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Itämeri News of Finnish, Sámi and Baltic
Studies at the Department of
Scandinavian Studies
University of Wisconsin-Madison
_________________________________________________________________________________
Volume 2, Autumn 2009 http://scandinavian.wisc.edu/dubois/Itameri
_________________________________________________________________________________
small countries and cultures strained economy and worries
In this issue.. AY 2008-09
depend on the dissemination of about H1N1 (“Swine”) Flu. The
good, solid information so that conference featured three days of
Scandinavian Studies hosts people can learn about the paper sessions, including a great
SASS opportunities, struggles, and many papers and panels on topics
achievements of these often related to the eastern Baltic
Sámi Preconference forgotten societies on Europe’s region. The coming year’s
northern periphery. We’re glad conference will be held in
Nils Gaup and Kautokeino to be a part of that work here at Seattle, Washington, April 22-
Rebellion 1852 the University of Wisconsin- 24, 2010 and will meet jointly
Madison, and we hope that you, with AABS, the Association for
too, will join with us in this the Advancement of Baltic
A Year of Baltic Films
endeavor. Come study with us, Studies.
participate in our programs, or
BALSSI 2009 simply read about what we’ve
been doing! ____________
An Engaging Speakers Series Sámi pre-conference
____________ brings together Sámi and
Kari Synnøve Morset
Scandinavian Studies Native American scholars
Completes the Doctorate
hosts SASS _____________________
Special Issue of the Journal of _____________________
Finnish Studies
Students and faculty at the
The Department of Scandinavian Department of Scandinavian
Languages across the Studies at the University of
Wisconsin-Madison is the Studies decided to take
Curriculum
nation’s oldest department advantage of SASS to host a
devoted to the study of the special pre-conference to bring
languages and cultures of together scholars of Sámi studies
Europe’s north. So it was with UW scholars of American
D espite a year of rollercoaster
financial news and the worst
economic downturn since
especially appropriate that the
ninety-ninth annual conference
of the Society for the
Indian Studies. The conference
took place at the University of
Wisconsin’s Pyle Center on the
the Great Depression, the study Advancement of Scandinavian
of Sámi, Finnish, Estonian, Study (SASS) was held here in Wednesday and Thursday
Latvian, and Lithuanian at the Madison at the Monona Terrace preceding the beginning of SASS
University of Wisconsin- Conference Center, April 30- (April 29 and 30, 2009) and was
Madison continued to thrive. May 2, 2009. The Society’s free and open to the public. The
This issue chronicles the year’s president, UW Scandinavian program, assembled and
events and reminds us all of the Studies professor and former
chair Susan Brantly oversaw a orchestrated by a team that
power and value of concerted included Tim Frandy, Kari-
study to make a better world. In conference that attracted more
times like these more than ever, participants than ever, despite a Synnøve Morset,
Some of the SASS Sámi Studies People’s Prize. The staff at the
ideas, as did undergraduate and
contingent at Monona Terrace
Conference Center: Tom DuBois, graduate students from the UW’s Orpheum reported that as many
Mikael Svonni, Christina L.P.W. Wunk Sheek Student as 700 people made use of this
Johnson, Kari Synnøve Morset, Organization. great opportunity to see the film
Harald Gaski, Michael Maestri, during the four screenings that
Nils Gaup, Krister Stoor. were held during the conference.
The Wunk Sheek Singers from
__________ UW – Madison welcomed the
film to the area with a song
Hilary Virtanen, Christina Nils Gaup and Kautokeino before the first screening, and
Johnson, and Tom DuBois, Rebellion 1852 Nils Gaup was on hand to
consisted of an evening potluck ____________________ introduce the film and answer
dinner and “sharing of traditions” questions after the first
featuring the Sámi joik performer screening. Many spectators in
Krister Stoor as well as the Nils Gaup delivered the keynote Madison found the film
University of Wisconsin’s Wunk address at this year’s SASS profoundly moving. It will
Sheek Singers. Thursday’s conference. As a part of the shortly be available on DVD in
program included presentations conference program, the US format, and also on Blue
by UW faculty Larry Nesper, participants also had a chance to Ray.
Rand Valentine, and Tracy see Gaup’s latest film The
Peterson, as well as Sámi Kautokeino Rebellion 1852 at Viewers at the Orpheum were
scholars Troy Storfjell (Pacific the Orpheum Theatre on State able to see the film as Gaup
Lutheran University—a UW Street. During its premiere at the intended: with the full range of
alum), Krister Stoor (Umeå International Film Festival in colors and tones that film on a
University) and Harald Gaski Tromsø in 2008, this movie was large screen affords, capturing
(Tromsø University). Members described as Norway’s most the beauty of the northern
of the North American Sámi important film ever, a film under landscape, the expressions and
Siida, including Eric and Penny the sign of reconciliation. It has emotions of the film’s cast, and
Seaberg, Faith Fjeld, Marlene proven very popular among the character of the three
Wisuri and Ruthann Cecil took audiences in Scandinavia and thousand reindeer that share the
an active part in the conference won several Amanda prizes in
discussions and exchanges of 2008, including the coveted
Elen (Anna-Kristiina Juuso), Merchant
have since then followed mostly unknown side to Sámi –
Ruth (Mikael Persbrandt), and Rev. Pathfinder’s lead. Norwegian history. Empathy is
Stockfleth, (Bjørn Sundquist). focused on the Sámi and is told
Photo/Copyright : Erik Aavatsmark, for Before the plot of Ofelaš starts, from the perspective of a strong
Rubicon/Sandrew Metronome Norge. there is a sign planted pointing to Sámi foremother. Since its
the future, an axe cutting through premiere in 2008, the movie has
screen with the human cast air. It is a symbol of what proven to carry a potential of that
during the film. happened in Alta October 1854, of Pathfinder for its ability to
when two young Sámi reindeer renegotiate Sámi history using
Nils Gaup emerged as one of the herders who had taken part in the “the Master’s tools”. The film
leading storytellers of Kautokeino Rebellion two years provides a powerful example for
Scandinavia in 1987 with his first earlier were beheaded by the the world’s indigenous
film Ofelaš or Pathfinder. This Norwegian government. After populations for its ability to
Sámi film was the first feature years of repression, lawless break the silence of
film in the world written and imprisonment and under the oppression.
performed in an indigenous threat of losing their herds and
language and in an indigenous thus their livelihoods, an
setting. Moreover, this successful outraged group of young,
film has strong shamanic
components, which has created
religiously agitated reindeer __________
herding Sámi staged a rebellion
possibilities for peoples all over A Year of Baltic Films
in Kautokeino, killing the sheriff
the world to feel pride of and the liquor merchant. These ____________________
shamanic heritage as well as tragic events form the theme of
indigenous heritage. Many films Gaup’s film, which explores a
and film series was opened with beach sets off a paranoid search
This year’s Wisconsin Film a screening of James and for an infiltrator, as the film
Festival, April 2-5, 2009 again Maureen Tusty’s 2008 adapts the Cinderella story to a
included Baltic films, thanks to documentary The Singing new and ironic setting.
an anonymous donation Revolution, which chronicles the Lithuanian film maker Giedrė
administered by the Center for remarkable events leading up to Beinoriūtė depicts life in small-
the Study of Upper Midwest the reestablishment of Estonian town Soviet Lithuania during the
Cultures (CSUMC). Each film independence. The inspiring 1960s. Even amid ugly concrete
was screened twice to large film celebrates the nonviolent housing, young love blooms in
audiences. approach to political change put this tale that captures the daily
forward by activists in Estonia, rhythms and material culture of
Meelis Veeremets’s 2008 Latvia and Lithuania in the late the Soviet past.
Estonian film Kinnunen explores 1980s and their reliance on the
humorously the complex relation transformative power of song Film represents a unique means
of Finns and Estonians in the and singing to reestablish a of depicting and shaping modern
twenty-first century. When a national identity all but destroyed cultures, and students, faculty,
stereotypically self-conscious by half a century of Soviet rule. and the general public gained
and tongue-tied working class great insights into the societies
Finn sets off to Tallinn to find Two additional Estonian films and ideals of eastern Baltic
himself a willing bride, hilarious helped sketch the tentative, often nations through the films
events ensue, ones which poke covert ways Baltic filmmakers screened in Madison this year.
fund at both Finnish and explored national themes during
Estonian self images and the the Soviet era. Eri Klas’s 1969
__________
difficulties of finding love in film Kevade [The Spring]
cultures marked by shyness, brought the late nineteenth-
enduring loneliness, and endless century Oskar Luts’s classic
philosophizing. Against all odds, Bildungsroman Kevade to an BALSSI 2009
Kinnunen has a happy ending, Estonian audience at the height ____________________
but not before many ups and of the Soviet era. The film’s
downs. subtle images of cultural
traditions and Christmas were The Center for Russian, East
Janis Putnins’s lyrical film powerful messages in the context European and Central Asian
Vogelfrei represented the Latvian of the late 1960s. So, too, the (CREECA) was proud to team
addition to this year’s film film maker Lennart Meri’s with the Scandinavian Studies
festival. Vogelfrei presents Finno-Ugric documentaries from Department in the summer of
snapshot moments from the life the 1970s Linnutee tuuled and 2009 to bring the sixteenth
of a single man, capturing his Veelinnurarahvas offered annual Baltic Studies Summer
boyhood, adolescence, young audiences a means of exploring Institute (BALSSI) to Madison.
adulthood and old age in Estonian roots as an enduring BALSSI is a nationally
powerful and evocative images. ethnographic reality. Meri went acclaimed summer institute
In each moment, we glimpse the on to become president of designed to train undergraduate
film’s protagonist in a desperate Estonia from 1992 to 2001, an and graduate students in
struggle to find love and achievement that reflects the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian
maintain personal autonomy in a consciousness raising effects of languages in an intensive
world too given over to crass his artful films of the 1970s. summer study format. Funding
profiteering and cynicism. The for the program comes from a
film won both the Best Film and Two further Baltic films from the consortium of US research
Best Screenplay awards at the era after the reestablishment of universities, including the
2007 Latvian National Film independence look back with University of Wisconsin-
Festival. humor and poignancy at the Madison, as well as the
harsh years of the Soviet past. American Council of Learned
Classic and contemporary Baltic Laila Pakalniņa’s 1998 film Societies, the Association for
films were also featured in the Kurpe [Shoe] explores the the Advancement of Baltic
cultural program of BALSSI absurdities of Soviet Liepāja in Studies, and the Lithuanian
2009 (see related story). The the 1950s. A mysterious Foundation.
program’s supplemental lectures footprint in the sand of a local
Fourteen students enrolled in the supplemented by a dynamic director Jennifer Tishler and
three intensive language courses lecture series and cultural CREECA outreach coordinator
offered under the title program that included a picnic Nancy Heingartner are already
Scandinavian 404: Languages hosted by the Madison-Vilnius
of Northern Europe. Three Sister Cities Organization, an hard at work planning BALSSI
students completed the course in evening of folk dancing hosted 2010. We hope to offer
Latvian, taught by Dr. Dzidra by the Žaibas dancers of instruction in all three languages
Rodins of DePaul University. Madison, and a final picnic at both the elementary and
Seven students completed the hosted by Tom DuBois. Field intermediate levels. Want to
Lithuanian course, taught by trips were organized to key learn a Baltic language? Join us
Daiva Litvinskaitė of the Chicago sites: Eesti Maja next summer!
University of Illinois-Chicago. (Estonia House) in Riverwoods
Four students completed the IL, the Balzekas Museum in
Estonian course, taught by Piibi- Summit, IL, and the nearby and
Kai Kivik of Indiana always popular Grand Duke’s
University. Lithuanian Restaurant.
The language courses were DuBois, CREECA associate
BALSSI 2009 Staff and Students. Photo by Carrie Roy.
____________ On July 28, UW-Eau Claire
Professor of History Paulis Kari Synnøve Morset produced
An Engaging Speakers Lazda spoke on “The Museum an exciting and very welcome
Program of the Occupation of Latvia.” new dissertation on Sámi
Lazda detailed the challenges literature in the spring of 2009.
_____________________ and achievements of his work to Kari Synnøve’s study explores
BALSSI 2009 brought to create a museum that tells the the contemporary Sámi
campus a variety of speakers and story of Latvia’s various revitalization in a historical
topics of great interest to students occupations. Lazda is also a UW- perspective, with a focus on the
and scholars working on the Madison alumnus. Sámi artists’ call for recognition
cultures of Estonia, Latvia and of Sámi existence and right to
Lithuania. exist in the future.
Students at BALSSI benefitted
from the expertise and wisdom of
On June 23, UW Geography The dissertation Voices of the
these various presenters whom
Prof. Robert Kaiser spoke on North - Sámi Revitalization: The
we thank heartily for their
Artistic Struggle that Revived a
“Post-Soviet Borderlands as generous contributions to the
Threatened Sámi Culture
Diaspora Spaces: the Case of summer’s program.
illuminates assimilative pressures
Setomaa.” How does modern
Estonia deal with its Russian
border, and what happens to Seto
__________ regarding language, religion and
music that Sámi people have
Kari Synnøve Morset experienced from four different
people living on either side of the
completes doctorate governments.
border? Kaiser discussed the
Estonian situation in the context
Morset argues that due to the
of “post-Soviet geographies.”
Kari Synnøve Morset and Tom tireless acting out of moral
DuBois, May, 2009. Photo by courage from a choir of Sámi
On July 7, UW History Professor Celeste Robins. artists, a successful and
emeritus Alfred E. Senn spoke important
on “What is Lithuania?” Senn, a
longtime UW teacher and
researcher, shared his insights on
past and modern Lithuania with
an audience of students and
community members.
On July 24, Rudra Vilius
Dundzila Professor of
Humanities and Comparative
Religion at Harry S. Truman
College spoke on “A Poplar
Stood by the Roadside: A
Sojourn with Baltic Myths,
Songs, and Spirituality.”
Dundzila explored the meanings
of traditional Lithuanian songs
and the ancient worldview and
mythology they depict. Dundzila
is a UW-Madison alumnus.
revitalization of language, first secular book in a Sámi Baltic. ”Leave no trace behind”
culture and philosophy has language. In his Muittalus Sámid sounds like a needed slogan
occurred within Sápmi, the land Birra (Story of the Sámi people), today when the original Sámi
of the Sámi. the narrator points to the Sámi view might in fact be as valid
people’s need for being in nature, and important as ever, writes
In reverse chronology, a journey preferably on top of mountains, Morset in her inspiring and
from artist to artist begins by when making important choices, substantive dissertation.
accounting for contemporary and not in murky rooms. His
musician Mari Boine’s
realization of the suppression of
book ends on a sad note, showing
how the Sámi under the settlers’
_________
the Sámi, and the transformation rule have become the unknown Special Issue Planned for
of her initial anger. Nils Gaup’s and unwanted animals in Sápmi, the Journal of Finnish
successes with his films their own homeland. The journey Studies
Pathfinder (1988) and The from artist to artist ends with the ____________________
Kautokeino Rebellion 1852 nineteenth-century Sámi poet
(2008) are further discussed as Anders Fjellner who collected Jim Leary and Hilary Virtanen
well as the content of The material for creating a Sámi epic, are coordinating a special issue
Kautokeino Rebellion 1852 and producing mythical texts that of the Journal of Finnish
forces that threatened Sámi have influenced later Sámi Studies on rebellious and bawdy
livelihoods during the time of authors. These and other themes in Finnish-American
this first Sámi uprising. A whole courageous Sámi voices have music. Based on ongoing
chapter is devoted to Nils-Aslak together over the last hundred research of several scholars in
Valkeapää’s important years used the “master’s tools,” Finnish-American folklife, the
popularization of Sámi culture. providing artworks performed issue will center largely on
His poetry relates, for example, within the majority culture’s musical performances from the
how settlers with “dingy fat framework. 1920s and 30s, many of which
books” replaced ancient Sámi were documented by folklorist
rights with law, thus stealing the These Sámi works have achieved Alan Lomax during his 1938
land. Paulus Utsi’s poems from victory in reviving the Sámi field recording trip in
the 1970s show similarly that culture and are shining forth as Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
conveniences achieved in the strong counter-voices to the for the Archives of Folk Song at
name of the progress the settlers’ majority mindset, which the Library of Congress.
livelihoods brought cannot keep developed during hundreds of
our human hearts warm: years of colonization and
Contributors, including Virtanen
oppression of indigenous peoples and Leary, as well as Tim
Painful is the walk and
Frandy, Gary Kaunonen
on hard stone roads In 1910 Johan Turi wrote the (Michigan Technological
Silent cry the people natural life. Just because the
University), Paul Niemisto (St.
of the mountains Sámi also gave in, as so many
Olaf College), Aaron Goings
people have, to the progress of
(Simon Fraser University), and
This quote, which opens the the twentieth and twenty-first
Pekka Gronow (University of
dissertation, is taken from Utsi’s centuries, that does not mean that
Helsinki), will relate the cultural
poem “As long”, which the traditional Sámi did not have
world inhabited by working class
encourages humankind to wake an apt perception of how to
Finnish-Americans, and how
up to the fact that only “as long handle nature. ”Leave no trace
political and personal issues in
as we have water where the fish behind”, sums up the Sami
their lives were reflected in
can swim (…) are we safe on this philosophy about nature, which
music, “hall” culture, and
earth.” has parallels in indigenous
activism.
cultures throughout the eastern
_________
students’ capacities in oral
This issue will also feature communication.
reviews of recent recordings and
Languages across the
films pertaining to Finnish- The fall 2008 FLAC section was
American music and culture, Curriculum tied to Professor Julie Allen’s
including the recordings of ____________________ Kierkegaard and Scandinavian
Jukka Karjalainen and the Literature course and was led in
documentary films of Erkki During the 2008–2009 academic Danish by Ph.D. candidate in the
Määttänen. year the Department of department William Banks.
Scandinavian Studies applied for Danish-language readings for the
The Journal, now housed at and received Title VI funding FLAC section considered
Finlandia University under the from the Center for European Kierkegaard and his oeuvre in
editorial offices of Beth L. Studies to support two Foreign terms of both its socio-historical
Virtanen (editor-in-chief), Languages Across the context of early nineteenth
Hanna Snellman (Co-editor) Curriculum (FLAC) sections century Denmark, but also as
and Hilary Virtanen (Assistant linked to large enrollment lecture part of an ongoing dialogue
Editor), plans to release this courses in the department. about religion, morality,
issue in the summer of 2010. Students who enroll in the FLAC literature, and society with other
Calumet, 1938. Aho Juhani and sections meet once a week for a great thinkers from the era and
“Sonny” walk the railroad tracks. foreign-language discussion beyond.
Photo by Alan Lomax. section intended to supplement
and further the materials covered The spring 2009 FLAC section
was connected to Professor Julie
Allen’s Scandinavian Heritage
in America course and was led
in Swedish by Ph.D. candidate in
the department Kjerstin Moody.
Course material for the section
chronologically traced the
Scandinavian-American
emigrant/immigrant experience
by focusing on excerpts from
classic works of literature,
including Vilhelm Moberg’s
Utvandrarna (1949), as well as
short accounts from and about a
sampling of other Scandinavian-
American settlers and
settlements, among them an
excerpt about the Swedish and
Finnish settlement of New
Delaware. These Swedish-,
in the English-language-led Norwegian-, and Danish-
lecture. In order to enroll in a language readings helped shed
FLAC section students must light on the reasons why
have intermediate or above Scandinavians came to America
proficiency in a Scandinavian and what their life in the New
language, and the weekly World looked like. Snippets of
meetings focus on developing films, including Erkki
Mäattänen’s Toivola—The traditions, material culture, communicating together to
Land of Hope, helped bring to museums, organizations and explore aspects of Scandinavian
life contemporary reflections of foundations, communities, and America.
Scandinavian-American culture. annual festivals across the United The Department of
During the final three weeks of States. A total of seven (five Scandinavian Studies is grateful
class students presented on ways Swedish-language [including one to the Center for European
Scandinavian-America is still graduate student who works in Studies for its support of these
alive a century after the peak of both Swedish and Finnish], one innovative foreign-language-
Scandinavian emigration to the Norwegian-language, and one learning opportunities over the
United States by discussing Danish-language) students were past academic year.
Scandinavian-American food enrolled in the FLAC section,
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