Saami Council's Prize for Literature Was Awarded to Sara Vuolab at the Sámi Conference

The Saami Council's 2022 literature prize was awarded to Sara Vuolab at the Sámi conference in Váhčir on Sunday 14 August. The literature prize was awarded to Vuolab’s poetry collection called Gárži. The book is published by Čálliid lágádus in 2019.

The literature prize's jury writes in its justifications that Vuolab deals with a topic in her poetry collection that has not been raised in Sámi literature before. The collection of poems deals with an eating disorder, the effects of which are the central theme of the poems and which effects holistically, both physically and mentally. Vuolab brings out illness in his poems, which is a heavy subject for both the speaker and his entire family.

Sara Vuolab is happy to receive the award. - The Saami Council's literature award is a great honor. It's great that the jury values my writings and wants to help bring my writings up. I am so happy, says Vuolab.

The jury also writes that Vuolab's poetry collection is a good example of how art can be used to describe the difficult and unpleasant things in life, and yet the reader has the feeling that he has also experienced the beauty of life. Vuolab's poetry collection is also suitable for young adults.

John Trygve Solbakk, an editor of Čálliid lágádus publishing house, wishes the writer luck. - I really appreciate the literature prize. The Sámi literature award is important for Sámi literature and I believe that it inspires people to write in Sámi. The award is especially important for a young writer, says Solbakk.

The literature prize aims to inspire people in the Sámi language. In addition, the award brings fame to writers and makes Sámi literature known. The literary award is given alternately to a book for children and young people or a book aimed at adults. The 2022 literature prize was awarded to work aimed at adults. The prize is awarded every two years, and the jury evaluates the award. The previous literary prize was awarded in 2020 when it was awarded to Kirste Paltto with her book Luohtojávrri oainnáhusat.

Saami Council's Prize for Literature 

The purpose of Saami Council's Prize for Literature is to encourage to write in Saami. The publicity that follows the prize puts attention on the writers and makes Saami literature more well-known. The prize is given to books written originally in Saami. Books translated to a minority Saami language can, however, also receive the prize. The prize is awarded every second year - every other time to an adult literature book and every other time to a children's book.