Nordplus Cape Network - Faroe Islands June 2022
I was so lucky to participate at the gathering for the Nordplus Cape Network at the Faroe Islands in June 22. There were students and lecturers from all over Europe and all students presented projects from their field of education. It was interesting and enriching to learn about all the projects, and to see in what different ways educational institutions are including sustainability in their work. There was a mix between workshops and lectures, which was really good, so we got to experience the work of others as well.
I shared two of my projects at the seminar. And my way of including sustainability is by focusing on my Sami cultural heritage that for generations have been invisible in my family and which I am now trying to retrieve through my music. I presented my latest album and music video. I am an assimilated Sami woman and the whole album evolves around the assimilation policy carried out by the Norwegian government against the Sami people. I tell stories about my grandfather who was a Sami, forced to stop speaking his mother tongue, my mother who lost the Sami language and culture, me and my sister, and our way through shame, exclusion, alienation leading up to now feeling proud and joyful about being a Sami in Norway today. It is a painful topic, but as I see it, the truth has to be brought to mind, yet we must also learn how to live with it. Reconciliation is what we need so that our people can start looking forward.”
I also spoke about and performed some of my master’s degree project: The Yoik and the Framedrum, where I am exploring my yoiking vocals along with different ways of playing the framedrum. I did some traditional yoiks as well as my own yoiks. I also reflected upon the sociological and social aspects and challenges I am facing working with this art form, being an assimilated Norwegian Sami.
It felt good to come to the Faroe Islands to talk about these things – the crowd was quite enthusiastic, and I felt that my musical stories make a difference. Many interesting people gathered this week in June, and some of us might work on projects together in the future.
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