A cultural environment refers to archaeological and built environment as well as landscape, where the history of land-use and building have left their mark. From the Sámi perspective, traditional knowledge of areas and places, such as place names, joiks and word of mouth, are part of the cultural environment. In the Sámi Homeland, the Sámi Museum has a regional responsibility for expert tasks related to the Sámi cultural environment.
“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 duties related to the cultural environment
The Cultural Environment Unit is responsible for the expert duties related to archaeological cultural heritage and the built cultural environment in the Sámi Homeland. These duties include planning and other land-use related 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 two archaeologists, a built heritage curator and a restoration expert.
The archaeologists’ 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 built heritage team is responsible for varying expert tasks related to planning, building and research in the Sámi Homeland. The restoration expert gives advice on repair methods of built heritage. The museum also works in close cooperation with Lapland’s ELY Centre and the National Board of Antiquities on repair grants for 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