This century, all school education in Swedish Sápmi took place in Swedish only. The Sami language was also lacking during Fredrik Prost's school days.
When you grow up as a Sami, you learn that there are many things that are done deliberately – to make sure we are almost not heard and seen. It's one of the things that you almost have no opportunity to understand if you live in Malmö or Stockholm.
When the Sami language area wanted to nominate him for the Nordic Council's Literature Prize this year, he initially said no. In that case, he would have to translate "Lenges hearggi Sáhcal fatnasa" ("Pull for the reindeer, launch the boat") from North Sami to Swedish, and he didn't want to. But after a few months of consideration, he agreed to translate the book only for the jury, in 15 copies, which he would then burn.
The reasons are several:
If I say that it shouldn't automatically be translated into Swedish, I'm sending a signal to other Samis that we don't necessarily need to adapt, our language is also important, says Fredrik Prost.
Endangered languages
The Sami languages are endangered. Many Samis cannot speak or read any of them. A woman from the South Sami language area thought he should translate the book into Swedish so that she could also take part in her culture. But Fredrik Prost will seek funding for translations into South Sami and Lule Sami.
I told her, "then you'll have the opportunity to learn your own language".
His refusal is also about the content. Fredrik Prost alternates fact chapters with dramatized reality in a book about Sami traditional spirituality and nature worship – something he has explored his entire adult life and which has been unwritten until now. The book also contains the story of Nilja Lässi, a Sami noaidi (shaman) who was burned at the stake in 1692 because he refused to renounce his faith.
The entire trial protocol is preserved, it sends shivers down your spine when you read it, they describe exactly what he said when they took him from his tent site, the entire dialogue is preserved.
"Can't be translated"
Fredrik Prost is afraid that his book would be exploited by "fake Samis" in tourist traps, but he also claims that it is impossible to exactly translate the terminology.
What can be said with one word in Sami might require 20 in Swedish or can't be translated at all.
"Ilbmi" was one of the words that Fredrik Prost and his translator struggled with.
You can say that "there is an unpleasant 'ilbmi' in a place", or that someone has a pleasant "ilbmi", but it can also mean another sphere, another dimension, says Fredrik Prost.
However, "aura" or "atmosphere" is not exactly it.
Something like that, but it can also mean air and weather. It depends on the context. Then you can use it in a slightly modified form to talk about gods. In context, you always understand what it means in Sami, but in Swedish, it becomes quite awkward. It was one of the words we had big problems with during the translation process.
Takes place on September 26-29 in Gothenburg.
This year's fair will be the 40th and has Sápmi as its main theme. The starting point is Sami philosophy and worldview. The cultural center Tjállegoahte and the writers' associations Bágo and Sámi Girjecálliid Searvi are guest of honor.
Among this year's authors present is Joyce Carol Oates, who will receive the fair's newly established prize Sjöjungfrun.
