On Tuesday, the Sámi Parliament released its latest status report on the Sámi languages in Sweden.
The report states that the Sámi language took a step backwards in 2024.
The government should prioritize and allocate funds for the Sámi languages and their development.
Major challenges for the Sámi language: "Should be equated with Swedish"
The report that has been submitted to the government highlights positive examples from the past year such as SVT's Christmas calendar Snödrömmar and the Gothenburg Book Fair. But overall, 2024 is still a year in which the Sámi language took a step backwards.
All Sámi languages are endangered languages according to UNESCO's nine criteria. Nevertheless, the government chose to cut funding for Sámi language work in 2025. As a result, four positions have been removed from the Sámi Language Centre and the initiatives they implement are therefore expected to decrease during the year.
This year’s report focuses particularly on the Sámi language situation among children and young people, where it is believed that more people want to take back, read and develop their Sámi language.
However, in several parts of Sweden, parents report major challenges in getting their children to learn their mother tongue.
“As a parent, you have to be aware of all the laws and know how it works in practice to get Sámi education for your child. It is crucial to be able to cope. There are parents who can’t cope,” says the parent from Gothenburg in the report.
The report authors call for a long series of initiatives.
We need teaching materials and meeting places where you can speak Sámi, as well as more and better tools for language technology. A functioning and coherent education chain for the Sámi languages is required.
They also highlight more Sámi language arenas, language baths and mentoring programs. They also state that more Sámi-speaking translators and journalists are needed.
“The government should prioritize and allocate funds for the Sámi languages and their development. The Sámi indigenous languages should be equated with Swedish.”
Everyone must contribute at different levels and work together to strengthen the Sámi languages. Sámi must become an everyday language, which can take its place in Swedish society. Sweden has an obligation to cherish the Sámi language and culture, says Sáminuorra’s chair Sara-Elvira Kuhmunen.
Source: SVT (in Swedish)
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