The Friendship Cooperation Between Karasjok and Lovozero: A Qualitative Study of a Multidimensional Cross-border Friendship Between Two Sámi Capitals
Master thesis
Permanent lenke
https://hdl.handle.net/11250/3162863Utgivelsesdato
2024Metadata
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Sammendrag
During Perestroika, opportunities opened up for cross-border cooperation between the Nordic and Russian Sámi. In the wake of this, one of the first Norwegian-Russian cross-border cooperation where many Sámi were involved took place. This thesis explores the role of Sámi interests in the friendship cooperation between Karasjok and Lovozero – two Sámi “capitals”. In what ways did the Sámi connection between the two municipalities shape the initiation and establishment of the friendship cooperation? To what extent could this friendship cooperation be called a "Sámi cooperation”? To what extent were the health projects in the cooperation directed at health issues among the Sámi population in Lovozero?
The empirical data material rests on archival documents and semi-structured interviews with former central participants in the friendship cooperation from Karasjok. The analysis and discussion of the empirical findings are framed by the conceptual framework of “pan-Sámism”.
The findings show that Sámi interests had a consistent role throughout the cooperation. Seen from Karasjok’s side, through specific and involved participants’ perspectives, the initiation of the friendship cooperation stems from the motivation to unite the Sámi across national borders and increase cross-border Sámi cooperation. It is argued that the cooperation may be understood as a “Sámi cooperation” as the Sámi interests were pervasive in the spirit of the cooperation, and since many Sámi were involved. Lastly, the health projects carried out in the cooperation targeted the whole population of Lovozero rather than solely the Sámi. Nevertheless, the findings show that the cooperation may have been more health-promoting for the Sámi in the area than initially thought, through various cultural interventions