Sami in Skyggen – altaposten.no
In the time we live in now, it is unacceptable that heat and harassment still occur in our society. This theme not only touches the Sami, but also all of us. It is important that we take hold of discrimination in all forms.
The Sami, as indigenous peoples have a rich culture and history, and have as much right to be accepted as everyone else. The Sami are valuable to Norway.
Heating and harassment of Sami creates great fear and uncertainty. Many Sami experience daily negative comments, bullying and discrimination, both online and offline. According to NRK.no, every fourth statement about Sami on Facebook is negative. This creates particularly serious consequences for the Sami youth’s mental health, where many of that age are already struggling with poor self -confidence.
To achieve this, we must not only distance ourselves from racism and discrimination, but also actively acquire ourselves knowledge of Sami culture and history. Many people do not have enough knowledge of the challenges the Sami have faced over time, and lack of knowledge often leads to prejudice and misunderstandings.
It is important to involve young people in the fight. Education is an important part of creating a change. Schools should introduce curricula that include Sami history, language and culture, so that all pupils gain a deeper understanding of the Sami people’s contribution to Norwegian culture. The Sami teachings that are in schools today are outdated and not relevant to today’s schools. When young people learn about the diversity of our society, they will be better equipped to help in a situation where heat, discrimination or harassment occurs.
We need to use social media and other platforms to spread positive stories of Sami culture and the contributions the Sami have made for our society. To reach young people we have to use social media, other things will not be as beneficial. By sharing stories from Sami culture, we can challenge negative stereotypes and show that diversity is a strength. It is important that we all take responsibility for creating a more inclusive society where everyone can feel safe and valued.
Let us stand up against heat and harassment of Sami, and work for a society where we can celebrate our diversity. It is our responsibility to ensure that everyone has the right to be who they are, without fear of harassment or discrimination. Together, we can create a future where everyone, regardless of background, can live with respect from others. This is not the case today, we have a long way to go.
