Tradition Is Essential: Clashing Articulations of Sami Identity, Past and Present

Abstract

This chapter illuminates the complex interrelation between the concepts of ‘tradition’ and ‘modernity’ in relation to claims of indigeneity, sovereignty and cultural difference. By using the example of Sami identity processes, where notions of tradition and modernity are potent concepts employed by both Sami and non-Sami, we wish to elucidate how articulations of ‘authenticity’ seems to be both a justified ethno-political tool and part of a colonizing structure that works to re-produce prejudiced images of ‘the Other’. The complexity and unique contexts inherent to ethnic identity politics encourage us to emphasize that examinations of tradition are not about exploring whether particular practices are more or less authentic. Rather, they require deep understandings of the political and cultural circumstances within which tradition is performed.

Keywords

Identity politics; Laponia; Modernity; Sami; TEK; Tradition

Published in

Title: Dipping in to the North : Living, Working and Traveling in Sparsely Populated Areas
Publisher: Springer Singapore

SLU Authors

• Green, Carina

  • Department of Urban and Rural Development, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Ethnology

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-6623-3_9
• ISBN: 9789811566226
• eISBN: 978-981-15-6623-3

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/129885