News Archives

Norwegian pastor explores Sami roots

 


Norwegian pastor explores Sami roots

LINK: Click to open full size version of image
A Web-only image

Two women attend the Second Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at the United Nations in New York.
June 1, 2005

By Linda Bloom*

NEW YORK (UMNS) — A United Methodist pastor from Norway made a personal connection of his own while attending the Fourth Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at the United Nations.

The Rev. Yngvar Ruud, who serves a church in the suburbs of Oslo, noted that his grandfather was part of an indigenous Scandinavian people called the Sami, belonging to the Svonni and Partapouli families.

"When I grew up, it was kind of shameful to be of Sami origin," he explained. But when Ruud was appointed in 1996 to a church in northern Norway, the region where he grew up, he began to dig into his roots.

The Sami form an ethnic minority in Norway, Sweden and Finland, along with a small population on Russia's Kola Peninsula. In Norway, the legal status of the Sami improved during the 1980s.

The first Sami convention, which resulted in the celebration of Sami Day on Feb. 6, was hosted in 1917 by the Methodist Church of Trondheim, Ruud reported.

At Soltun Folkehogskole, a United Methodist school in northern Norway, the architect used Sami inspiration to design the chapel there, which is formed like a Sami lavvo or tent.

Ruud was invited to attend the forum, which met May 16-27, when Liberato Bautista, an executive with the United Methodist Board of Church and Society, visited Norway in January 2004 and they discussed their common background of being part of an indigenous group.

"It was the first time that I represented my Sami people as a United Methodist," Ruud said, adding that he was not very knowledgeable about global indigenous issues. "It was very challenging to realize that I belong to a world wide people and I will never forget the opening session with indigenous people in their dresses."

Ruud said he also appreciated being part of a United Methodist-sponsored delegation that included Celine Cajanding, a Roman Catholic nun, and Zaynab Ampatuan, a Muslim woman, both from Mindanao in the Philippines. He thinks the grouping was "an important sign" at a time when some people consider those of other faiths to be enemies.

His experience at the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues has made Ruud "much more aware of my Sami identity" as well as indigenous peoples in other parts of the world.

Ruud is the brother of United Methodist Bishop Oystein Olsen of Northern Europe.

*Bloom is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in New York.

News media contact: Linda Bloom, New York, (646) 369-3759 or newsdesk@umcom.org

Ask Now

This will not reach a local church, district or conference office. InfoServ* staff will answer your question, or direct it to someone who can provide information and/or resources.

First Name:*
Last Name:*
Email:*
ZIP/Postal Code:*
Question:*

*InfoServ ( about ) is a service of United Methodist Communications located in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. 1-800-251-8140

Not receiving a reply?
Your Spam Blocker might not recognize our email address. Add this address to your list of approved senders.

Would you like to ask any questions about this story?ASK US NOW


Contact Us

This will not reach a local church, district or conference office. InfoServ* staff will answer your question, or direct it to someone who can provide information and/or resources.

Phone
(optional)

*InfoServ ( about ) is a ministry of United Methodist Communications located in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. 1-800-251-8140

Not receiving a reply?
Your Spam Blocker might not recognize our email address. Add InfoServ@umcom.org to your list of approved senders.