The Meaning of Words and the Power of Silence

Abstract

This chapter calls for a dialogue on Saami history with a higher degree of cooperation between archaeologists and historians than what has been the case up to now, which is necessary if we are to trying to understand the gaps in time. Today there is a gap between Saami history produced according to written sources and Saami history based on archaeological material. This only increases the already asymmetric relations for the Saami and keeps teachers, politicians and other people in the majority societies in the dark when it comes to the long lines of Saami history on the Scandinavian Peninsula, what I call a power of silence. This silence makes or contributes to keeping old myths about Saami history from the end of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries alive in the majority society today. The aim of this chapter is to look across national borders to provide a brief summary of history based on what we (think we) know and have discussed as important for the understanding of the South Saami's prehistory from 4000 BC to 1000 AD. Another aim is to reflect on different strategies and interactions between Saami societies and agricultural communities. Iktedimmie Daate tjaalege akten digkiedaemman haasta saemien histovrijen bïjre aktine sagke stuerebe laavenjostojne arkeologi jïh histovrihkeri gaskem goh lea daan raajan orreme, naakede mij lea daerpies jis edtjebe pryövedh joekehtsem guarkedh nuekie varke. Daan biejjien akte joekehtse gaskem dam saemien histovrijem man våarome lea doh tjaaleldh gaaltijh jïh saemien histovrijem man våarome lea dïhte arkeologeles materijaale. Daate ajve lissehte doh ij loktes tsiehkieh saemide, jïh lohkehtaejjah, politihkerh jïh jeatjah almetjh dejnie jeanatjommes siebriedahkine jemhkielisnie hööltie gosse lea dan guhkies saemien histovrijen bïjre skandinavijen njaarkesne, naakede maam manne gohtjem akte straejmie sjeavohthvoeteste. Daan sjeavohthvoeten gaavhtan dle båeries mytah saemien histovrijen bïjre luhkieåktseden jïh tjuateden jaepietjuetien minngiemossen raejeste åadtjoeh jåerhkedh jieledh jienebelåhkoen siebriedahkesne daan biejjien. Ulmie daejnie tjaaleginie lea laanter-E. Norberg (B) Saemien Sijte