Sponsored by the Department of Culture in the Royal Norwegian Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
A project to promote minorities, the Skolt Sámi - a minority among the Sámi
The Skolt Sámi are considered to be the indigenous people of the borderland area between present-day Finland, Russia and Norway, i.e. on the Kola Peninsula.
There are today considered to be around 1250 Skolt Sámi, of which approximately 400 can speak the Skolt Sámi language.
In the past, the Skolt Sámi faced difficulties due to conflicts between Finland and Russia.
Skolt Sámi from Sør-Varanger, Norway
Most Skolt Sámi lived in Finland, but after a series of wars (1939, 1941-1944) and treaties (1920), Finland lost the land on which the Skolt Sámi used to live.
As a result, most Skolt Sámi fled to a Finnish city called Sevettijärvi.
Sevettijärvi captured by Timo Piilovaara
To this day, Sevettijärvi is the place with the largest concentration of Skolt Sámi.
There are also Skolt Sámi settlements in Neiden, Norway and Murmansk, Russia.
In a project to lift and promote minorities, Peacepainting traveled to all three places and had painting workshops and exhibitions.
Read about our workshops in Neiden and Murmansk.
Our first project was set in Sevettijärvi.
The workshops were held at the School of Sevettijärvi. We held several workshops to cover different age groups.
Skolt Sámi pupils with their teacher at the School of Sevettijärvi
The paintings they created have traveled the world and participated at various exhibitions:
Secondary School, North Korea
Namsos Airport, Norway
UN, Geneva, Switzerland
Town Hall in Bindal, Norway
Bindal Museum, Norway
Secondary School in Verkhne-Tulomski, Russia
See paintings created by Skolt Sámi children in Sevettijärvi
“It is called “Medallion With a Granite Stone”. I got it from my father when he had visited Russia. I wear it almost every day. It reminds me of my father. He is often away.”
Medallion With a Granite Stone
“The title is Emperor of China.
The black man is the emperor of China. He is in the castle. He is sitting on the throne. The window is up on the right.
Inside the castle the walls are green, but they are actually supposed to be golden. Someone has made the walls dirty using green. ”
Title: The Emperor of China
“Title: Red Dots
The red ones want to attack the yellow ones because it is different. They only want red ones there. I think it is sad that they only want red ones.”
Title: Red Dots
“Title: Transparent World.
There are bridges for some little things.
The blue at the very, very top is the sky or the ceiling.
The sunlight reflects through the clouds.
There is some water there.
There is also a small lake where you can swim.
There is a slide on the left.
Some rays are coming to try to destroy the little things that are on the bridge.
Some try to fish.
If you want, you can come to the middle of the world. ”
Title: Transparent World
“Title: To sit in the woods. ”
Title: To Sit in the Woods
“Title: Bunny.
It has been hiding in the forest.”
Title: Bunny
“Title: In front of the Light”
Title: In front of the Light
“Title: Lost between the lines.”
Title: Lost Between the Lines
“Tittel: 11 years old”
Title: 11 Years Old
“Title: The Princess Castle.
She looks out of the window. ”
Title: The Princess Castle
“Title: Fences.
I like these colours. ”
Title: Fences