Sacred Nature. Diverging Use and Understanding of Old Sámi Offering Sites in Alta, Northern Norway
This study focuses on the contemporary use of two well-known Sámi offering sites in Alta, Finnmark, Norway. Today, these are hiking destinations and sightseeing points for both the Sámi and the non-Sámi local population, as well as a few non-local visitors. Many of these visitors leave objects at th...
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MDPI AG
2020
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:d3b64ac4a82f4aceb29f8b28aa4df0d5 2023-05-15T13:20:43+02:00 Sacred Nature. Diverging Use and Understanding of Old Sámi Offering Sites in Alta, Northern Norway Marte Spangen Tiina Äikäs 2020-06-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3390/rel11070317 https://doaj.org/article/d3b64ac4a82f4aceb29f8b28aa4df0d5 EN eng MDPI AG https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/11/7/317 https://doaj.org/toc/2077-1444 doi:10.3390/rel11070317 2077-1444 https://doaj.org/article/d3b64ac4a82f4aceb29f8b28aa4df0d5 Religions, Vol 11, Iss 317, p 317 (2020) Sámi religion sieidi offering site contemporary offerings tourism Religions. Mythology. Rationalism BL1-2790 article 2020 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3390/rel11070317 2022-12-31T12:48:21Z This study focuses on the contemporary use of two well-known Sámi offering sites in Alta, Finnmark, Norway. Today, these are hiking destinations and sightseeing points for both the Sámi and the non-Sámi local population, as well as a few non-local visitors. Many of these visitors leave objects at the sites, such as parts of recently slaughtered reindeer, clothing, coins, toys, sweet wrappers and toilet paper. This indicates that visitors have different levels of knowledge about and reverence for the traditional significance of these places. Through repeated surveys over several years, we also observed a certain development and change in the number and character of these depositions, as well as a variation in depositions between different sites. A series of interviews with various users and key stakeholders were performed to clarify the reasons for these changing practices, as well as what individuals and groups visit these sites, their motivation for doing so and for leaving specific objects, and what potential conflict of interest there is between different users. Furthermore, we surveyed what information has been available to the public about these sites and their significance in Sámi religion and cultural history over time. The results show that a diverse group of individuals visit the sites for a variety of reasons, and that there are contrasting views on their use, even among different Sámi stakeholders. While it is difficult to limit the knowledge and use of these places because they are already well known, more information about old Sámi ritual practices and appropriate behaviour at such sites may mediate latent conflicts and promote a better understanding of the importance of offering sites in both past and present Sámi societies. Article in Journal/Newspaper Alta Finnmark Northern Norway Finnmark Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Alta Norway Religions 11 7 317 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Sámi religion sieidi offering site contemporary offerings tourism Religions. Mythology. Rationalism BL1-2790 |
spellingShingle |
Sámi religion sieidi offering site contemporary offerings tourism Religions. Mythology. Rationalism BL1-2790 Marte Spangen Tiina Äikäs Sacred Nature. Diverging Use and Understanding of Old Sámi Offering Sites in Alta, Northern Norway |
topic_facet |
Sámi religion sieidi offering site contemporary offerings tourism Religions. Mythology. Rationalism BL1-2790 |
description |
This study focuses on the contemporary use of two well-known Sámi offering sites in Alta, Finnmark, Norway. Today, these are hiking destinations and sightseeing points for both the Sámi and the non-Sámi local population, as well as a few non-local visitors. Many of these visitors leave objects at the sites, such as parts of recently slaughtered reindeer, clothing, coins, toys, sweet wrappers and toilet paper. This indicates that visitors have different levels of knowledge about and reverence for the traditional significance of these places. Through repeated surveys over several years, we also observed a certain development and change in the number and character of these depositions, as well as a variation in depositions between different sites. A series of interviews with various users and key stakeholders were performed to clarify the reasons for these changing practices, as well as what individuals and groups visit these sites, their motivation for doing so and for leaving specific objects, and what potential conflict of interest there is between different users. Furthermore, we surveyed what information has been available to the public about these sites and their significance in Sámi religion and cultural history over time. The results show that a diverse group of individuals visit the sites for a variety of reasons, and that there are contrasting views on their use, even among different Sámi stakeholders. While it is difficult to limit the knowledge and use of these places because they are already well known, more information about old Sámi ritual practices and appropriate behaviour at such sites may mediate latent conflicts and promote a better understanding of the importance of offering sites in both past and present Sámi societies. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Marte Spangen Tiina Äikäs |
author_facet |
Marte Spangen Tiina Äikäs |
author_sort |
Marte Spangen |
title |
Sacred Nature. Diverging Use and Understanding of Old Sámi Offering Sites in Alta, Northern Norway |
title_short |
Sacred Nature. Diverging Use and Understanding of Old Sámi Offering Sites in Alta, Northern Norway |
title_full |
Sacred Nature. Diverging Use and Understanding of Old Sámi Offering Sites in Alta, Northern Norway |
title_fullStr |
Sacred Nature. Diverging Use and Understanding of Old Sámi Offering Sites in Alta, Northern Norway |
title_full_unstemmed |
Sacred Nature. Diverging Use and Understanding of Old Sámi Offering Sites in Alta, Northern Norway |
title_sort |
sacred nature. diverging use and understanding of old sámi offering sites in alta, northern norway |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3390/rel11070317 https://doaj.org/article/d3b64ac4a82f4aceb29f8b28aa4df0d5 |
geographic |
Alta Norway |
geographic_facet |
Alta Norway |
genre |
Alta Finnmark Northern Norway Finnmark |
genre_facet |
Alta Finnmark Northern Norway Finnmark |
op_source |
Religions, Vol 11, Iss 317, p 317 (2020) |
op_relation |
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/11/7/317 https://doaj.org/toc/2077-1444 doi:10.3390/rel11070317 2077-1444 https://doaj.org/article/d3b64ac4a82f4aceb29f8b28aa4df0d5 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3390/rel11070317 |
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Religions |
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11 |
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7 |
container_start_page |
317 |
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