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The Ethnic Identity of the Sami People

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The Ethnic Identity of the Sami People Bachelor thesis The ethnic identity of the Sami people A study about the perception of Samis’ ethnic identity Author: Ludvig Malmquist Supervisor: Lennart Wohlgemuth Examiner: Manuela Nilsson Term: HT20 Subject: Peace and development studies Level: Bachelor Course code: 2FU33E Abstract The purpose of this thesis is to analyze perceptions about the Sami ethnic identity. In order to analyze the topic, this thesis is using a qualitative method. It seeks to answer the research questions “how do the Sami perceive they can live and express their ethnic identity?” and “how are the Sami people´s ethnic identity being portrayed by others”?. The conclusions were reached through studying language and to be more specific, a discourse analysis using various academic papers and from newspaper articles. The analysis is based on a broad analytical framework which consists of stigma by Goffman, Ethnicity by Olsson, Ålund and Johansson and ethnic identity three stage model development by Phinney. These theories and concepts were chosen since they are the most suitable theories in order to analyze the objective. The findings were broken down into four different topics, the topics are “reindeer herding”, “relationship with each other and other indigenous groups”, “climate change” and “Sami identity”. The results suggest that Sami people are proud of their identity and that they can express their identity, even though there are perceptions about that they live in a colonial system. The results also suggest that non-Sami people very often perceive the Sami ethnicity in a negative way. The results correspond to stigma and ethnicity and mostly regarding ethnic identity development. However there are some flaws in the ethnic identity development three-stage model. Key words: Sami, ethnicity, perception, indigenous, discourse Acknowledgments I would like to thank my supervisor Lennart Wohlgemuth for his help and support whilst writing this thesis. I would also like to thank my program director Manuela Nilsson, who, throughout the years always has been there for me especially to discuss my thoughts and concerns. A big thank goes to my friend Jessica Harvey who proof read this thesis before I submitted it. Two special thanks go to Gunilla Nordlund and Maja Bonta who helped me to prepare for a potential field study in Umeå. This was unfortunately cancelled due to COVID-19. In my previous bachelor thesis, I already thanked my friends Clara, Jakob, Hasan, Josefin, Linda, Oskar, Pernilla, Gustav, Lovisa, Hampus, Christos and Tajda. In this thesis, I would also like to thank all of my friends during my time at Linnaeus University. You have been amazing friends and showed that you love me, helped me, always been there for me and made my life better. For this, I will be forever grateful. Table of contents 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Introduction, research problem and relevance 1 1.2 Objective and research questions 3 1.3 Disposition 4 2 Literature review 5 2.1 Natural exploitation and mines and history 6 2.2 The Sami languages 7 2.3 Discrimination of the Sami people in Norway 8 2.4 The Sami identity 9 2.5 Summary 11 3 Analytical framework 11 3.1 Identity 12 3.2 Ethnicity 13 3.3 Ethnic identity development 15 3.4 Conclusion of analytical framework 16 3.5 Use of framework 16 4 Methodological framework 17 4.1 Qualitative method and discourse analysis 17 4.1.1 Operationalizing 20 4.2 Critical discussion 21 4.3 Abductive reasoning 21 4.4 Choice of material 22 4.5 Ethical considerations 24 4.6 Limitations and delimitations 24 5 Background 25 5.1 Reindeer herding in a historical context 26 5.2 The Girjas reindeer community 27 6 Findings 28 6.1 Reindeer herding 28 6.2 Relationships within the Sami group and other indigenous peoples 31 6.3 Climate change 34 6.4 Sami identity 36 7 Analysis 38 7.1 Stigma 38 7.2 Ethnicity 39 7.3 Ethnic identity development 40 7.4 Summary 41 8 Conclusion 42 9 References 45 List of abbreviations DA - Discourse Analysis DN - Dagens Nyheter SR - Sveriges Radio UN - United Nations UR - UtbildningsRadion USA - United States of America WHO - World Health Organization 1 Introduction 1.1 Introduction, research problem and relevance The identity of ethnic minorities can be a complex issue. There can be a focus from the major society to obliterate minorities’ ethnic identity. The perceived marginal situation the ethnic minorities have in the society, leads to an existential vacuum of their identities since they are not accepted into the majority society and have no strong connection to any identity (Von Klaus, 1972, p. 46). Indigenous people is considered as an ethnic group (sametinget, 2020a) and since 1977, the Sami people has been considered as an indigenous group by the parliament of Sweden (sametinget, 2020b). The Sami people is an ethnic minority who live in the north of Scandinavia and the Kola Peninsula (NE, n.d). The area where the Sami people live is called Sápmi (sametinget, 2020b) and is located in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Russia (samiskt informationscentrum, n.d) but Sápmi is more than a geographical area, it is also a cultural belonging (sametinget, 2020b). Estimates state that there are between 40 000 and 60 000 Sami living in Sweden (ibid). Indigenous people are unique practitioners of culture and environment and have a special way of living that is different from the way most of the world’s modern societies have. Even though they have throughout history sought recognition of their identities, territories, and natural resources, their rights have most of the time been violated. Indigenous people are now one of the most vulnerable people in the world (United Nations, n.da). 1(53) The World Health Organization’s (WHO) definition of indigenous people is “Indigenous populations are communities that live within or are attached to, geographically distinct traditional habitats or ancestral territories, and who identify themselves as being part of a distinct cultural group, descended from groups present in the area before modern states were created and current borders defined. They generally maintain cultural and social identities, and social, economic, cultural and political institutions, separate from the mainstream or dominant society or culture.” (WHO, 2020). Sweden has received criticism from the United Nations (UN) for having a colonial history which includes race biology, political discrimination, forced displacement, and theft of Sámi land (Amnesty International, n.d). Studies have been made regarding colonialism, for instance Carlsson (2020) argues that Sweden has neglected the colonial system through the absence of Sápmi in various documents. In particular, studies indicate that the management of mineral extraction ignores the importance of the land for the Sami communities (Jääskeläinen, 2020, p. 49, 54) and that in mining permitting processes, reindeer communities have limited opportunities in influencing the process (Raitio , Allard, Lawrence, 2020, p. 12). Other studies stress the importance of language revitalization and learning a Sami language in order to strengthen one’s cultural identity (Sarivaara, Keskitalo, 2015 p. 16). The situation regarding the Samis living in Norway has also been a research topic where studies suggest that Samis experience more discrimination than non Sami do (Hansen et.al 2016 p. 78-79; Hansen, Melhus, Høgmo, Lund 2007 p. 99) and that this discrimination is partly due to ethnicity (Hansen, et.al, 2016, p 78- 79). Despite the broad research that has been made regarding the situation of the Sami, there is little research about how they perceive their ethnic identity 2(53) themselves and how they are being portrayed. There is therefore a need to complement the contemporary research field regarding how Samis express their ethnic identity and how their identity is being portrayed. Therefore, this thesis will investigate this. Since this thesis is going to examine how Samis express their ethnic identity and how their identity is being portrayed, the topic of this thesis will elaborate with the topic regarding ethnicity and diversity. The results can be used in order to increase the understanding regarding ethnicity and the situation and perception about ethnic minorities. Therefore, the results from this research will provide more knowledge about goal number ten from the sustainable development goals which is “reduced inequality” and more specifically target number 10.2 which is “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status” (UN, n.db). By studying the perceptions about Samis’ ethnic identity, it can contribute to the understanding about the group’s social position in the society which can therefore enable a better understanding about how to increase ethnic groups’ empowerment. Since the results will contribute with more knowledge about how to achieve the sustainable development goals, the topic is highly relevant. 1.2 Objective and research questions The aim of this research is to understand how the Sami people perceive their ethnic identity and if they experience that they can express their identity. Further, this thesis aims to examine how the Sami people are being portrayed. 3(53) In order to analyze the objective, these two research questions will be in focus: • How do the Sami perceive they can live and express their ethnic identity? • How is the Sami people´s ethnic identity being portrayed by non- Samis? 1.3 Disposition Initially, the thesis will be discussing a literature review regarding the situation of the Sami people. The literature review will present the topics, “natural exploration and mines”, “the Sami language”, “discrimination of the Sami people in Norway” and “the Sami identity”. The following chapter will discuss the analytical framework. The analytical framework will in this thesis consist of “Stigma” by Goffman, “ethnicity” by Olsson, Ålund and Johansson and “ethnic identity development” by Jean Phinney.
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