The Sami Language Center was established in 2010. The mission is revitalization and to make the Sami language available to more people. For example, the Language Center arranges camps for young people.
Available in four locations
The center is spread over four locations in Sápmi: Tärnaby, Östersund Jokkmokk and Kiruna.
In the Sami Parliament’s recent reorganization of the chancellery, there were no changes to the Language Center’s operations. But there is a risk that there could be cutbacks.
Three years ago, the government allocated extra money, which led to a more than doubling of the number of employees, who are currently twelve people.
Extra money for three years
Every year since 2021, the extra money has been paid out. But how it will turn out this year is shrouded in obscurity. The Sámi Parliament’s head of office is worried.
– We have a contingency if we do not receive continued funding. But unfortunately we won’t find out until the budget bill comes.
Lars-Ove Sjaan says that the Sami Parliament has had to come up with a plan B, in case the extra money is withdrawn.
So then there could be new reductions on the language side?
– Yes, if we get the same funding as three years ago, we have to review it, of course, says Lars-Ove Sjaan.
Staff already notified
Already this summer, the staff at the National Language Center for the minority languages Finnish, Meänkieli, Romani and Yiddish were notified. The center is in the same situation as the Sami language center and may close down if the extra government money is not forthcoming.
The national language center was started just three years ago and in the fall of 2022 activities for Meänkieli, or Tornedal Finnish, started in Kiruna and Övertorneå.
Watch the Sámi Parliament’s head of office Lars-Ove Sjaan commenting on the Language Center’s future in the clip above.