In recent years there has been a growing interest in and revitalization of traditional Sámi spirituality and shamanic practices. This can be seen as part of a broader movement to strengthen and revive Sámi culture and identity after centuries of suppression and assimilation policy. Central to this process stands the rediscovery and repatriation of Sámi ceremonial drums, which carry a deep symbolic and spiritual significance.
Historical background
Sámi religion was traditionally animistic, with a belief that nature was animated by spirits and deities. Shamanism was a central element, in which the ritual expert called the noaidi could undertake soul journeys to the spirit world to seek counsel and guidance. The shaman drum, or rune drum, was an important tool in these rituals.
In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries an intense missionary activity was launched among the Sámi, which led to the traditional practice of religion largely disappearing. Many drums were confiscated and destroyed by zealous priests who regarded the Sámi faith as "superstition." This was part of a broader Norwegianization policy whose aim was to assimilate the Sámi into Norwegian culture and Christianity.
Revitalization of Sámi spirituality
In recent decades there has been a growing interest in rediscovering and revitalizing elements of traditional Sámi spirituality. This can be seen as part of a broader movement to strengthen Sámi identity and culture in the wake of the political mobilization that began in the 1960s and 70s.
This revitalization of Sámi spirituality has several aspects
Rediscovery of traditional practices: Many Sámi have begun to explore and resume traditional spiritual practices, including the use of the shaman drum, joik (traditional Sámi song) and the use of sacred sites in nature.
Cultural healing: For many, this rediscovery of traditional spirituality functions as a form of cultural healing, a way to process historical trauma and restore a sense of cultural continuity.
Identity marker: For many, traditional spirituality becomes an important marker of Sámi identity, a way to distinguish themselves from the majority society and assert their distinctiveness.
Ecological awareness: The animistic worldview in traditional Sámi spirituality, with its emphasis on the sacredness of nature, resonates with modern ecological concerns and can serve as a resource for environmental activism.
The significance of the shaman drum
The shaman drum, or goavddis in Northern Sámi (Gievrie in Southern Sámi), holds a particularly important place in the revitalization of Sámi spirituality. These drums were not merely ritual tools, but represented an entire worldview, with symbols representing gods, natural phenomena and aspects of daily life.
The confiscation and destruction of these drums during the missionary period therefore represented not only the loss of ritual objects, but a suppression of the entire Sámi worldview. The rediscovery and repatriation of surviving drums therefore carry a deep symbolic significance.
The Frøyningsfjell drum In 2017, for example, the Frøyningsfjell drum, one of the best-preserved Sámi drums, was temporarily exhibited in Trondheim as part of the centenary of the first Sámi national assembly. This was a significant event that symbolized a gradual return of Sámi cultural heritage to Sámi control.
Challenges and controversies
The revitalization of Sámi spirituality is not without controversies and challenges:
Authenticity: There are debates about what constitutes "authentic" Sámi spirituality, given that much of the tradition was broken and much knowledge was lost during the Norwegianization era.
Syncretism: Many modern expressions of Sámi spirituality blend elements of traditional Sámi belief with other spiritual traditions and modern new religiosity, which can be controversial.
Commercialization: There are concerns that Sámi spirituality may become commercialized or trivialized, particularly in the encounter with the New Age movement and tourism.
The relationship to Christianity: Many Sámi identify as Christian, and the revitalization of pre-Christian spirituality can create tensions.
Academic interest: Increased academic interest in Sámi spirituality can contribute to preservation and understanding, but it also raises questions about who has the right to interpret and represent these traditions.
Removing stigma
The revitalization of Sámi spirituality, and especially the rediscovery of the shaman drum, helps remove the stigma that has long been associated with these practices. This happens in several ways:
Normalization: By bringing these practices into the public sphere and discussing them openly, they are gradually normalized and demystified.
Cultural pride: When Sámi themselves take control of the representation and interpretation of their spiritual heritage, it can contribute to increased cultural pride and self-confidence.
Education: Increased knowledge of Sámi history and culture in both Sámi and non-Sámi communities can help counteract prejudice and misunderstanding.
Recognition: Official recognition of the value of Sámi cultural heritage, for example through museum exhibitions and the repatriation of cultural objects, sends a signal that these traditions are valuable and respectable.
Integration into a modern context: By showing how traditional Sámi spirituality can be relevant in meeting modern challenges, such as environmental protection, one can increase its legitimacy and appeal.
The revitalization of Sámi shamanism and traditional spirituality represents an important part of a broader movement to strengthen and revive Sámi culture and identity. By rediscovering and reinterpreting these traditions in a modern context, many Sámi find new ways to express and strengthen their cultural identity.
At the same time, this process raises important questions about authenticity, cultural ownership and the relationship between tradition and modernity. How these questions are handled will be decisive for the further development of Sámi spirituality and its role in Sámi identity-building.
In any case, it is clear that the rediscovery of Sámi spirituality, symbolized through the return of the shaman drum, plays an important role in removing the stigma connected to these traditions and in strengthening Sámi cultural self-confidence. This is a process that will likely continue to develop in the years to come, and one that will have significance not only for the Sámi community, but for our understanding of indigenous rights and cultural revitalization in general.
References
1 NDLA. (2022). Samisk religion. https://ndla.no/nn/subject:ea2822da-52f0-4517-bf01-c63f8e96f446/topic:b1443a6c-f849-4412-af4f-a29fcc61e776/topic:342abcbe-13e8-4647-8982-96efb4b3e385/resource:0f5e94e0-49a3-43c9-92fd-3dd2f1c03551
2 NDLA. (2022). Samisk religion. https://ndla.no/subject:ea2822da-52f0-4517-bf01-c63f8e96f446/topic:b1443a6c-f849-4412-af4f-a29fcc61e776/topic:342abcbe-13e8-4647-8982-96efb4b3e385/resource:0f5e94e0-49a3-43c9-92fd-3dd2f1c03551
3 Gaavnoes. (2018). Den samiske tromma - Gievrie. https://gaavnoes.no/2018/09/samiske-tromma-gievrie/
4 Aftenposten. (2019). Samer og vikinger kunne kunsten: Sjamanismens sentrale plass i førkristen tid. https://www.aftenposten.no/viten/i/9v8Lzp/samer-og-vikinger-kunne-kunsten-sjamanismens-sentrale-plass-i-foerkristen-tid
5 Religioner.no. (n.d.). Samisk religion. https://religioner.no/ressurser/fagartikler/samisk-religion/
6 Cappelen Damm Forskning. (n.d.). Mot nye identiteter i Sápmi? https://cdforskning.no/cdf/catalog/view/213/1195/10445
