Read the Mar. 3, 2008 article in The Desert Sun, which includes excerpts from the following Q&A about the director's film, Herdswoman.
• How did you find this story?
In 2005, a huge court case which questioned the Sami ancient rights to the reindeers' pasture was coming up. The judgment of the case was to be of crucial importance to the future of reindeer herding.
The Sami people had never won a similar court case. A few years earlier, the Sami people had lost a case, which had disastrous consequences. They lost the right to use their traditional land and at the same time the concerned Sami communities were also ruined by the court costs.
When I read about the upcoming court case in the newspapers, I felt that most of the articles didn't show a relevant picture of the reality. For the reindeer herders, the court case was a great insult. It not only questioned the rights to their traditional land, it questioned the whole history of the Sami people.
First the land of Sami people was colonized by the government and then sold out to non-Sami people without any compensation. After this tremendous assault, why should the indigenous people be forced into a trial to prove that they've been living and using their traditional land?
I started to make the documentary Herdswoman. By that time in 2005, I only knew one of the women that participates in the film. In court, I got acquainted with the other two main characters, which I only knew by name earlier. We all felt that this film needed to be done.
The knowledge in Sweden about Sami history, culture and life of today is very insufficient. I believe that knowledge is the only way to create understanding. We need to understand each other; we need to take part in each other's lives and experiences. It doesn't matter what culture, religion or social class you belong to. To reduce the prejudices and conflicts, we need to have the will to increase our knowledge and understanding.
• What is your connection with the Sami?
I feel like I am a part of the Sami society. The question of identity can be very difficult because of the importance of feeling accepted. I feel accepted even though my biological origin is a mix and I don't even know about some of my ancestral history.
To me it is more important what you feel in your heart. I feel that the Sami culture is a part of me.
• Why do you believe it is important that your film be a part of the Festival of Native Film & Culture?
Most of the indigenous peoples share the same experience in being colonized and assimilated. I believe that the knowledge about this needs to be spread to the whole world because it concerns millions of people and is a question of human rights.
I wish that many people will see Herdswoman because it is a possibility to take part of these women's lives and reality, to learn something about another culture.
• Museum Director Michael Hammond said that you will be attending the festival with your yoiking partner. Can you tell me a little more about that? Will you be performing?
My partner and I will attend the festival. We are really looking forward to that!
The yoik is the traditional folk music of the Sami, and it is an important part of our lives. If people like to hear some yoik, we like to share it with them. If there is some interest, my partner will perform. I believe he is an excellent yoiker. I myself will not perform; I have no experience of performing.
Something about yoik:
For the singer/yoiker, the yoik is a way to process and release emotions. It is a release and a cleansing where one can express emotions inexpressible in words.
A yoik can tell of the past and the future, with a range of subjects. A yoik can be about animals, people, places, feelings and hopes -- anything that is important to the yoiker. The traditional yoik are often about people.
It does not begin and it does not end. A yoik does not need to have words -- its narrative is in its power; it can tell a life story in song. The singer can tell the story through words, melody, rhythm or expressions.
A yoik is not merely a description; it attempts to capture its subject in its entirety. It's like a holographic, multi-dimensional living image -- a replica, not just a flat photograph or simple visual memory. It is not about something, it is that something.
Many people that yoik, only do it for themselves.
Check out the Herdswoman web site.