Norway Ask Blog

Mainly a Norway appreciation blog, but there’s a high chance of other nordics appearing. I can’t seem to let go of hetalia, send help. Hit me up at PM if you want to chat!

[bombadilberry]

Mathias and Baby Emil

[nordickies]

What your favorite Nordic says about you

🇩🇰 Denmark = You're depressed and cope with difficult emotions through this one fictional character

🇸🇪 Sweden = You had an absent father figure growing up, or you grew up in an unstable home. You’re also autistic

🇳🇴 Norway = You're hypersexual and have fantasies about pretty boys

🇫🇮 Finland = You're transmasc

🇮🇸 Iceland = You're non-binary, aroace, or both. You had/have an emo phase

[saltlakris]

[saltlakris]

why is ur askblog flagged as Sensitive Content

No reason...

Iykyk

[saltlakris]

what are your thoughts on frozen 2?

I heard Disney was inspired by sami culture, but they are not sami, the are called "Northuldra" I believe?

I do think it's cool though that this was the first Disney movie that got a sami dub! (I could be wrong, but that's what I heard)

Wow, its been a loooong time since I saw it, so I dont remember much. I went to watch it at the movies with another sámi friend of mine actually!

We actually really enjoyed the movie. I can definetively tell which parts of Sámi culture they were inspired by. Me and my friend laughed soooo hard at the name "Honey-Maren" which is poking (light-hearted) fun at how Sámi people usually have double names (me included lol). Kinda wished they didn't make their clothes so dull though, because we are known for loving vibrant colors.

We were both raising a stroooong eyebrow at the whole story about the dam in the beginning... because if you didn't know the story is based on the Alta conflict which took place in the 1980s (read more about it here). But I think they handled it nicely.

Of course, making Elsa and Anna half-Sámi themselves was CLEARLY something they decided after the first movie. Their whole designs are very much based on ethnic Scandinavians (including their mom). They are also so different from the other Northhuldra. Then again, Kristoff is also supposed to be Sámi, but from a different tribe I guess?

Honestly, nowadays Sámi people are so mixed you can't always tell who is Sámi and not. I look kinda "ethnic" (short frame, high cheekbones, brown eyes and epicanthic folds) But my brother is blue eyed, blonde and very tall. Both of us are equally Sámi!

(There is also a huuuuge debate in the Sámi community about how much genetics matter anyway, but I am not opening that can of worms rn)

In the end, seeing little Sámi girls be so excited and proud about Elsa being Sámi makes me so happy. The only thing close to representation I had growing up was the Disney movie "Brother bear"... but it takes place at a completely different continent since it is based on native American culture. I find that are a lot of similar traits between the cultures tho-

Also, I found this old sketch I made after watching the movie! Guess I was a fan of ElsaxHoney-Maren haha!

[saltlakris]

I could not help myself but to draw Sápmi with his little boys, though I know not everyone agrees that he would have discovered them first. Some people think it should be Scandinavia, and thats fine!

In the end it all goes back to the discussion whether or not the Sámi people are really the first people of northern Norway, Finland and Sweden. Who came here first? We will probably never know.

But in my mind, Sápmi found them first. However, Sámi people do not believe you can own land or water. We can only borrow it. Therefore it was not in his nature to keep them once Scandinavia laid claim on the northern territories.

If you have the time I want you to listen to this sámi song, a «joik» performed by Lávre to (and with) his great- grandfather (his Máttaráddjá).

Máttaráddjá is also the name of a mythical bear ancestor of sámi people, who had 3 sons. So I thought it was fitting for this piece.

[saltlakris]

He is a little camera shy-

[saltlakris]

I just have a question (I'm norwegian btw but I'm writing in english so everybody can understand) how do you feel about non sami people wearing kofte/gákti? (not as a costume but in a respectful way, I don't think anyone should use cultural traditional clothes as costumes)

Oooooh this is such a loaded question...

Personally I do not have a problem with it. I mean, if you have the chance to wear one, likely its because you have been invited to by another sami person (because how else will you have access to it anyway?). And I like sharing cultures, I have been invited to wear the kimono when I was in Japan and I thought it was such a beautiful experience. It would be hypocritical of me to then refuse the same from others

HOWEVER!

This is just my opinion and many sami people do NOT feel the same. Especially the older generation. It's understandable, because of the sensitive history and how precious the garment is to us. Not to mention how it is still today worn as a political symbol.

In the end, it is the person who wears the garments decision. So if you are willing to make such a controversial choice then go ahead, but you must then be willing to stand for it and potentially offend some people.

I'm not saying this to discourage anyone, but I think its important to keep in mind

[saltlakris]

Sapmi might just have a sliiiiiight preference for his boys…

Poor Denmark is just trying his best to get to know him better. But sadly, we are not exactly known to be super warm and welcoming in the beginning. But once you get to know us, you are considered family!

Anyway, found this sketch sitting in my files just rotting away so I thought heck! Ill just finish it! Especially since it was the Sami national day recently!

Lihkku beivviin!

[strawberisapphic]

everyone has a ship thats just: theyre perfect. they hate each other. theyre married. they havent spoken in 15 years. they have date nights three times a week. theyre divorced. theyre pining, its unrequited. its requited. theyre starcrossed. theyre meant to be. theyre doomed by the narrative. they love each other. theyve never held hands. they wont stop making out at parties. they cant look each other in the eye

[ingasolja]

Shame and understanding & memories

I just had to draw @saltlakris’s beautiful Sápmi oc!! Thanks for letting me draw him! :)

[saltlakris]

I love this so much! The fabric we wrap around our feet is like 3 meters long, and its super hard to tie it perfectly on your own. It's very common for friends (and your parents) to tie them for you!!

This is such a tender moment i cant

I'm dying

Bye

[saltlakris]

I felt like you guys just need cute baby norway and sàpmi without the angst, so here you go!

(also i am working on stuff but theres been some problems with moving so its gonna be delayed, sowwy)

[ingasolja]

Kongen han stod pá høyen lofts’ sal. han sá seg ut sá vide, til ute pá den grønne vol. der såg han herr Sigur’ å ri’e. - Sigur’ voge Live fer Jomfrúa. -

Happy birthday to my fellow Norwegians🇳🇴🎉 Hope you guys who celebrate it have fun - I’m going to work, rød dag med ekstra lønn vettu😂

[saltlakris]

Today is the day of the Sami people, the indigenous people of north Europe! With that I introduce to you my Oc of aph/ hws Sapmi and his stupid magic reindeer! As I am Sami myself, I’ll be going home this weekend to celebrate with my family and friends and therefore won’t be posting anything until at least Monday. //sorry I wish you all a happy day, especially to my other natives out there! Lihkku beivviin! (Also if you are curious, you’re more than welcome to leave asks for my oc, Sapmi!)

[saltlakris]

I see people have already started but...

You guys could always send asks to my OC Sápmi! I would love to answer some stuff about him, it helps with building character!

[saltlakris]

Hey, I have a question. I saw someone headcanon their hws Norway as part Sámi and use some Sámi elements in their fanarts to their Norway, what do you feel about that? Is it uncomfortable or weird if someone made their hws Norway half/part Sámi due to Norway’s history with Sápmi, or is it just “who cares lmao”?

Good question!

I think you would get a different answer from different Sámi, it's quite a hot topic nowadays of what is okay/not okay for "outsiders" to do with our culture. I think I'm more on the open side because I believe culture should be shared, that is the best policy. I have personally been to Japan and been invited to try their traditional clothes/practices, it was so amazing and educational! Though, I think there is a tasteful way of doing it. I would not be opposed to letting my friends try on my traditional clothing ect. (Actually, when you marry a Sámi you're technically Sámi too in our culture, so you adopt the dress from the area of your spouse. Sorry bf, when you marry me you are no longer Portuguese!)

Now, for me and with the story I have built around my OC Sápmi, I think it definitively makes sense for Norway (as well as Finland, Sweden and Russia) to be part Sámi, as he has been part of their upbringing. I do agree with @ifindus's head canon that Norway doesn't speak the language, since it is a dying language.

I guess, you could even argue that since he is not an official country (just a land area named Sápmi/Lapland) he could be "dead" in canon, like the other ancients (e.i. Scandinavia, Rome, Germania). I argue that because the Sámi culture is still strong and living, that he could still be alive, kinda like how Prussia is still alive.

[saltlakris]

Sápmi and Norways relationship is quite complicated.

Sápmi was the one to first discover him; a little boy, barefeet in the chilly wet tundra. Without hesistation he brought him into his lávvu, a traditional sami tent, where he clothed and fed him. Sápmi is quite nostalgic about this time and will tell any unfortune soul with an ear to lend all the stories about young Norway.

"I could barely get any work done! He would sometimes wrap around my leg and simply refuse to let go, haha!"

However, eventually Scandinavia reached the northermost parts of the Norwegian territory and after a brief but violet confrontation Sápmi would be forced to give up the young boy to the much larger and stronger Scandinavia. This was when Norway joined up with Denmark and Sweden. After this, Sápmi would sometimes approach him when he was alone, making sure he was always well-fed and properly clothed, teaching him valuble lessons about nature and spiritualism. The influence of sámi shamanism together with norse mythology is one of the reasons why Norway can see and speak with spirits.

After having gained independence from Denmark in 1814, Norway finally had his own constitution. In this period of time, the young nation fixiated on creating a Norwegian identity due to technically being under Swedish control. He wanted true independence, but he knew this could only be achieved through establishing a strong Norwegian nationalism throughout the population. This is where he and Sápmi would butt heads.

Norway hoped to integrate Sápmi into modern society, leaving behind the "hedonistic" lifestyle that the Sámi people lived. In his still immature mind, why would anyone choose living in a lávvu and the physically straining task of hoarding reindeer through the unforgiving tundra over a house, education and stable income? After Sápmi outright refused, he saw no other choice than to reinstate a harsh policy to Norwegianize the Sámi people by removing their culture, language and religious practices, sometimes by violent measures. This policy would last until the 1960s.

This is a part of Norwegian history that Norway regrets immensely today, and he has taken many measures in order to assist Sápmi in rebuilding his people's culture and language... Now that he is more mature, he has realized that:

"In the land of Norway, there is space for all kinds of people and culture."