Reconstructing Food Ways: Role of Skolt Sami Cultural Revitalization Programs in Local Plant Use

Abstract

Cultural programs, such as revitalization forums, support community goals of resilience, whether by conserving and recreating particular plant uses, or by fostering dynamic traditions marked by innovation and adoption of new wild food uses and ideologies. This paper explores the significance of traditional plant revitalization forums for the Sevettijärvi-Näätämö community, located in northern Finland in close proximity to Norwegian and Russian borders. Along with Finns and other Sami groups, this region comprises a significant Skolt Sami population present in the area since relocation from Petsamo (in particular Suenjel sijd) after World War II. The unique history of the region and past marginalization and assimilation pressures have stimulated current revitalization initiatives, which seek to celebrate Skolt Sami culture and revitalize traditional skills and knowledge, including food traditions. The study compares food tradition presentations during a summer cultural festival with ethnographic data on wild food use in Sevettijärvi-Näätämö. This comparison explores selection of knowledge for revitalization forums, and the potential impact of this selection on wild food use. Results show that the types of plant and fungi uses (in particular Inonotus obliquus and the inner bark of Pinus sylvestris) presented in revitalization forums reflect a blend of historical and recent nutritional influences. These plants and fungi may be well-known and recorded anthropologically or commercialized and commonly available. On the other hand, cultural programs focus on food traditions while excluding medicinal plants. Data on local plant use demonstrates that the degree to which revitalization forums impact plant use may depend on opportunities for acquiring skills through other avenues.

Archaeological ethnography of an indigenous movement: Revitalization and production in a Skolt Sámi community

“…Numerous organizations and local actors seek explicitly to strengthen Skolt community through social and cultural initiatives. The Skolt Sa´mi Cultural Foundation in Sevettija¨rvi organizes community events around Skolt Sa´mi foodways, song, and dance (Magnani, 2016). The Orthodox church provides ceremonies and services emphasizing cultural ties to pre-relocation Petsamo.…”

“…However, Skolt Sa´mi populations used pie'cc for porridge and soup thickener as a part of normal diet (Itkonen, 1948;Kyto¨la¨, 1999;Paulaharju, 1921). Because of the role of pie'cc as a regular food among the Skolt Sa´mi, its use has become a key symbol of Skolt Sa´mi culture (Magnani, 2016). Like the root boat, the renewed production of tools for the harvest of pie'cc and its consumption represents efforts to reclaim ways of life affected by social and political encounters and economic transformations.…”

“…Today collection typically occurs by a group near the residence where it will be processed. Pie'cc tools are also frequently used or presented in public demonstrations at community cultural events, where they are emphasized as Skolt tradition (Magnani, 2016). Changes in space attest to efforts in making visible the use and production of the objects in public fora.…”

“Everything New Is Well-Forgotten Old”: Tradition and Innovation in the Narratives of New Georgian Cuisine

“…For supporters of New Georgian Cuisine, innovation does not present a break with the past. Nor do they use tradition as a "cover" for innovation, as in the case described by Magnani (2016). For them, innovation is a value inherent in Georgian culture and traditions.…”

“…In some accounts hybridization is depicted as a creative endeavor undertaken by individuals and/or business organizations. For example, Natalia Magnani (2016) argues that "traditional" food and other cultural objects presented at the annual Saami people's festival are products of creative efforts by local entrepreneurs to combine traditional and modern elements. Other studies have argued that the success of the hybridization process depends on the support of powerful actors.…”