TALKING ABOUT SAMI PEOPLE

Often I get questions about the sami people and sometimes it´s difficult to give an easy answer. It can be difficult to generalize Samis, and to give one straight answer, because there are a lot of opinions, judgements, and expectations about the sami people. Both from us Sami ourselves and from others.

But the most obvious reason is that the Sami culture is NOT ONE thing, it´s not ONE culture, ONE tradition, ONE language and way of joiking, dressing, being, and way of living. It´s actually many things. And it´s many ways of living.

There are 10 different Sami languages, some say less some say more. Every district has their own clothing, cultural traditions, joiking styles, and living conditions. Some a fishers, some farmers, some reindeerhearders. 

So if you ask me about Sami culture, it can be a very big questions, and most of the times I am not prepared to answer on behalf of all the Sami people, because we don´t always agree with each other, we have different opinions about things, different values and traditions.

But of course I can always answer the questions on behalf of myself as a Sami, and what feels right for me. Other Samis might have other opinions, and might disagree with me, so my truth does´t necessarily apply to all Sami people. 



Do you feel like you are representing a whole culture, and you feel you are talking on behalf of alot of people when you speak? How do you handle and relate to this?

IS IT OK FOR A NON-SAMI PERSON TO JOIK?

Is it ok for Espen Wensaas to joik?

When I did a lifestream on Instagram where I answered some questions about joiking I actually realized a few things about the use of joiking amongst non-samis.

I am realizing that a lot of non-sami people are actually using the joik as it is meant to be used.

But first; It is possible for everybody to joik. Physically it is possible for everybody to learn it. There are no physical restrictions to it.

If you are not Sami, and you want to learn joiking, I invite you to first ask yourself: Why is it that you want to joik? What is it that is missing in you that makes you want to incorporate a foreign culture into your own? Maybe its the connection to nature and the authentic ancient expression straight from the core (that is often what people who are learning about sami culture are looking for). 

Or maybe it is just for fun, to learn a new skill, to have fun with it?

The reason why you want to learn yoking will tell you if and when it is ok for you to joik.

The main thing is to always do it in respect of Sami culture.

The joik has a lot of uses and occasions and reasons to why we would joik, - and one of them is for meditation and grounding.

After experiences and conversations about the joiking and sami music I realize that joiks and sami music are often used for meditation purposes. This is fantastic, and I am really happy that people all over the world benefit from sami music this way! <3 br="" nbsp="">
If you are alone on the mountain or at your house or wherever in private- and you feel like joiking for the purpose of coming closer to nature, to yourself, to ground yourself or to enter meditative state, to honor gods, feelings and people or anything similar - I would encourage you to do so.

You are not being disrespectful to the sami gods if you do this. in contrary - I think you are honoring them - as long as the joik is coming from a respectful place in you. A joik is always the right thing to do to honor someone, so I think it is a really good idea to joik in those occasions.

But another thing is to step on stage, perform a joik, and call this a sami traditional way of joiking. If you do this, then you must be sure that you know what you are talking about, that you are respecting the sami culture, that you have done your research and history-lessons. Because the moment you go public, you might be asked questions you are not prepared to answer.

But for yourself you can do whatever you want, and as long as you have respect and good intentions with it, I encourage you to learn joiking as it is a blessing to have in life.

Have fun experimenting! 

Are you non-sami who wants to learn to joik? Why do you want to learn it? Do you think it is ok for non-Sami people to joik? What do you use joik for?

MARRIAGE AND SACRED UNIONS

This morning I woke up thinking about the sacred union of marriage.  I have dated a few guys in the past who do not believe in marrige. And also met women who do not believe in marriage.

For me a marriage has always been a very romantic idea. Not only the wedding but to also to give the other person so much of your life, your trust, loyalty, love and are devoted to that person so much you can see yourself with this person the rest of your life. It is a very beautiful thing to me.

But today I thought of another aspect of marrige. The protection a sacred union will provide. When you are married there is alot of protection purely in the fact that you are married.
The sacred union of marrige and the energy that two people surround themselves with, and are grounded in - that they have created together works as protection from harm from the rest of the world. They will stand strong together. And every marriage is sacred. Usually you stand in front of God(s) and you make vowes. I didnt realise before how much protection this can give to a couple. There will be a sacred protection in this relationship given with the blessing of the God(s) between the two. And that it is really difficult for anything or anyone anyone to interfere with. The universe has blessed you, and is on your side, you could say - just to put things in a romantic way...

A relationship is often about the two individuals developing as humans with the support of each other. The sacred union of marrige will give them the space to do so more easily, because they don´t have to be thinking about the protection and wellbeing their relationship all the time - because that is already being taken care of. They can now focus on their individual development, and at the same time know that their realation is being taken care of.
I realise this is possible even without marrige, but I think marrige will enforce this even further.

So why do we have so many divorces then? 
Because it is possible to break this protection from the inside. Because of change. Because of not paying attention, and not taking care of the individual needs of each other. Because the marrige was done on false premisses in the first place. Because we change directions in life, and need something else. Because of free will. Because marrige in the modern times is about love and co-exsitence - not about practicalities. Because we are stribing to evolve as humans, and every human trancsends in their own time, to necasserily when their spouse does. Everything changes - thats what life is about. And there is a time and space for everything.

How do you feel about marrige? Do you think it´s just for show and fun, or is it something more to it? Do you want to get married?