Dåajmijes vuekie: A Sami Aesthetic Paradigm

• Main Authors: Lena Kappfjell, Harald Gaski, Thomas DuBois
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English; French
• Published: University of Alberta Library 2024
• Subjects: Sámi; aesthetics; traditional knowledge; Indigenous literature; History of Northern Europe. Scandinavia; DL1-1180; Language and Literature; P; sami
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.29173/scancan248; https://doaj.org/article/abd4f2b8a45440b9b98be0e31a188d85

The South Sami concept of dåajmijes vuekie is used to discuss a nuanced system of evaluative norms operating in Sami culture, past and present, in relation to objects, behavior, and activities. Where Western aesthetics may focus on surface appearance, dåajmijes vuekie emphasizes effective action in relation to practical needs, social interaction, and ethics. The authors suggest that evaluative norms associated with Sami traditional knowledge and activities can provide valuable insights for understanding not only Sami traditional life but also works of contemporary Sami artists and writers who draw on Sami cultural norms in conscious ways.