AUNTIE: Wa’tkwanonhweráton Sewakwékon. On this edition of The Aunties Dandelion, we’re on a special visit with author Gerd Mikálsen at the Riddu Riddu Sami film and music festival in Northern Norway. Gerd is a Sámi person – which is a European Indigenous designation. The Sámi are traditional fisherpeople, trappers and reindeer herders whose lands span across Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. Gerd’s 2019 book titled “Father’s New Mother Tongue” is a fictionalized version of Guard’s childhood in a small, Arctic town in post-World War Two Norway when Sámi people were being aggressively assimilated by the government. The young girl, Alma, experiences the wounds of her identity and language denied on so many levels – even from her father. GERD: And he told us that that this is not necessary. You are not going to speak Sami. You will not be able to work or do anything if you get stuck in this language. AUNTIE: Gerd’s book is her attempt to heal those wounds through this collection of profound anecdotes from her journey of restoring Sámi culture and language. You’ll hear excerpts from her book throughout the episode. I’m Kahstoserakwathe and we are Yéthi Nihsténha ne Tekarónyakénare. The Aunties Dandelion. We’re focused on revitalizing our communities through stories of land, language, and relationships. And we want to say Nyá:wenkò:wa – or big thanks – to Canada’s Indigenous Screen Office – teyonhkiwihstekénha – for making this podcast possible through their New Media fund. We make space here for real conversations to unfold like when we are visiting in our communities. So take a breath, make some tea – and listen to your Aunties.
Contact Gerd's publisher to find her book in English: gollegiella@online.no
Here is the website for Gerd's book: https://samiskbibliotektjeneste.tromsfylke.no/2019/10/23/gerd-mikalsen-fathers-new-mother-tongue/