Sami Blood

In 2017, Christina, a 78-year-old woman, travels to a quaint town in Swedish Lapland accompanied by her son Olle Sarri and granddaughter Sanna, to partake in the Sami funeral of her younger sister. However, Christina, referred to by her original Sami name Elle-Marja, feels a strong aversion to being there. She harshly criticizes the Sami community, labeling them as “thieves and liars,” and her discomfort increases when spoken to in her native tongue, Southern Sami. Opting to avoid the family home of her late sister, she chooses to stay in a hotel instead. As the evening unfolds, Christina reflects on her past, particularly the childhood experiences that distanced her from her heritage.

Flashback to the 1930s

As a 14-year-old, Elle-Marja faces significant challenges; her mother is ill, prompting her to attend a nomadic boarding school for Sami children alongside her younger sister Njenna. Here, a blonde teacher named Christina Lajler enforces Swedish and a rigid hierarchy among the students. The punishment for speaking Sami, even in private conversations, is severe. Demonstrating exceptional academic prowess, Elle-Marja achieves perfect scores and exhibits a keen interest in literature, spurred on by her teacher’s encouragement. Presented with a poetry book by Edith Södergran, she finds herself increasingly alienated from her classmates. This sense of isolation escalates when researchers from the State Institute for Racial Biology arrive, measuring the children’s heads and taking invasive photographs, disregarding their feelings of shame.

After defending herself against a group of boys who mock her with derogatory names and slurs, Elle-Marja’s frustration boils over. Nicking the edge of her ear, reminiscent of Sami traditions, she discards her gaeptie and borrows a dress from her teacher’s line.

The Dance and Escape

Catching a glimpse of soldiers heading to a dance, Elle-Marja can’t resist the urge to follow. For a fleeting moment, she experiences respect and dignity, dancing with a boy named Niklas, who is from Uppsala. Under the guise of a different identity, Christina, she chooses not to disclose her Sami heritage. Nevertheless, her sister, informed about Elle-Marja sneaking away, disrupts this moment of freedom, resulting in Elle-Marja facing punishment.

Determined to pursue her education, Elle-Marja seeks a recommendation from Christina Lajler, who begrudgingly acknowledges her intellect but firmly states that Sami people are not suited for advanced studies. In a moment of rebellion, Elle-Marja resolves to escape to Uppsala; she steals clothes, discards her gaeptie, and enters Niklas’ home uninvited. Though they share an intimate moment, Niklas’ family soon realizes her background and asks her to leave, forcing her to seek shelter outdoors.

New Beginnings and Harsh Realities

In Uppsala, she adopts the name Christina Lajler and enrolls in school. Just as she begins to forge new friendships, financial burdens surface when she receives a bill for tuition. In a bid to cover her costs, Elle-Marja returns to Niklas’ celebration, hoping for assistance. However, she faces humiliation as a group discovers her ancestry and coerces her into performing a traditional joik during the party.

Unable to sustain her schooling, Elle-Marja reluctantly heads back home, where resentment brews against her Sami origins. She wishes to sell her share of the family reindeer to raise funds but is met with rejection from her mother, who is rooted in preserving their culture. In a tender but silent act of love, the next morning, her mother presents her with a silver belt, a legacy from her father, enabling Elle-Marja to continue her education.

As the narrative returns to 2017, Christina finds a moment of reconciliation, expressing her long-overdue sorrow to her deceased sister Njenna, speaking in South Sami.

Last Updated: November 16, 2024 at 14:21