In the panel discussion with the title “Artistic freedom for indigenous peoples – Is indigenous art free?” the Sami Council’s chairman Àslat Holmberg, the UN’s special rapporteur on cultural rights, and Lars-Jonas Jonhansson, who represented the Sami Parliament’s responsibility for cultural issues, participated.
– Very interesting discussion, but there are no people in power here and money is needed. We can train actors but we cannot give them employment. There is a risk that the actors will move to the Norwegian side where the conditions are better, such as at Beaivváš Sámi Našunálateáhter, says Michael Lindblad, chairman of the Sámi theater in Kiruna, who was in the audience and who wanted to give his view of how things are going in the Swedish side of Sápmi.
“Gives me no hope”
Giron Sámi Teáhters has long strived for a mission as a Sami national scene. The economic issue is a long-standing one, says Lindblad:
– My experience, during my 25 years in the Sami cultural sector, gives me no hope. Very powerful changes are probably required for something substantial to happen. We hit the glass ceiling all the time!
He believes that you have to reach the politicians who are in power.
– We have almost no Sami cultural institutions and we have an incredibly fragile system based on few people, he says and points out that Norway has taken a much greater responsibility for Sami culture.
When asked what he thinks the new government can achieve, he answers:
– It has not yet been tested, so it is difficult to say.