Municipalities in Sweden Embrace Sámi Language with New Signage
Älvdalen municipality introduces South Sámi signage in a bid to revitalize the Sámi language.
Key Points
- • Älvdalen municipality installs South Sámi signs on municipal buildings.
- • Strandskolan and Skogslia preschool are the first to receive the new signage.
- • The initiative has involved professional translations for accuracy.
- • Sámi is recognized as an administrative language in 27 Swedish municipalities.
In a significant effort towards revitalizing the Sámi language, Älvdalen municipality in Sweden is set to install new signage in South Sámi on municipal buildings. This initiative, which aims to increase visibility and official recognition of the Sámi language in the region, will see Strandskolan and Skogslia preschool among the first to display the new signs. "I believe it is important for Sámi people that there are signs and that it is visible that we exist here," stated Malin Rihpa, the Sámi coordinator for the municipality.
The project, which has been in process for several years, involves collaboration with professional South Sámi translators to ensure that the translations are accurate. This move is particularly noteworthy as there are currently 27 municipalities across Sweden where Sámi is an administrative language, allowing for services including preschool and elderly care to be provided partially in Sámi. These municipalities receive extra state funding to help cover the associated costs of such services.