An introduction to Sami literature

While the Norwegian and English words for literature come from the Latin littera – ‘letter’ – the root of the Sami word girjjálašvuohta comes from girji, which means ‘pattern’. Thus girjjálašvuohta encompasses several literary genres, and this corresponds well with the holistic view often found in indigenous cultures.

In this lecture professor Harald Gaski will present examples of Sami literary texts which at one and the same time consist of words, sound and visual art – from 17th century joik texts and images of the noaidi drum right up to contemporary prose and poetry.