When you are born you are given a name. Some have more meaning than others, but it is the most basic aspect of one’s identity. You can tell a lot by one’s name-- origin, heritage, language, and occasionally personality. When someone calls you the wrong name, you correct them. Why? Because of the importance of the name. Since it holds so much meaning and acknowledgment in just that one word it is a basic right to be called by your correct name. When I explain where I currently am in Sweden, I do not pause before answering “Jokkmokk”. It was the name I always heard and recognized. In previous classes here, if a speaker spoke of the town by any other name than “Jokkmokk”, I switched it in my notes to “Jokkmokk”. It seemed the same as translating others words from a foreign language to one I’m more comfortable with.
Today, Per Stephan Labba came to talk to us about Sami Language. Interestingly, he spoke of the importance of language rather than teaching us specific Sami words. When he told us that one of correct Sami names for this town is Jåhkåmåhkke and that he hoped we would use that name rather than the Swedish name Jokkmokk the significance finally struck me. For Sami like Per, the importance of calling this town Jåhkåmåhkke means more than just saying it in Sami but as a means of reclaiming the land as Sami. This land has been Sami for thousands of years and all of us here hope it stays that way. We want Sami culture to thrive and be taught for many generations to come. We want Sami rights and respect to be established by the Swedish government and Swedish people. Just the simple act of calling this culturally important Sami town Jåhkåmåhkke is a important and significant first step.
Today, Per Stephan Labba came to talk to us about Sami Language. Interestingly, he spoke of the importance of language rather than teaching us specific Sami words. When he told us that one of correct Sami names for this town is Jåhkåmåhkke and that he hoped we would use that name rather than the Swedish name Jokkmokk the significance finally struck me. For Sami like Per, the importance of calling this town Jåhkåmåhkke means more than just saying it in Sami but as a means of reclaiming the land as Sami. This land has been Sami for thousands of years and all of us here hope it stays that way. We want Sami culture to thrive and be taught for many generations to come. We want Sami rights and respect to be established by the Swedish government and Swedish people. Just the simple act of calling this culturally important Sami town Jåhkåmåhkke is a important and significant first step.
1 comment:
Home, place, language, identity ...are concepts you've touched on in your thoughtful blog entries, Sonja. One of my favorite Sami poets is Paulus Utsi. He writes about those topics. Utsi was once a teacher at Samernas folkhögskola (the first name of the school where you are now, SUC). You might ask the current teachers at SUC about him. If you want to read his poems -- those he wrote alone and the ones he wrote together with his wife Inger -- look for an anthology called "In the Shadow of the Midnight Sun." Ájtte has it and there's probably a copy at your school as well. Don't be surprised if you've heard of the name of the translator before.
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