The launch of Dájdakodisilla strengthens the Sámi art and cultural field

Photo: The Saami Council / Fanny Larsson-Auna

The Saami Council is now launching Dájdakodisilla, a report about current border obstacles for the Sámi cultural field. The report builds on the experiences and needs of the Sámi art and cultural field, and contains concrete recommendations and priorities for the Nordic states and Sámi Parliaments.

Izabel Nordlund, Katarina Blind and Christina Hætta.

Photo: The Saami Council / Fanny Larsson-Auna

The title Dájdakodisilla is inspired by the historical Lapp Codicil of 1751 - a border agreement created when the states as we know them drew their borders, and which to this day secures reindeer herders’ right to cross the borders. The aim of Dájdakodisilla is to be a reminder that the Sámi cultural field is one common field, and that we need structures which acknowledges this.

“Sámi artists and the cultural field are currently experiencing great and increasing international acknowledgement and demand. Sámi artists have a unique starting point with all of Sápmi and the world as a market, but the potential is hindered by structural border obstacles, which it is time to find good solutions for,” says Christina Hætta, head of the Saami Council’s cultural unit.

Dájdakodisilla is illustrated by Katarina Blind, also known as Tjanieh on social media. In her famous humorous style, she breathes life into the border obstacles and problems Sámi art- and cultural workers face today.

The report is launched during KulturSápmi in Ohcejohka, and during Arctic Arts Summit in Ubmeje.

The report is launched as a part of the Interreg Aurora funded project ReCap ASáp: Regaining capacity in a changing Sápmi, which aims to improve the knowledge base and to promote inclusion in decision making that affects the Sámi people. As a part of this, has the project gathered knowledge holders and experts to six different Knowledge hubs. One of these has looked at border obstacles for the cultural field in Sápmi.

The result of this Knowledge Hub is Dájdakodisilla, which comes with concrete recommendations and priorities, and strengthens Sámi self-determination and the development of Sápmi.