About EUSTAFOR PUBLICATIONS POSITIONS EU PROJECTS PRESS RELEASES LINKS EUROPEAN FORESTRY HOUSE member log on

Metsähallitus presented with the first Sámi Language Award

Published 10.12.2010

Metsähallitus has been granted the Sámi Language Award presented for the first time by the Sámi Language Council of the Sámi Parliament.

The Sámi Language Award is granted in recognition of outstanding work done to promote services in Sámi and the position of the Sámi language in Finland. The Sámi Language Award, which consists of a craft item (duodji) and a diploma, was presented in connection with a seminar on Protecting the Sámi Culture in Finland held in Levi on Friday 3.12.

- I hope this award will encourage Metsähallitus in their continuous efforts to promote the position of the Sámi language in our society and also inspire other authorities to improve their Sámi language services, says Mr Erkki Lumisalmi, Chairperson of the Sámi Language Council.

A natural way of improving services in the Sámi language is to recruit Sámi speakers, or by setting skills in the Sámi language as a criterion for holding an office. In order to safeguard the future of the Sámi language it is important that services in Sámi are made a natural, visible and elemental part of public activities, services and recruitment.

Justifications of the Sámi Parliament

The Sámi Parliament found that Metsähallitus has done excellent work in implementing the obligations imposed by the Sámi Language Act and promoted the position of Sámi in their on-line communications, customer service and information activities. As a rule, official services are provided in a written form; in addition to this, Metsähallitus also offers services in spoken Sámi and has hired a Sámi speaking information officer.

The Sámi Parliament found that Metsähallitus has carried out outstanding work in the preservation of traditional Sámi cultural knowledge by collecting and publishing old Sámi geographical names. The report on Sámi names in Eastern Inari published by Metsähallitus is particularly important for preserving cultural information associated with the environment in the Skolt and Inari Sámi languages.

The Sámi Parliament hopes that this award will encourage Metsähallitus in their efforts to improve their services, in particular in Inari and Skolt Sámi, by making them a natural part of Metsähallitus' activities.

Sámi craft item presented as a prize
This year's Sámi Language Award prize is a traditional Sámi craft item (duodji), a bowl made from a birch burl by duojár, lecturer Ilmari Laiti from Inari, selected by the Sámi Duodji  Association.

More information:
Juha Mäkinen, Director of Communications, mobile +358 40 570 9307

Back

Source: http://www.metsa.fi