Borealis Samtale: The power of language

Borealis Samtale: <i>Språkets makt</i>
15.03.
13:00–14:30
Bergen Offentlige Bibliotek
Free entry

Panel:
Herborg Rundberg
Sondre Närva Pettersen
Katarina Dorothea Isaksen

Photo: Martin Losvik, privat & Øystein Haara

Welcome to an open discussion about the ongoing role of language in Sámi music and culture, with three composers who have created new work for the festival in 2025 – Herborg Rundberg, Sondre Närva Pettersen and Katarina Dorothea Isaksen. 

For Sámi communities, language is never a neutral subject. The territory of Sápmi spans 9 different language groups, and is now crossed by the borders and politics of Finland, Norway, Sweden and Russia. For more than 100 years the use of Sámi language was the subject of State sponsored repression and erasure in Norway, and for many generations of Sámi, speaking their own language was a source of shame and brought violence and sanctions upon people and communities. Whilst prejudice and racism still exist, for a new generation of Sámi, learning language is a key to unlocking their identity, and art and music have been crucial vehicles in both preserving traditions and exploring new modes of expression in a contemporary context.

In this discussion, we explore how working with sound, and music, as well as story telling can create new potentials for the Sámi language, and ask what role language plays in more abstract cultural forms and expressions. Herborg Rundberg has composed a new work bárru bára for The Norwegian Naval Forces Band, Sondre Närva Pettersen has been exploring language survival and granular synthesis for Jiennagoahti whilst Katarina Dorothea Isaksen presented her new radio work, reanimating lost stories, in the forest outside of Bergen in the run up to the festival period.

Presented in collaboration with Birgon ja biras sámiid searvi
Supported by Fritt Ord Foundation