Verdde presents audiences with a variety of artistic practices and expressions, with the aim of contributing to a larger collective consciousness about Sami practitioners and mediating Sami perspectives, knowledge and experiences. Verdde becomes an institution in itself, but instead of working from a permanent site, it moves between other organizations in Norrbotten and becomes a part of their public program through site-specific projects and activities. Verdde collaborates with existing institutions and organizations which entirely or partly lack in-house Sami competences, in order to add perspectives which are often overlooked in the planning of daily operations. The goal is to mediate knowledge and provide experiences which can be included in their continued working method.
Ten Sami artists will be presented throughout 2024, in six sites and in collaborations with as many collaboration partners. The contents and extent of each presentation is developed in dialogue with the invited practitioners as well as the collaborating institutions, taking off from their planned activities. As a large part of the institution consists of an exchange of knowledge and experience between practitioners and organizations, the site-specific and preparatory labor is considered equally important as the meetings between audiences and works, with the goal of creating strong anchoring and long term development.
Verdde is a Northern Sami expression which can be translated into “guest friend”. The meaning of verdde is sprung from the tradition between nomadic reindeer herding Sami and residing people along the paths where the reindeers move throughout the year. Furthermore, verdde is a mutual friendship which includes reciprocal help, transactions of goods and services, and a relationship which is often inherited across generations.
The Sami presence in the cultural field has increased over recent years, in connection to a growing interest in the geographical north. Expanding awareness about the colonial past and present, as well as insights regarding unsustainable resource management, has actualized the Sami people’s approach to land, water, traditional knowledge and experiences on an international level. Despite the increased presence of Sami representation, there is still a lack of knowledge and understanding about Sami culture, history and its contemporary conditions, which affects the possibilities for continued practice and cultural development. Actions and statements based on this lack of knowledge tend to reinforce a us-versus-them perspective. This lack of knowledge occurs even where the Sami presence is palpable and where Sami societies and cultures have existed long before permanent and built environments. These are the communities where the institution will take place.
Moreover, there is an inherent problem when indigenous and minority cultures like the Sami are only provided visibility in relation to a discourse on cultural history and/or museum settings. Sami culture is, through this process, assigned into the past, without clear connections to contemporary processes, contexts and considerations. The need to actively include Sami expressions and perspectives in Norrbotten is still strong. It is therefore important that Sami children have access to meeting and experiencing their own culture during their formative years, not only at Sami institutions or in Swedish museums, but also through their everyday lives. Issues which touch upon their agency in developing their own culture should not be experienced as troublesome, but natural.
Verdde promotes long-term and sustainable development for Sami practitioners, the audiences in Norrbotten, and the regional institutions. The institution contributes to visibility for Sami culture and will hopefully spark new and productive conversations, understanding and exchange over kitchen tables, at the workplace, and in the offices of local policy makers.
Verdde is initiated in the Swedish parts of Sápmi, with Norrbotten as the point of departure, and is furthermore planned to take place in the Norwegian and Finnish parts of Sápmi in a forthcoming future. The institution is developed by Maria Ragnestam, Director of Konstfrämjandet Norrbotten, and is led in collaboration with Ellen B. Dalbakk / Rámavuol Elle Bigge.
Verdde is supported by The Postcode Foundation and Region Norrbotten.
