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

Arviointiasteikko

H-5

Sisällön jaksotus

03.11. 2022. Lecture 1. The Sámi sacrificial tradition past and present. (3 hours). Lecture room LS19. 12pm-15.00pm

10.11. 2022. Lecture 2 Drum-time. Sámi shaman drums past and present. (3 hours). Room LS16. 09.00am 12.pm

16.11. 2022. Lecture 3. Rock art, Sámi shamanism and cosmology and Art. (3 hours). Room LS16. 09.00am - 12pm

24.11. 2022. Lecture 4. Sámi cultural heritage and tourism in Finland. (3 hours). Room LS16. 12pm - 15.00pm

08.12. 2022. Seminar Class- Presentations. Room LS16. 12PM - 16.00pm.

About fieldwork

October 23rd, which is a Sunday, students will have the opportunity to participate in a short fieldwork excursion, which means a visit to a former Sámi sacred offering site which is 25km from Rovaniemi center. A bus will be organized as transport. All students need to be present as part of the learning.

On November 19th we will travel as a group to the Santa park to discuss the souvenir industry and production of handicrafts.

On November 23rd, we will visit the working place of a local Sámi and Lappish handcrafters, which is located approximately 14km from Rovaniemi center. The husband and wife team make products using natural materials, antler, bone, leather, wood, glass, ect. Students will make an amulet under guidance of the hosts and listen to stories about the local people and their beliefs, traditions and practices. Taxi's will be arranged for this fieldwork, which will cost approx 20e and then 10e for the materials. The visit will take place in 2 different groups on this day. So, please put this date in your diary, as it will be part of your learning/education

Tavoitteet

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.

Toteutustavat

Lectures (18 h) including documentaries, group work: field-work (6 h), fieldwork diary, individual work.

Suoritustavat

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

Sisältö

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

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.

Mathisen, Stein. R. 2010. Indigenous Spirituality in the Touristic Borderzone: Virtual Performances of Sámi Shamanism in Sápmi Park. Temenos Vol. 46 No. 1 (2010), 53–72© The Finnish Society for the Study of Religion: https://journal.fi/temenos/article/download/6941/6753

Mattila, Tuomas. 2018. Needs of the Sámi people for intellectual property protection from the viewpoint of copyright and trademarks – especially with regard to duodji-handicrafts and the Sámi dresses Publications of the Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland: https://julkaisut.valtioneuvosto.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/161206/OKM_40_18_Needs_of_the_Sami_people-WEB111218.pdf

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.

Opetusmenetelmät

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 through lectures, documentaries, fieldwork and reading materials. This is in relation to the critical function religions and spirituality plays within Sámi society.
The content of the course will cover the following subjects:
Sacrificial and offering practices – how and why
The types of evidence available for the practices of sacrifice/offerings and Sámi religion in contemporary culture
The historical background. Important sources discussing drum use, sacrifice and Sámi pre-Christian religion and worldview
The sacred Sámi drum as an instrument of divination, trance and ecstasy from the missionary sources
Why Sámi drums their use and symbolism were seen as such a threat by the authorities
Sámi religion and drum use going underground
The re-emergence of drums in contemporary Sámi society and reuse of symbolism
Sámi cultural heritage and tourism in Finland
Learning outcomes and knowledge
Insight into in what ways the continuity of practices related to sacrifice is still evident in some areas in Finnish and Swedish Sápmi
To understand how Sámi religion, sacrifice and drum use is characterized by through the relationship with the landscape and natural world
To be able to comprehend what ways in Sámi culture, the important roles and functions art plays as a mediator and bridge between the human world and nature
How the drum and its painted landscapes are a representation of Sámi identity and therefore, why ancient symbolism is important
Why traditions matter and the importance of cultural heritage in Sámi society and impacts of cultural appropriation in relation to tourism

Opiskelijan ajankäyttö ja kuormitus

Prerequisites
No previous studies required – working language is English
General questions for the course requirements:
Lectures, documentaries, field-work, group work, individual work.
What is required for passing the course?
To pass the course you will have to attend the lectures and you must write a review consisting in the form of an essay or lecture diary that are in connection with the lectures and from the list of suggested readings, or alternatively, a lecture diary or essay on one of the topics presented during teaching. Word length 800 words, and in addition, a bibliography. Furthermore, each student and group must demonstrate their fieldwork experience as directed in the class on December 8th during the seminar class presentations.
What is required for a certain grade (1-5)?
The final mark for the course will take into account:
1) attendance and participation to the class discussion and fieldwork
2) presentation to the seminar class
3) reviews-essay – lecture diary

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.

Esitietovaatimukset

There are no previous studies required.

Lisätiedot

The grades range from 1 (pass) to 5 (excellent).

Attendance, active participation, seminar and the reviews will all be combined towards the final mark. The most relevant of these is the attendance and active participation (60%). The fieldwork and written essay or literature review (10%) and seminar (30%) will help you improve the final mark.
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.
Good and very good (3–4)
Performance corresponds to the assignment, manifesting comprehension and a skill to analyze and justify. The author has addressed the issue comprehensively. The work may contain some deficiencies.
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 independently and insight, and it is a flawless entity that involves justified thinking or critical contemplation. The work is well written and implemented.
Fail.
Performance is highly deficient or erroneous. The work may be based on serious misunderstandings.
Lectures 12 h + 4-hour seminar class. Fieldwork 7 hours, plus independent work (including written essay) 130 hours (130 hours = 5 ECTS).