1. You were born in Manchester, England, and received your degree in Modern Studies from the Manchester Metropolitan University. How did you end up in Lapland?
I was an Erasmus student at Helsinki University for the second year of my studies. I met other foreign students and two Americans in particular. They wanted to visit the north, so I came along with them to see some more of Finland.
We traveled overnight on the train to Rovaniemi and the following day by bus to Inari. We stayed at a youth hostel in Inari. My travel companions were tired after the long journey, so they stayed at the youth hostel to rest. I wanted to explore my new surroundings. I opened the front door, something on the door made a strange sound.
I looked up thinking I had broken the door hinge and saw a shooting star in the space between the door and the doorframe. As soon as I walked outside, I saw the most amazing Northern Lights I have ever seen in Lapland to this day. I didn’t know where I was going because I had only recently arrived. I saw the lights of the hotel in the distance and went to investigate. I walked up the steps of hotel Kultahovi and my future wife was working behind the bar.
I didn’t know where I was going because I had only recently arrived. I saw the lights of the hotel in the distance and went to investigate. I walked up the steps of hotel Kultahovi and my future wife was working behind the bar.
2. In Lapland, as a writer and illustrator, you contribute to the survival of the Inari Saami language through producing some materials for Saami children. Why did you deem it your responsibility to be engaged in such works?
My wife is Inari Saami, that’s how I knew of the language nest. The language nest was established because there was a concern that the Inari Saami language might disappear if something wasn’t done to save it. The model was adopted from New Zealand, where a language nest was established for the Maori languages.
I had graduated from university. I had some free time while my wife was busy working in the family hotel during the summer holidays from Helsinki University, where she was studying folklore. There are very few materials in the Inari Saami language, so I volunteered to make some. I had worked as a graphic artist in England and I felt that I should do something to help. Later our own children attended the language nest. Once my wife had graduated, we moved back to Inari so my wife could return home and manage the hotel after her mother retired.
3. What steps have you already taken for Saami children,
and what are your plans for the future?
I have written and illustrated a bilingual book in English that was translated into Inari Saami for older readers, called Muštottes Uárree or The Forgetful Squirrel. Then, I was asked to make some books for younger children. I used the main characters from the original book to make a series of books for younger children. The books are bilingual in Inari Saami and English.
The books tell of the adventures of a young Inari Saami boy called Sammeli and his adventures in the “8 Seasons” of Lapland. I have tried to include learning opportunities within the stories, such as history, culture, biology, and so on because there are so few learning materials in the Inari Saami language. In addition, it is very important that Inari Saami children have culturally appropriate learning materials.
My plans for the future are to finish the series of books based on the adventures of Sammeli and the eight seasons. There will be eight books in total, one for each season. Also, I would like to see more animations based on my books, like the one made of Meeci kunâgâs or The King of the Forest by Yle Sápmi for the Saami children’s program “Unna Junná.”
4. Have you been supported by Finnish literary and cultural
organizations, working in the same fields?
I have received a library grant on a few occasions. It has been good being involved with the Finnish Literature Society recently because it has helped me gain more exposure for my work. Meeting with other writers has been encouraging. Anaâškielâ Servi (Inari Saami Language Society) has published the books with grants received to help support the Inari Saami language.
I write the stories in English and they are translated by Petter Morottaja. My wife is a folklorist and helps me. My wife and Petter are both Inari Saami, so they understand the Inari Saami culture. We can finally finish the series of books and add some more much-needed learning materials, now that we finally received a grant to finish the series. There is also a bilingual website with further learning materials based on the books called Lapland8Seasons.
I will update the website as I finish the books. I hope that I will be able to get sponsors to develop the website, as at the moment I am financing it myself. I believe that it would provide good PR for any sponsors showing that they are helping to support the indigenous language of Finland.
5. What is your opinion about the level of visibility and
readability of Saami literature in Finland?
Saami literature is marginal because there are so few speakers. Saami literature isn’t very well represented in Finland and there are few books available in the Finnish language from Saami writers. I feel that if Saami literature had a higher profile, it would be more appreciated and better funded. Social media has been effective in raising the profile of my work for Inari Saami language and its revitalization.
I write the books in English, so that expands the scope for more readers. The books can be sold in the local area to tourists in Inari interested in Inari Saami culture. The books are bilingual, in English and Inari Saami. Whilst providing culturally appropriate and much-needed learning materials for Inari Saami speaking children to learn their own language, the books provide authentic souvenirs for tourists who are interested in the culture and supporting the local culture at the same time.
We want to sell more books so that we can hopefully be more self-sufficient and less reliant on grants to add to the sparse selection of materials in the Inari Saami language. If we could find a publisher so that we could have the books translated into Finnish, this would enable Finnish children to learn about the indigenous language and culture of Finland. If the books were on the national curriculum and introduced to schools, this would provide funds for more materials in the Inari Saami language.
