The Sami Association: Time to make Sami culture visible now

It was on December 6 that it became clear that Kiruna would become the EU’s capital of culture in 2029.

In its application, Kiruna has highlighted several times that there are several minorities in the municipality who are Sami and Kvänen. Several times during the application period, the municipal council emphasized the importance of minorities in the municipality. It has been hailed as as much a part of the municipality as the world’s largest underground mine and a space base.

“Show that they support Sami institutions”

The Sami association in Kiruna believes that the municipality has generally been bad at promoting the Sami. The Samegården remains outside the old center in premises that had needed to be renovated. And Giron Sámi Teáhter has also flagged several times that they need new and larger premises – without receiving any promises from the municipality.

– Now the municipality can really show that they support all these Sami institutions, says Irene Kuhmunen, chairman of the Kiruna Sami association.

“Will have a big role”

According to municipal councilor Mats Taaveniku (S), the Sami will also have a prominent place during the capital of culture year. However, exactly how is unclear.

– It will have a big role, just like the other culture we have in Kiruna. We usually call this because it is Kiruna’s culture, which consists of a variety of minorities, we have the indigenous Sami people, we have the cultural expressions when it comes to hunting and fishing, we even have motorcycle culture, we have an extremely fine sports culture , says Mats Taaveniku (S), municipal councilor in Kiruna.

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