Kirsten Svineng (“Mamma Karasjok”, 1891 – 1980) was a Sami woman who lived most of her life in Karasjok, the Sami settlement that is now the home of the Norwegian Sami Parliament. She was an important Norwegian hero, showing exceptional courage during the Nazi occupation of Norway from 1940 to 1945. Hundreds of Serbian  prisoners of war were sent  to work under terrible conditions in occupied Norway, and one of the worst forced-labour camps was just outside Karasjok. Kirsten Svineng, along with other brave Karasjok citizens, risked her life to help the prisoners by giving  them food and sheltering escapees in her home. From there, she helped the escapees on their way to safety in Russia, and, incredibly, a number managed to get back to Yugoslavia. After the war ended, those former prisoners told their stories to Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito. in 1957, he invited Mamma Karasjok to Belgrade for a special ceremony of recognition. It was her first trip outside Norway.

While she was still alive, the Norwegian author Per Hansson wrote her biography, Mamma Karasjok (Gyldendal Norsk Forlag 1970). Hansson’s book is a beautifully written tribute to this remarkable Sami woman. There does not seem to be a published translation to English, so Judith Anderson is working on the project. We will post chapters as the translations are completed.

Mamma Karasjok translation Chapter 1

Mamma Karasjok translation Chapter 2

Mamma Karasjok translation Chapter 3

Sami Interest Group

Karen Sørenson, Tor and Laura Olufsen and several others are hoping to start a Sami interest group at our Community Centre for social, cultural, and educational purposes. Please join us. Membership is not limited to those of Sami heritage. Anyone may join who has an interest in Sami history, decorative arts, or current Sami political and environmental issues. There is much we can learn and much fun to have if we are together.   

People of Sami heritage traditionally herded reindeer in northern Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. According to Dr. Zita McRobbie (talking at our Leif Erikson Day, September 30, 2017), DNA studies suggest the Sami were already together as a people before the last Ice Age, far earlier than other Scandinavians became distinct. Their culture is famous for the ability of its people to survive for millennia in a harsh environment, for peaceful co-existence among subgroups, and for the beauty and deep meaning in its decorative arts. It is a culture well worth our interest and attention.  

Indigenous Canadians, especially those in our own far North have faced prejudice, environmental issues, and encroachment on their traditional lands and way of life. It has been the similar for the Sami. Both peoples continue to search for the best place for themselves in modern culture while keeping the traditions of their heritage. We will talk about this, too, and see how we can work together.

Let us know if you are interested and help us form a Sami group around our Centre.

Contact Carolyn Thauberger 778 228-2334 or cthauber12@gmail.com