Indigenous (Sámi) Spirituality and Religious Beliefs (5op)

Osaamistavoitteet

The focus for the course is to provide participants with a broad and comprehensive understanding and series of insights into Sámi religion and spiritual traditions, both past and present. Moreover, the critical function religions and spirituality plays within Sámi society.

After completion of the course the student is able to understand, comprehend and discuss
- how Sámi religion, sacrifice and drum use is characterized through the relationship with the landscape and natural world
- in what ways the continuity of practices related to sacrifice is still evident in some areas in Finnish Lapland
- the roles and functions art plays as a mediator and bridge in Sámi culture, and between the human world and nature in general
- how the drum and its painted landscapes are a representation of Sámi identity
- why traditions matter and the importance of cultural heritage in Sámi society and impacts of cultural appropriation in relation to tourism.

Sisältö

The content of the course will cover the following subjects:
1) The historical background; important sources discussing drum use, sacrifice and Sámi pre-Christian religion
2) The sacred Sámi drum as an instrument of divination, trance and ecstasy from the missionary sources
3) Why Sámi drums, their use and symbolism were seen as such a threat by the authorities
4) Sámi religion and drum use going underground
5) The outlawing of sacrificial practices – how and why
6) The re-emergence of drums in contemporary Sámi society
7) The types of evidence available for the practices of sacrifice and Sámi religion in contemporary culture
8) Sámi cultural heritage and tourism in Finland.

Esitietovaatimukset

There are no previous studies required.

Arviointikriteerit, tyydyttävä (1)

Fail: Performance is highly deficient or erroneous. The work may be based on serious misunderstandings.

Sufficient and satisfactory (1-2): Performance is lacking in scope, superficial, or corresponds poorly to the assignment. The author merely lists things out of context or addresses them one-sidedly. The work may contain errors or obscurities.

Arviointikriteerit, hyvä (3)

Good and very good (3-4): Performance corresponds to the assignment, manifesting comprehension and a skill to analyse and justify. The author has addressed the issue comprehensively. The work may contain some deficiencies.

Arviointikriteerit, kiitettävä (5)

Excellent (5): Performance delineates an extensive whole and the author can apply knowledge in a multifaceted way or place it in various contexts. The work manifests independency and insight, and it is a flawless entity that involves justified thinking or critical contemplation. The work is well written and implemented.

Oppimateriaalit

Literature recommended:

Lehtola, V.-P. (2003). From Heritage to Modern Art – Spiritual Heritage – the Starting Point of Today’s Art. In J. Pennanen & K. Näkkäläjärvi (eds) SIIDDASTALLAN: From Lapp Communities to Modern Sámi Life. Jyväskylä: Gummerus Kirjapaino Oy, pp. 162–164.

Porsanger, J. (2003). A Close Relationship to Nature – the Basis of Religion. In J. Pennanen & K. Näkkäläjärvi (eds) SIIDDASTALLAN: From Lapp Communities to Modern Sámi Life. Jyväskylä: Gummerus Kirjapaino Oy, pp. 151–155.

Joy, F. (2020). Sámi Cultural Heritage and Tourism in Finland. In M. Tennberg, H. Lempinen & S. Pirnes (eds) Resources, Social and Cultural Sustainabilities in the Arctic. Oxon: Routledge, pp. 144–162.

Joy, F. (2018). Sámi Shamanism, Cosmology and Art as Systems of Embedded Knowledge. Doctoral Dissertation. Acta Universitatis Lapponiensis 367. The University of Lapland. Available at: http://lauda.ulapland.fi/handle/10024/63178.

Joy, F. (2017). Noaidi Drums from Sápmi, Rock Paintings in Finland and Sámi Cultural Heritage: an Investigation. First View Article / Polar Record: A Journal of Arctic and Antarctic Research, pp. 1–20. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0032247416000917.

Nunez, M. (1995). Reflections of Finnish Rock Art and Ethnohistorical Data. In Fennoscandia Archaeologica XXI: 123–135. Available at: http://www.sarks.fi/fa/PDF/FA12_123.pdf.

Äikäs, T. & Salmi, A.-K. (2013). The Sieidi is a Better Altar / the Noaidi Drum’s a Purer Church Bell: Long Term Changes and Syncretism at Sámi Offering Sites. World Archaeology, 45 (1): 64–82.

Äikas, T. (2019). Religion of the past or living heritage? Dissemination of Knowledge on Sámi Religion in Museums in Northern Finland. The Journal Nordic Museology, 27 (3). Available at: https://www.academia.edu/41852109./Religion_of_the_past_or_living_heritage_Dissemination_of_knowledge_on_S%C3%A1mi_religion_in_museums_in_Northern_Finland.

Pulkkinen, R., Kulonen, U.-M. & Seurujärvi-Kari, I. (eds) (2005). The Saami: A Cultural Encyclopedia. Helsinki: Finnish Literature Society-SKS.

Lisätiedot

Lecturer: Francis Joy, Researcher, PhD.

Toteutustavat

Lectures (15 h) field-work (tbc)/group work (8h), fieldwork diary, individual work (107 h).

Suoritustavat

Active participation in the lectures, reading requested course materials, group work, fieldwork diary and a successful completion of a written essay.