A cultural environment refers to a built environment and a landscape, where the history and means of land-use and building have left their mark. From the perspective of the Sámi, traditional knowledge of the areas and places, such as place names, joiks and word of mouth are part of the cultural environment. Official duties that are related to the Sámi Homeland’s cultural environment have been transferred from the National Board of Antiquities to the Sámi Museum’s Cultural Environment Unit, to ensure that the Sámi culture will be taken into consideration in the performance of the duties.
“The landscape is a history book for the Sámi and tells the story of their past. Our entire community lives in this landscape, we who are living, past generations and spirits. Spirituality and god are also present in the landscape. The landscape contains many things that cannot be explained.”
Päivi Magga, researcher
We manage archaeological cultural heritage and expert and official duties related to the cultural environment
The Cultural Environment Unit is responsible for the expert and official duties related to archaeological cultural heritage and the built cultural environment in the Sámi Homeland. These duties include planning and other land-use related matters, statements and inspections, the reception of artefacts and observation from the Sámi Homeland as well as the maintenance of ancient monuments and antiquities. The unit employs one researcher and one archaeologist
The archaeologist’s work includes matters related to the protection of ancient monuments, archaeological research, such as the inventory of antiquities and excavations as well promoting awareness on archaeological cultural heritage. Archaeological cultural heritage must be taken into consideration in planning, forest management and other land-use.
The researcher is responsible for things such as official and expert tasks related to the planning in the Sámi Homeland’s built cultural environment. The museum also takes part in close cooperation with Lapland’s ELY Centre and the National Board of Antiquities in making decisions on repair grants for the culturally and historically valuable buildings.
Contact:
Requests for statements: kirjaamo(at)samimuseum.fi
Archaeological cultural heritage:
Chief curator Eija Ojanlatva, eija.ojanlatva(at)samimuseum.fi, tel. +358 (0)40 167 6145
Curator Juha-Pekka Joona, juha-pekka.joona(at)samimuseum.fi, tel. +358 (0)40 144 8292
Built heritage:
Curator Miina Tolonen, miina.tolonen(at)samimuseum.fi, tel. +358 (0)44 796 5811
Restoration expert Marko Korkeasalo, marko.korkeasalo(at)samimuseum.fi, tel. +358 (0)40 0990032