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So many smiles! Of course an occasion like this would bring smiles to faces, but everyone looks so happy and friendly, it seems it would be a pleasure to be there. I’m quite taken with the traditional structures. And I was intrigued by the photo showing the girl in traditional dress in front of quite modern photos. Are those Sami people in the photos? If so, it’s a lovely way to connect the old and the new.
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You are right, this really was a big occation for everybody involved, and I am sure it will mean a lot for the future of the Sami people. Thanks to your question I have added some information about the exhibition you as about, with links. And yes, they are all Sami in those photos. It is from the exhibition 100 Sámi Portraits, by Torgrim Halvari. Thank you Shoreacres.
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Hej! Oh vilka härliga bilder du visar från Trondheim! Fantastiskt att så många hade möjlighet att samlas på jubileet.Önskar verkligen att jag haft möjlighet att vara där jag med! Har ju same i släkten 🙂 (min morfars far var 50% same). Är mycket stolt över mitt ursprung. Har även haft förmånen att träffa riktiga original till samer i mitt liv.
Tusen tack för att du delat bilderna!!!
Allt gott till dig!
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Tusen takk for din entusiastiske kommentar, Svorskan, og så artig å høre at dette treffer deg personlig også! Kjempefint, alle må vi være stolte av vårt opphav. Røtter er jo så viktig. Tusen takk igjen, og alt godt til deg også!
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Oh, I wish I were there! But thank you for the lovely photo tour.
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Thank you, Dorannrule. I appreciate the kind words from Virginia.
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Wow! That sure gives us an idea of the crowd at this gathering. Wonderful photos, Bente. It’s great for us on the other side of the world to be shown what is happening on your side. What a history the Samis have!
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Fascinating to see a living culture of an indigenous people. Your documentary photo galleries and info is really informative in giving a view to outsiders. I shall look out for your next posts……
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So wonderful that so many people came to this gathering and celebration. I hope it raised awareness of this fascinating group of people with such a long history. Their clothing is so beautiful! Congrats again on your exhibition! -Sheri
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Love the vibrancy here!
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Last month I was following a Tv serie of Norvege and they told about the Sami. So I can understand it a little bit. Nice photos!
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