How Norway Destroyed My Sea Sami Culture And Identity
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- Опубліковано 19 чер 2024
- Based on my broken childhood as native Norwegian I tell the story in a satirical way of the intervention by the Norwegian authorities in all parts of my upbringing. It controlled the way we ate, decorated, washed, cleaned, thought and said - and it crawled all the way into my dreams and believes. All social situations in the family, between me and my granny were poisoned by the Norwegianization. In this hysterical and sarcastic video, you will learn more about five efficient methods that were used to erase the Sea Sami culture.
The Sami people are native, indigenous people of the Nordic countries, including parts of Russia. For several centuries, the Norwegian authorities have pursued a harsh and brutal Norwegianization policy. The goal was for all Sami to become Norwegians and forget, keep quiet and hide their Sami identity, language and religion. Today, only a few groups of reindeer herding Sami have retained their original culture and customs. While my tribe, the Sea Sami, was completely and effectively crushed and ruined after the second World War.
The sad and quite comical thing was that my poor grandmother had to be Norway's representative and police authority when it came to my transformation from a fish loving Sea Sami to a boring and lax Norwegian. Of course, she only had a vague idea of what being a Norwegian was, since she herself was a Sea Sami deep inside. But she tried to fake it as best she could. This is our tribute of her and her struggles.
The consequences of the Norwegianization in my childhood, performed by my loved ones who pretended to be Norwegian were a total mess. I spent my childhood desperately trying to be something me and my family really had no clue about. The result: We never got it right. It just got weird and cringe. This is the hilarious and self-deprecating story of how I was Norwegianized.
In this video full of sketches, Mads is the Norwegian authorities. Which never give us peace. No matter what nice things my grandmother and I do together, Mads comes in and destroys the situations with cruel punishments. Ronald is humiliated with the Norwegian flag and the national anthem. He is beaten, whipped and stabbed. You can see that Mads enjoy playing this authoritarian and creepy role.
This is fiction and dramatized content.
Music: Epidemic sound
This is a Yourway2Norway video made by
Mads Nilsson and Ronald Sagatun
** ABOUT YOURWAY2NORWAY **
YOURWAY2NORWAY is a different travel channel. We combine education with humor and entertainment. It’s an authentic inside guide to real life in Norway. We highlight small and large themes, cultural characteristics and Norwegian phenomena. All the stuff you won’t find in a tourist brochure.
The content is perfect for people who travel to Norway as tourists, visit friends and family in Norway, study in Norway or work in Norway. It is ideal for anyone with Norwegian roots and DNA. It is also interesting for anyone who wants to learn more about other cultures and people. And for all of you looking for some smile and laughter.
The guys behind are; Ronald Sagatun - a enthusiastic and sarcastic Sami Latino with a Norwegian passport. Throughout his life he has tried to find out what it means to be Norwegian. Now he shares his hilarious experiences. Mads is a grumpy Norwegian dude, providing the channel authenticity and the typical Norwegian way of viewing the world. We always try to be funny, self-deprecating, human and, when it´s necessary; sincere and passionate.
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My mother became furious with me when I asked about her brown and slightly Asian eyes were Sapmi. I never dared to ask again. One summer when we were on holiday with grandma in Finnmark, and grandma and I were sitting in the kitchen talking (I was 14 that summer) I asked if she wanted to speak Sami? Then she looked at me for a long time and it was completely quiet in the kitchen, suddenly she started speaking Sami. My grandmother was tough, but I saw a tear fall from one of her eyes. It made a deep impression on me. When I later started genealogical research, I found Kvens from Nord-Troms and Sápmi from Vidda in my family. I grew up in Sørlandet. I wish there was an interest association for Sapmi people who have had our roots cut off, maybe something could heal?
Thanks for sharing your vulnerable and so important story. It's so familiar. It's my story too. And probably many thousands of others.. So I agree with you, there should be a place for us somewhere too seek and heal. And maybe we are relatives too ❤️
My Sami grandmother has a bunch of decorations across her house and a bunch of cyclopedias like the picture in your video
I am a Canadian who knew I had native ( Ojibway - Cree ) ancestry on my mothers side but recently DNA and opening my adoption file I found out I am half Icelandic and the DNA states I have Norwegian/ Swedish / 2% Finnish and Sami
Ancestry . Both sides of my family have the same story of oppression . I know a great deal of the struggles of the natives here in Canada 🇨🇦 but now learning of the Sami struggles it is parallel and very sad 😢
What has struck me as shocking is how similar their beliefs are and seeing them making teepees was a complete surprise !!
How can these people be so remote from each other but so similar ?!?! I plan to research more as I am finding my Nordic side very interesting .
Thank you for the videos . I appreciate them for learning .
This is most significant video you have ever produced. This story is very important.
Thank you for telling this.
I live in Indigenous American community in US. It is a very sad story and still happening today.
Thank you marian. And sad to hear. Thanks for sharing!
I hear the same from indigenous friends in the Americas. My heart breaks.
@@YOURWAY2NORWAYer du for invandring? Hvis du er, syns du det er viktig at dei nye borgerne lever på vår måte og oppføre seg som oss? Fordi dere er invandrere, og mitt folks tradisjoner og levemåte er ødelagt av invandring. Men det er fint du tar frem offerkortet og sprer dritt om dine "landsmenn". Eg har ein ide hva om at vi skiller lag og deler landet så slipper vi å høre på dere syte og klage! En ting til hvorfor lager du videoer om hvordan det er å være norsk? Er ikke det litt rasistisk at du forteller folk om mitt land og folk?
That sad story also happened in Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Fiji and all the Polynesian islands and on and on...!
A story of forced assimilation. They took your culture, your language, your Native religion... I am so sad this happened to you and that, most of all, glad that it's still alive in you 💔. Remember who you are and take back your Beautuful Sami Culture.
Thanks ❤. Luckily, there was a lot of black hunor too, in our pretending-to-be-norwegian family :)
@@YOURWAY2NORWAY We had a lot of that in my being a Welsh family living in England too.
My father used to teach me all these Welsh expressions that insulted the English. My favourite (and probably the most well known) was "Twll din pob sais’" ;)
Actually, VERY LITTLE EXAGGERATION. It has happened all over this earth,voter and over. The shaming, beatings if children spoke their language. Relocation, and so much more.
I am so glad you did this video to honor your grandmother and your Indiginous Culture. This video , this acknowledgement of who you truly are xan be a new start for you.
You are a comedian and we all know much sadness is hidden in laughter. Be Sami, be proud. They are survivors and even if the group you were aligned with were removed. You are still here and you remember.
She just wanted you to survive. My late husband's mother did same. She just wanted her sons to have a better life, a chance.
There is a UN Language project to give $ and help to save Indiginous Languages.
@@sophiacariad5870
My dad's family is Welch. We came to America in Colonial times. They tried to suppress our true history, our ancient language. But the truth comes out now.
This is a "double-edged sword", because the sami (and kven) language was preserved within the extremely conservative christian læstadian congregations who saw sami culture as pure as opposed to what they considered the decadent culture of the swedish/norwegian ruling classes. They opposed what they saw as devil-worship in native culture like joik and shamanism and at the same time adopted a lot of its cultural ideas, not least the languages and even ideas of spellbinding (ganning). Lars Levi Læstadius is told to have said something like" Swedish/norwegian is the language of our bibles, sami language is the language of our hearts, finnish is the language of God himself".
In México, many of us, whose grandparents were native americans, don't know the native dialects because of the Spanic evangelization and forcing them to speak spanish. Among other things... It's shocking to learn about those actions in other countries, and to see how much damage they have caused.
Thanks for sharing your story with us ❤
My father’s family is from New Mexico and it’s the same there with the Spanish-Americans.
Get informed and stop spreading lies about the European Spanish Catholics, to the contrary of what the european protestants did to other people, all those lies about Spain were spread by protestant, also I don't know what you are talking about if you Mexican mestizos are severely evil to the native, you are mix it is obvious you would speak the language that is use the most, the native Mexicans still speak their different dialects, stop lying
“Oh, I forgot. I cannot Yyoi” . You guys did a great job of applying humor to a dark and serious issue so that people can do a better job of digesting it. I’m sorry this happened to the Sami. We have similar echoes of this situation in Canada. Indigenous people have every right to live as they wish, there are no words to erase the pain of this past but now, conversations about the truth can help everyone move towards reconciliation. ✊🏻 I stand in solidarity with all Indigenous people.
You just hate white people and want to undermine them at every opportunity. By the way, how are those fake mass graves in Canada going?
This is so sad. Native people's were/are treated the same way in the U.S. and Canada. A very shameful past. Your poor Granny was probably scared for you and I believe she knows you honor her. Thank you for sharing this and how it affected you. Much love to you both.
Yes, she was very scared for me. And she was always my childhood cliff. Thanks for sharing Carol
Also in Australia and New Zealand
My family is also Sámi and became Americanized over the generations. Yet we also mixed with the Lakota and it's interesting to find both peoples share similar beliefs. Distance and time doesn't erase what is deep down. Still hunt and fish, still grow food, still sit outside with the deer grazing a couple meters away, and completely guilty of eating with the hands. 😁
Awesome and very interesting story. Uplifting too :) Thanks for sharing and engaging with us Wolf H.
I am a Sea Sami, and have read a lot about Sami history, religion and culture. I have understood that there are many cultural features that span the entire circumpolar area and down into America, all the way to the south, both fysical and spiritual. The bear cult is a common feature. The birdman, the shaman, is another. The Sami shaman, the noaide, used bird feathers on his head as part of the equipment during his spiritual journeys.
damn, we might be somewhat related
Are we related?? My family too!
This is what happened to the Native Americans here in the U.S. and the Aborigines in Australia. I am sad to hear that it happened in Norway as well. I am very sorry that it happened to your family.
After culp a Spain for conquire but in ex estates where did part of spain have more natives and conserv more their traditions than territorio with british and french... spanish countries are more natives pure and preserve the cultures, religions and languages
Also happened to the ainu in japan.
@@aidenrandall9279 no live more ainus all mixed and no have more language
@@chinchanchou the ainu language still exists its just there's very few speakers. They were forced to assimilate because they had no choice and they weren't even considerd japanese citizens until 2019. They were treated like they didn't exist they still do but in small quantities.
@@aidenrandall9279 but all are mixed practically are japonese only see real ainus in fotos 🤦🤦🤦 if exist pure need more childrens because their ethnic is real dengareous
Unfortunately, History repeats itself everywhere.
We have been missing your videos!
Unfortunately it's dark stories and sad, but you brought them with laughter. brilliant work 👍
It was so lovely to see you guys again 🥰
I have taken my Sami heritage back. I grew up as a Norwegian, didn't learn the Sami language. I understood as I grew up that my mom was Sami from Vesterålen. She talked about it at times during my upbringing, but I never understood it properly, until I was older. Way older. I have studied my ancestry, I took DNA tests, and I am studying the history, both old and new, the culture, and the old faith. I'm trying to learn the language, but it's so so hard. Gradually my sense of Sami identity is coming back to me. I have registered to vote with the Sámediggi and I have tattooed the Sami sun on my neck and the northern star on my finger, with more to come. It's all part of me gaining back the identity that was stolen from our family and countless families alongside us. Thank you for making this video. It made me laugh, it made me angry at the Norwegian, it made me sad, because this is what my ancestors went through. Also it made me think that hey... I am not alone
I am glad you are reconnecting with your culture.
Thanks for sharing your cool and hopeful story about taking back your heritage and identity. And thanks for your kind and motivating words. You are not alone!
M G, I hope your path is gentle as you are genuinely seeking your roots. Most of my hardships have been by foreigners including Norwegians. I hope you find your identity. If you ever come to Alta let's talk.
Could you equate your culture and it's ruination to that of the North American Indians
I too have sámi heritage from Vesterålen and am in the process of taking it all back bit by bit. My father used to talk about the sámi side and how they where forced to relocate from their land and therby lost so much, he himself have never been able to take anything back but he acknowledge it.
Taking back what I can really help me heal the pain the norwegianization brought upon us.
I think the people who are able to view their own country critically are usually the best testament to its greatness.
Yeah. Its like having abusive parents that allows you to speak about it.
😂😂😂😂😂 He isn’t Norwegian, neither Swedish nor Finnis or neither Russian - he is a Sami. If he had choice and power, he would instantly establish Samiland. And he is not wrong on doing so.
It's strange to see my U.S. family reflected in your story. (The decor was spot on!) My dad was from Odda, in Hordaland. As he put it, he was a 'Black Norwegian' (dark hair and eyes, said to be from Spanish ancestry. Hah!) His short, dark haired mother was from up northwest somewhere, and noone would say where. Recently, when I started putting bits of family history together, a Sami suggested I may have Sami heritage. When I mentioned this to my mother, she blew up. You'd think I committed a crime by just asking about it. The story of Sami repression parallels that of Native Americans in the U.S. It is shameful, and I hope that modern Norway makes amends to the Sami peoples, in the same way the U.S. is beginning to make amends to the Native Americans here.
That is really interesting. My father used the exact same term. Our family was from near Hønefoss. I heard a lot about how crushing the conformity to social norms was in Norway and how our family never seemed to be "Norwegian" enough to fit in. They tried to conform, but then they left. I got the opposite end of it here in the US. My dad was determined that all his children become "English." He gave us all English middle names so that we could ditch our ethnic surname if we wanted. No Norwegian spoken, joined a Presbyterian church, steer clear of all the Norskamerikanere and so forth. I knew all the Kings and Queens of England before I knew Norway even had a king. Grew up with only English literature, English history, English culture and traditions and so on (Well, at the least the American colonial versions of all those things.). As you know, in the US, you get asked this question: What are you? Hard to answer.
I just love your story. It's sounds so similar and familiar. From what you told us about your mother getting angry, I can almost guarantee you that she is a Sami. It's happening in my and many other families in Norway. The anger comes from shame and supression. Haha, your black Norwegian father could also have been a from a Tater family. To hide that link, they said they had Spanish heritage. From a Spanish ship that came to the fjords of Norway. Many Tater people used this story. Thanks a lot for sharing with us.
@@davidoverbye3410 Yes, I recognise the crushing conformity. Check out Jantelaw as the social code behind it. This really helped me to name it and see it objectively. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_Jante
@@YOURWAY2NORWAY Tusand Takk for the Tater information! The era of placing Tater/Romani children in institutions to be Norwegianized coincides with the era where my Dad's ancestry can't be traced back any further. I will be doing some research on that.
Thank you so much for your family story. My grand parents came to farm in Northern Wisconsin, USA in the 1880's from Mosjoen, Nordland, Norway. Your Dad's comment 'Black Norwegian' took my breath away. My mother had raven black hair. When a little girl I asked her why was it her hair was so black . My thinking she should have blond hair if she was Norwegian. Her response was that she was a 'Black Norwegian'. Years later in my adulthood when learning about Saami I often wondered if there might be a connection. I asked one of my Aunts if she knew of a Saami. connection ( my mother had passed). She gave me a short angry response "of course we are not". Your comment is the first time I learned of someone else referring to themselves as being a 'Black Norwegian'.
I see-sawed between laughter and heartbreak. I love your Granny. Long may she be honored in your memory. Thank you for describing your experience!
Bures. It's so pleasing and liberating that you chose to address this issue, being Sámi yourself I can tell you had the ethical freedom to address it authentically without taking shortcuts. I'm writing my thesis on Norwegian Sámi policies related to census and ethnical data collection. Visiting Sápmi in 2019 was a memorable time, hearing joiks while sleeping under the midnight sun at the Riddu Riddu is a moment I'll never forget. A curious Egyptian living in Italy.
Very cool to learn!! I grew up in Kåfjord, where the Riddu Riddu festival is. Thanks for your kind words. Good luck with your important work
@@YOURWAY2NORWAY Thank you. Yes, I remember the scenery at Kåfjord and the remains of what's left of sea sami culture. Sadly, it seemed touristic and a caricature of the past. But hey, Sámi culture is evolving and it's nice that many are reclaiming their roots now. It'd be awesome if you did an episode on modern Sámi culture also in urban areas!
How wonderful and thank you for keeping the Sámi story alive Btw for thesis you might be interested in Per Ivar Somby, he is an amazing photo historian on UA-cam
This was painful and scary to watch, it opened my heart at the same time. Thank you for your defiance, dedication, and willingness to share with us.
I was just thinking about you and your Sami heritage last night. The Europeans tried to get rid of the indigenous people here in Canada, actually all of North America. We are undergoing a reckoning with the identification of graves of unknown children at the Indian Residential Schools. The trauma for native families and communities is heartbreaking, as is your story. I am only happy to see native people embracing and showcasing their culture on things like TikTok for younger people. Thank you for telling your story.
I saw a thing where they were saying that the alleged mass graves discovered recently at residential schools were not necessarily mass graves at all; apparently they don't actually know if they are graves yet.
@@andrewhall7176 They weren't mass graves of murdered children at all. It was a hysterical witch hunt and 80+ churches, some of them historic buildings, got burned down by aggressors because of the lie that there were all these "mass graves of Indian children" that didn't exist. Hoaxes by the media cause a lot of harm to societies and the media does it regularly.
My heart is breaking for you and the Sami. Why do countries all over the world treat their indigenous people this way - shaming and erasing cultures and languages? Love to you dear friend.💖
Control, land and natural resources I guess. Thanks
@@YOURWAY2NORWAY Sad to say, I think you are right. The alcoholism reminds me of the Native Americans in my country. Also the children were forced to go to schools that tried to turn them into "Americans" by changing their language and appearance.
@YourWay2Norway-excellent points. Consider the money that's been made...
Wow.. as a fellow coastal Sami of Norwegian ancestry living for 2 generations in the nw of the US I really needed this reminder of this sometimes unspoken history in my family. Thank you..
It's very motivating to hear from people abroad like you. I hope you guys speak more about this unspoken story. Thanks for sharing your story with us
The sami stuff did not happen wh3n youre parent moved it hsppend right after the world war
Poland was supposed to be erased from the map of the world and indeed it was for 125 years. Divided into 3 parts, each attached to a different Empire. But we survived, the traditions survived, the language survived and so did the cuisine, although there are tiny elements of foreign culture still rooted in Poles, different for the 3 groups/parts.
My mother’s mother was from what was called Austrian Poland and father from Russian Poland. It was a shame that Poland was jerked around, so to speak. It sensitized me to other groups of people who experienced horrible treatment by those who governed them - including the Sami.
This was such a sad story but you got the message across being true to the ethos of #YW2N and most importantly, giving Sámi culture the respect it deserves. Mads, you were SUCH a convincing baddie in this and Ronald, the Sámi in you will NOT surrender! LOVE Ronald's Grandma! Life must have been so hard for her - both for herself and worrying about young Ronald. And for your poor Mam Ronald, coming from Chile to such a strange place and having to kind of fit in twice. Would love to hear more of the Sámi culture.
We have kind of a similar story in Wales - we've been colonised, incorporated and relentlessly bullied by the English but even though we are far outnumbered by them, we've held on to our language, literature, history and traditions. Thanks to devolution, we have a lot more power in Wales than we have in previous years but there is still a campaign for an independent wales (#YesCymru - Cymru being the Welsh name for Wales). There is a sense that the English look upon Wales as the poor relations and the Welsh feel sorry for the English for not being Welsh. The rivalry is REAL - especially when it comes to rugby! In Wales you can even buy t-shirts that say "I only support two teams; Wales and whoever plays against England".
Haha, mam will love you for thinking about her situation. She wants us to record her story too ;) We will do the same as the tshirt said. Thanks and a big hug from Baddie
@@YOURWAY2NORWAY why don't you create a new shirt "I only support 2 teams, Yourway2Norway and anyone who wants to watch them on UA-cam" 😄😁
@@YOURWAY2NORWAY I want to hear Ronald's Mam's story!
@@YOURWAY2NORWAY ❤️🤙🏼
I've never heard about the Sami before. US schools didn't teach us about this issue. I think cultural repression is an awful thing. I love your channel. I was afraid you had quit making videos. Thank you for all the great content.😊
Ronald, we are so very thankful you have chosen to tell this historical story. It is important that others, at least, are exposed to the facts. It also lets us get to know you better, your heart, your mind and your very being. You are both to be commended for your choice in this subject. Much admiration, Steven and Janice. Seattle, Washington USA
In Scots we have a saying, ken whas died, do you know who is dead, I still use it when I switch the news on my laptop in the morning, it came from my great-grandmother we also use it as a slur against negative people. The Scots have always been persecuted, same as the Irish.
My mom’s family has been in the US for generations, but we have a strong feeling for the persecution the Irish suffered under British rule, and we’re still salty about it even though we’re generations removed from it. Some injustices are too heinous to be forgotten no matter how much time passes.
Thank you for this video, it's a very important topic. Here in Finland the same things happened, there was a tv show that portraid sámi people as dirty drunks and the Finnish Lapland is still full of these tourist things, fake gaktis etc... There should be much more discussion about these issues, as the discrimination is still going on. I didn't learn anything about the Sámi people at my school at all. All I've learned is from the internet, so videos like this are so very very important. Much love!❤
Thanks for sharing your story and for your motivating words! We appreciate it. Cheers from Ronald and Mads
Hi thank you for sharing about the experience of Sami in Finland too! Strange that Finland also mistreated the Sami and it seems that Finns don't have any qualms about using the derogatory term "Lapp" or "Lapland" instead of the correct ethnonyms "Sami" and Sapmi". I've always heard about the mistreatment of Sami in Norway and Sweden but not so much about the Sami in Finland but it's sad to see they are also discriminated against in Finland. Finns and Sami are actually much more closely related peoples (both belong to the Uralic / Finno-Ugric ethnolinguistic family who share a common origin) compared to Swedes and Norwegians who are Germanic (Indo-European) peoples, so I expected Finns to treat Sami more as a brotherly nation or people instead, but seems like its not the case. For example in North Sami language "giela" means language and in Finnish it is "kieli". Hope the Sami will be granted more indigenous rights and privileges in their homeland in the future.
@@YummYakitori It is a misconception that Sami and Finns are culturally related. It is true that Sami belongs to the Finno-Ugric language group, and this is probably due to the fact that there are many Finnish loanwords in the Sami language. It is estimated that approx. 50% of the Sami language is of unknown origin. Many researchers believe that Sami languages are the last remnants of languages that were spoken in Europe before the migration period, an archaeological period in Northern Europe from about 375 to 550 AD.
This is one of the darkest chapters in Norwegian history that should never be forgotten
Colonization has done irreparable damage to cultures all over the world. Thank you for sharing your story and educating us
The people who created the Norwegian government are also indigenous to Norway...
@@VegardKlavanes incorrect the Norwegian are not and never were indigenous nor or Europeans.
Wow! That was dark! And eye opening as well. You should always be proud of your heritage and who you are. Trying to eliminate a culture is always a bad thing, such as what happened here with the Native Americans as well as with many other cultures around the world.
I 've missed you guys!!! And such a great video!! The amount of people who had to endure something like this is both sad and infuriating...
You are the only ones who could have told such a sad and unforgivable story with the humor we all can relate to. Wow - you really tackled a big topic! I am so glad you shared this - I had no idea of the Sea Sami.
❤❤
My mother grew up not knowing she was sea sami. Her mother and grandma never spoke sami or mentioned anything about it. And so she missed out on learning the language and culture and so did i.
Sad story. They just did what they was told to do.. When I was like 7, 8 years I asked granny: Where are we from? She said: Gudbrandsdalen. Because that was a part of "real" Norway. I remember I thought it was sad that we were not from where we lived. In school we learnt that Sami are reindeer herders and we were Norwegians. The norwegianization was massiv even in the 80's. So it's not strange that they never spoke about it. Thanks for sharing your important story with us!!!
She did not miss out on mutch
Your Grandma has a loving face and is beautiful!!!!
I became very interested in the Sami Culture I had to do a search and found the Sami people very interesting. I can't wait to tell my Grand daughter how they heard Reindeer, just in time for Christmas. I know she will find this very interesting. I think she will do a essay on the Sami Culture and their history too.
Thanks for the sharing of this. Stay safe and healthy, much love.
Thank you for making this. My great grandfather was sami, and I think he left for America to leave behind all of this. It took a lot of digging to uncover this because he wanted his life in America to be brand new, but eventually he told my aunt Vangie, his grand daughter, stories about his life. Your video gave me a lot of feelings I couldn't explain and it left me in tears, but good tears. How is it that this feels so personal when I live thousands of miles away and generations apart?
Love your melancholy and very interesting story Kara. The emotions and drive to create a brand new life is so relatble to me and I guess most Samis living in Norway. So yes, there is still a strong bond between us and your family! Thanks for sharing with us Kara. Big hug from Ronald
I just watched this video on the big TV. Thank you for your videos, and I'm glad you shared this personal story. What lovely memories you have of your granny ♥️ I miss my grandma
thank you for sharing this story and educating us about the forced assimilation so many people had no choice but to participate in. my heart breaks for you and your grandmother, and the courage and strength you both had is inspirational. 💔 i am not Saami, and have never heard of the horrible forced assimilation there until now. my ancestors were indigenous people of south america, but Spanish colonization imposed strict social categories and forced them into missions that were built to make them abandon their languages, cultures, heritages and beliefs. it happened again when my grandparents came to the US from Mexico and were discriminated against for not being white or speaking the language. My mother was beat in school for speaking Spanish, my grandfather was accused of being a thief and dirty because of cruel beliefs, and when me and my brothers were born my mom refused to teach us Spanish for fear that we would be discriminated against like she was. thank you for speaking up about how this affected you and so many others 💗
Thanks for taking time and effort sharing your familiar story with us. It's sad but important that it's been told to new generations. We appreciate your engagement and story, it adds tons to this video. Hugs from Ronald and Mads ❤️❤️
I don’t have much knowledge of this time, but my late uncle was part of a British/American military unit that were stationed in Norway at the end of WW2. Part of his deployment was working to help the Sami relocate. Now in my latter years I so regret not taking the time to really sit and listen to what many of my relatives recounted about their lives during such tumultuous times. I only really have information of my parents lives during WW2 as my Dad left me his extensive memoirs of his Royal Naval career 1946-1969.
I’m a firm believer that if we have part of our culture/past to be proud of, we should celebrate it and be passionate about sharing our history with others. Thank you for sharing your Sami family ancestry with us. Sami is a truly fascinating culture with remarkable knowledge of their homelands. Be safe and well, much love from the UK.❤️
Ronald is actually an excellent interior designer! And Mr. Norway is quite scary. 😳
I've read some interviews that Ronald gave some years ago on this subject. It's a profound story and I enjoy the humor you both use to speak about the tragedy.
Thank you for sharing this video!
Haha, thanks Angelique :):) True, it's very sad. Thankfully, looking back there was a lot of black humor in it too.
It's necessary to deal with sadness with humor I believe, as black as possible. ❤️
Thank you for bringing this up. I feel like this is a hidden topic in Norwegian society. To this day, there are still Norwegians that harbor negative beliefs about Sami.
Your grandmother is adorable!!! 😍😍 I'm sorry to hear this story and sorry your family was treated so badly. Your grandmother must have cared so much for you and your family. That is a horrible thing to go through. I hope that some day everyone in the world, no matter who they are, or what their culture is, will be accepted and celebrated for their differences.
Magyar (Hungarian Ugric) here; we are distant cousins of the Finnic Saami.
This is very sad. I feel really bad for your ancestors having been mistreated like this. At least you are slowly trying to reclaim your heritage. Thanks for sharing. My ancestors were also similarly mistreated under the Austrians, Soviets and Turks.
Such a sad story but also one of strength. Love your channel and feel grateful for your sharing this part of your heritage with us.
Very powerful video. It speaks to personal identity, ethnic identity, cultural identity, nation-state identity and assimilation/suppression all in one darkly-humorous package. Thank you so much for making it.
Thank you for your nice words and engagement! Cheers from Ronald and Mads
These exact same things happened to my ancestors back in the 1700's , 1800's and 1900's by the colonials. The Germans,Russians and Norwegians tortured the Sami the same methods used on the Native Americans. The colonials took it further and started killing us. We were purposely exposed to Small Pox, we were lined up and shot, we were marched across the country in the Trail of Tears. When our lands are invaded, Indigenous people all over the world suffer because of colonials. But now we have sanitation, safe-ish drinking water, electricity, homes, medicine and food. I love the "poncho" you are wearing. I would love to hear more about what they wore, how they lived and what they ate. Such a rich history. I have always loved the Sami people and their traditions and way of life. I read a story in my school reader in 1963 that told of children in "Lapland" and I wanted to travel there and be friends with them. I never knew I was Native American until I was in my late 20's. We were "white" and not allowed to say or think otherwise. I'm proud of ho I m and everyone should be allowed to express who they are.
Thanks for sharing your important and dark story!
And in Europe, esp. central it happened all over and is happening right being now, with one of the most acceptable and common xenophobias being anti-Roma
So to the best that I can figure my great-grandmother was half sami. What I do know is she was born in Bergen and that her father was someone very important and she was an illegitimate child. She was sent to the United States with a sailor and his wife who were immigrating to Wisconsin in the USA. The couple were going to be farmers but it didn't last long before the husband missed the call of the sea and became captain of a ship. My great-grandmother's adoptive parents were very wealthy due to the large amount of money they were given when they agreed to adopt her. I've been trying to find her birth certificate from Norway but unfortunately I've been told it's sealed by the the Royal Crest I have no clue what this means other than the fact that I cannot see it so I don't really know where she came from outside of the oral tradition she told my mom before I was born. But I can't tell you something; my great grandma looked a lot like your grandma.
Edit: Ever sense I was a little kid the wind and the birds, especially Crows always made me feel like how I think church was supposed to make me fell.
That she was born in Bergen outside of a marriage, make sense. Businessmen went from Bergen to the rich fjords of the North, full of cod. They bought it cheap and sold it to the rest of the world. So she was probably a Sea Sami too. Hard to find any old papers. They had to change their Sami name, so that makes it even harder. I love your story and the ending 🦇❤🦇
Like the movie Samiland 🎥 It's shocking what happens to indigenous cultures all over the world. Hopefully at some point humanity will start respecting and cherishing cultural differences and heritages. Fantastically presented otherwise, I ❤ your videos!! Hilsen fra Hellas 🇬🇷
This is such a tragic event. It deserves to be shared and remembered, so it never happens again. Your use of humor and honesty is refreshing.
Thank you!
i live in west asia and I didn't know about sami culture in norway befour its very interesting thank you for sharing this i like your acting and how you tell the story and and I am sorry for what sami people went through
Thank you! Wonderful video and terrific to see you both again
I’m here because I watched the Hoots video on Frozen 2. I’m so glad I came! I love your blend of educational and funny.
I hate that your family had to assimilate like that. As someone of Indian and Jamaican ethnicity living in the UK, I have experienced similar things with the older generations scolding us for not being English enough. I understand that they did it because of the discrimination they faced, but I’m sa dI lost a whole lot of language, culture and history that I’m only rediscovering now!
Thanks for sharing your story with us! We appreciate it. Cheers
Thank you so much for sharing this important video with us!
Great video. I knew very little about Sami history and I appreciate the work that you put into creating this and sharing your story.
A very poignant and thought provoking video. Thanks to you both for featuring such a personal story! I wish my Swedish grandparents were alive so I could probe their thoughts on the issue of the treatment of indigenous peoples! I want to learn more about the Sami. The surge in attention worldwide on indigenous cultures is growing, and that makes me so happy!💕💕
This was one of the most saddening videos I have seen in a while on youtube. Thank you for sharing your experiences and knowledge on this matter.
Thanks for engaging and sharing your reflections with us
As I learn about my Norwegian without my Grandparents I do some times remember things they said when I was young and this brought back a memory I never understood.
When they were alive they always wanted me to have great pride in my Norwegian, but she would say in every greatness there is some shame maybe this is what she meant.
I am still thankful for your video's they have been a great help in my search for what makes me who I am
Takk, dear Ronald, for sharing this important history 💝 and thank you, dear Mads, for supporting your dear friend to tell the story that is not told, the story many folks do not know. Love you both very much, "just the way you are" 💝
And we love you too, Julia 😍😍
This is heartbreaking to watch but so important to talk about. Thank you for sharing your story.
This is your best video, it's so good.
Thanks!!
Agreed, your videos are nice too
That was very interesting, sad and enlightening - thank you for making this important video! I had no idea, and now I am keen to learn more about this topic.
Thanks for engaging and motivating us to make more on this topic North and South :):)
My grandpa came to the US from Norway when he was in his twenties, and my family still has very strong ties to Norwegian traditions and culture. Unfortunately the Sami people aren't something that gets talked about or represented at all, either with my family or in the US education system. A video essay about Frozen and Frozen 2 led me on a path of discovery and I am very grateful for this video giving me the opportunity to learn and grow. You've presented what you want to say in an entertaining and easily digestable way, and it has inspired me to want to learn more. Thank you for sharing your story ❤
From Indonesia here, love to learn about other culture, you are really talented with your dark sarcasm which I can relate because I use to hide the pain with dark humor too.
Thanks Nike C! Love your engagement and comments. Cheers from Ronald and Mads :):)
Wow I have just gained a completely new insight to the history of Sami. It is sadly a familiar tale but you have done a great job of enlightening us. Please more. You are also very funny. Shhhh
I just wanted to say hi and Ive missed you. Its great that youre talking about this.
I return to this video when I teach my children about where we come from. Thank you. I appreciate your way of approaching this topic!!!
❤️
Very interesting video! It would be great if you let us know about your chilean and mapuche roots too! Grettings from the end of the world!
Thank you for this! I'm sorry your family had to endure that. My family is First Nations and Met is from Canada and it is much the same here.
This was heartbreaking to watch, and must have been painful to live. Thank you for telling this story.
We learnt about Sami culture when I was at primary school in New Zealand, but we definitely didn't learn about that side of it. I only found out much later what happened and is probably still happening.
Interesting... Norway treated their indigenous people the same was the United States and Canada did...sad... your grandma seems to have been a wonderful woman... thanks for sharing your story.
You know Norwegians are also indigenous to Norway, right?
Stop with this "indegenous", they are more or less indegenous than the norwegians or others
@@andrewhall7176Norwegian aren't indigenous.
@@iakadayrneh Yes they are. How long do you have to inhabit a country before you count as indigenous? In the South of Norway Germanic peoples have been there for thousands of years, and in the more northern parts they still been in most of them for between 700 and a thousand years.
@@andrewhall7176 No, indigenous means first inhabitants, either way Germanic are not and never were indigenous your invaders like everywhere ya colonized. 1. They were already pre Indo European populations with darkskin that inhabited Scandinavia prior to the existence of the germanic nation. 2. The Siberian ancestors of the Sami arrived 4,500 years ago during the Indo European Yamnaya culture migration.
Ronald,
Your Grandma sounds like a wonderful person. Look at what she accomplished, she raised you as a strong person who can not only smile, but laugh and bring smiles to many; and have wonderful friends like Mads who collaborates with you to keep Grandma’s memory alive and well. To be able to smile and laugh and express joy is only human. The austere seriousness of Protestant preachers is not unique to only Norway; throughout the ages there have been so many abnormalities in various cultures. Persevere.
I am so sad to hear this tragic story. I have enjoyed so many of your wonderful videos, and it is your humor that makes them so enjoyable. But here it takes the tragedy and twists the knife (what a beautiful moment when the picture of Granny smiles when she is speaking Sami). And poor Ronald in the picture as a little child….,
My father's family are from Lodingen. My grandfather and his brothers made countless trips to the Shetlands during the war, risking his life, his boats, and using his assets wherever possible to save people and carry whatever was needed. He was Sami. When the war was over . . . The Nazis had burned his production sheds and their houses. The Norwegian government didn't recognize anything he'd done except to offer them a small hut. He had married a Whalsay woman in 1937, he moved to the Shetlands, then eventually to North Carolina in the U.S. My father and his sister were just children when they left, though I do still have relatives in Lodingen and the Shetlands.
Before the war, the Germans had big factory boats that would buy catches at sea and restock boats so they could stay out longer. Since the Germans knew my grandfather and his brothers, their boats were allowed to travel as long as they reported their whereabouts . Of course the Nazis didn't exactly have the right information. This allowed them to move people and stuff Norway wanted to hide , and to bring people from Scotland and the Shetlands to Norway, also to carry information.
My paternal grandfather was known as Beaivelodi, which I have been told means butterfly. Because he flitted across from Norway to The Shetlands, Scotland, The Faroe Islands, and Ireland with such speed and unpredictability. Truth was, everyone thought it was one boat, but it was actually 3 of them. Named the same, looked the same.
Yet my grandfather was treated shabbily. They made him paint out the decorations on his boats (after the war), they made him remove the eyes from his prow (because they were "pagan"). My own father (as a child) was told he could not use Sami words and he could not wear Sami style shoes or clothing. Finally, when they were told that their curing sheds could not be rebuilt and their claims denied for rebuilding their boat sheds. My grandfather just . . . left for the Shetlands . . . taking what they could carry. I still have my grandmother's big loom, that was broken down and lashed to the boat for the crossing.
One of the things I remember about my grandmother is her distrust of trees. She loved wide open spaces and wind, she said that trees hid the bad things and that the shadows were evil.
Wow! Thank you for telling the story. I'm a sea Sami, and have never heard of the eyes on the prow. I will ask my sister if she has, she has been working with preservation of sea Sami dialects and culture in general.
This reminds me of my family, who is Romani, forced to integrate into mainstream Portuguese culture in order to survive. Solidarity with the Sami!
Thanks for sharing your story with us!
Ronald, you ARE upholding the Sami oral storytelling tradition beautifully, so you should be proud! 👍 (P.S.- I just noticed the little Portuguese Rooster on your windowsill!)
Thanks Bonnie :)) Yes, Portugal is a favorite destination for vacation ;)
This was a departure from your other videos I have seen.
An important story to share.
Sadly, this has been the same for indigenous peoples in North America as well.
Thank you for sharing this with us.
As a native american, I can identify very much with this video. My grandfather became scared and ashamed because of the horrible treatment of his people. Please make more videos speaking of your beautiful culture.
Bittersweet tribute - I have a special place in my heart for Sami people and think that it's sad, and interesting, that Sami have (mostly) closed the Indigenous health gap, much moreso than other Indigenous peoples, but mostly by the exact process of assimilation that you describe, and being forced to leave culture and tradition behind. I wish your Granny could've lived her faith and culture without fear of exclusion, and I hope you're able to keep in touch with that part of your history as much as you wish to.
Hey everyone. Have a great evening y'all.
I'm here from hoots' channel from the video on Frozen 2. Thank you for this video. Your jokes made me laugh, then feel sad. I did like the way you depicted the Norwegian authorities, the absolute ridiculousness of knowing the fork goes on the left?? The absolute absurdity of colonialization was depicted well in your jokes & if these are almost word for word based off of actual interactions, my goodness, what cruelty. I'm glad to have found your channel; your few sentences about what Sami believe had me so intriguted, I very much would love to know more!
An excellent tribute to your grandmother and her culture, I am sure her soul up there is very happy.
Great expressive video!!One can understand easily what the people have been through!!
Thanks
Saw your video in Saami Baiki group! Keep joiking as it's your cultural identity.
Hi guys! I found out I am 16% Norwegian and our family lore has never mentioned anything Norwegian. I found your channel and have thoroughly enjoyed all of your videos. Thank you! This one has me crying. I had never even heard of the Sami and I can't stop crying. Hugs to you especially, Ronald. Love to both you and Mads. (And those hugs are whether you like it or not!)
Haha 🤗🤗
I am a norwegian, and I am ashamed of what my country have done to Sámi and Kvenns. You are also a part of our culture, and should have your right to be treated by respect, not just now, but in the past too, and you should not be forced to forget your culture in the past. I hope that sámi people that wanna learn sámi language have the possibility to do that, paied by the state. As a non-sámi norwegian, I wanna say sorry to all Sámi people for how my country have treated you 🇳🇴❤️
Do not be ashamed of being norwegian😡
@@isakkleppe1761 I feel ashamed of what my country have done in the past to Sámi and Kvenns, but I don’t feel ashamed for beeing an norwegian person, just feel ashamed on the behalf of the country for what they have done to Sámi people
So much was lost for the Sámi people. I'm so sorry your granny and your people had to suffer this, but she was likely terrified for your survival. ❤️ From my own studies, I'm heartened that some of the Sámi culture survived. But much of the beautiful animistic, polytheist aspects of Sámi life in harmony with the Earth has been destroyed. I truly hope those aspects survived in private or "underground" and we can some day re-learn those things. ❤️
I don't know how you could explain such sad stories in such a funny way. You are super smart and lovely guys. Much love 💓
Thx a lot from the both of us!
Thanks Shurouq Z. We appreciate your words
i've always liked this channel and it's corny videos. but now i love it even more 💚
Very motivating to hear! Thanks :):)
Im also from a Sami family that moved from Sápmi and( tried to) become Norwegians. And this video is hard to describe 😂 But I love you for creating and charing it 🥰🙏❤ It's a mess, but I loved my sami granni so much. ❤❤❤❤
Cool to hear. Thanks for sharing your story and for engaging. Cheers :):)
I am impressed that you are going all in with this video! I watched the whole thing, and I love you for making a strong statement. Darling boys, I feel very proud of you! I also feel angry about how Sami people were treated. Pretty sure Swedes were as bad or worse. We sit on our high horse and have opinions about the US and others, and their indigenous peoples. Look at yourself before you speak. I like this video. Thank you! Many hugs and kisses to you!
We actually have the same issues here in the UK. So many ‘true Brits’ are determined to rid Britain of its many diverse residents from other cultures. Sadly if they bothered to study British history they would discover how many of us were descended from other countries. I recall when my late father researched our family tree, he found that some of our ancestors came to England from France during the Battle of Hastings in 1066. We also have lines of descent from Russia, Scandinavia and Holland. Indigenous cultures of both the past and present should be celebrated. We have much to learn from all of them. They all share a far greater knowledge/respect for others, Mother Nature and our planet than most of everyone else ever will. I’m very proud of my ancestral roots and discovered some really remarkable history when my Dad took it upon himself to spend 5 years on our family tree back in the 1970’s. Everything was recorded across three walls in our living room!! The family that now reside in the home of my birth have carefully left all this information under their wallpaper!! They felt that someone’s family history should not be obliterated, but shared and respected.
I’m proud to be British, wherever I originally came from and I’m happy to share my country with other cultures, however diverse. Like my Dad always said, never be afraid that you might actually learn something interesting from someone from another country/culture. My Dad was right….as always!!❤️
There is enough Norwegian left in me (and Finnish left in my wife) to understand that without moral lectures from Swedes on high horses the world would quickly fall apart ;) I am joking by the way. Sweden is a great place.
@@davidoverbye3410 Maybe not for all people. I feel like I need to re-write my perception of Swedish history. I am so glad that we can learn about all this that actually happened.
@@davidoverbye3410 It is very important to say that you are joking. I liked your joke! HAHA! It is important to say you are laughing. Misunderstandings could be several. (I am joking)
@@pianystrom8137 I am pretty old and I have read history my whole life. History is always way more complicated and nuanced than the simple stories people like to tell. The rise of the nation state seems to have contributed to these simple stories. "All Norwegians are this" "All Swedes are that". People who do not quite fit these narratives have problems. It also depends on who writes the history and who teaches it in the schools. A lot of universities were founded by, and are funded by, whatever power structure controls the national state. As a result, the approved national narrative becomes enshrined in the curriculum taught to the people. At least these days there is more awareness of this and somewhat more willingness to confront some of the less savory aspects of the national mythos.
The way you told us a sad, serious, real story, your story, certainly the case for many Sámi people, with humor is just completely genius! I really like Nordic countries, Norway and Finland in special, but since I got to learn a bit about the Sámi is not the same. I got more and more interested in the Sámi ever since. I just hoped so much more would be done to revitalize the culture and the Sámi languages. Thank you for this video. Is really important to keep the memory alive and to not forget what the "good egalitarian" nations did to native people. "Sámieatnan duoddariid, dáid sámi mánáid ruovttu!" :)
Thank you so much for educating those of us who knew nothing of the sad story of your people. This is your best video so far. Mads as the Norwegian enforcer was pretty funny. ❤
Thanks Rosanna!
I'm African American and just learned I'm 3% Norwegian. Your channel is awesome! Thanks for being honest, but funny, about such a dark history. I can relate.
Motivating to hear. Thanks for sharing and engaging with us. Cheers from Ronald and Mads. Welcome home soon :):)
Always been a fan of your sardonic humour. But i really love what you are doing now. ❤these videos are so inciteful and personal. superb .
Thanks
So relevant to many other indigenous people’s. Gorgeous work. So overlooked as well.
tätä on tuskallista katsoa. olen iloinen, että olit rehellinen. Olen kohdannut paljon ei-saamelaisten vihaa ja monet vihaiset ihmiset ovat kohdanneet minut erityisesti UA-camssa. pysy vahvana ja kiitos videosta.

This was a very well-done and sobering video. You asked for stories, so I have one. It's not about me, but it is about how I began to understand what governments have done and are still doing to indigenous people. I once was on vacation in the mountains of North Carolina (east coast USA). There are native Americans called Cherokee living there. They have a reservation and have a casino (I didn't visit it) and then a tourist area with stereotypical 'Indian" things for sale, etc. I found it sad. Then I went to a show/lecture by a Cherokee elder who told the story of the US government removed them from their lands and also their own language being forbidden. As he talked you could see anger in his eyes. The audience was pretty apathetic and seemed bored. I felt so uncomfortable and angry for Cherokee and for how what he said seemed to mean nothing to the tourists. The government treated the Cherokee and other tribes like animals and worse. It makes me even sadder to know that other countries do the same thing.
Heartbreaking. Thanks for sharing your important story with us.
Thank you for your creating your latest Video💔
I'm very glad you shared your Sami with us. Your Grandmother was quite a strong woman. She wanted a better life for her family. But sharing the language and customs was g great gift to you all. Thank You and Peace for your Grandmother.
And you made me want to learn more about Sami History. Thank you.
True, she really wanted that. Thanks for sharing and engaging with us. And cool to hear, we can make more videos about this topic
I found this very interesting. It would be great if you could do some more videos about different aspects of your culture. Many thanks :)
Beautiful story. I’m from Belfast and have heard family stories going back a century. Very important to share your genealogy and telling stories. 👍🏼thanks for sharing Ronald.. it’s horrible how many First Nations people were and still are being treated.
Agree with you. Thanks for sharing. We appreciate your engagement! Cheers from Ronald and Mads
Super interesting, well done... I am missing them. I am happy to meet one in you. An heritage to cherish.