Various Samí communities around Norway were celebrating on Wednesday after the government’s proposed state budget for next year granted then a total of NOK 1.2 billion. The government’s goal is to strengthen Samí society.
“This is a great gift for us,” Rolf Degerlund, leader of the Samí National Theater in Kautokeino, told state broadcaster NRK. The theater is due to receive NOK 13 million to construct a consolidated cultural building to house the theater with the Samí High School and a school specializing in reindeer operations.
The largest allocation was granted to the Sami Parliament in Karasjok, which is earmarked for an increase of NOK 26 million in its budget for next year. That brings the total allocation to NOK 539 million, with another NOK 10 million earmarked for development of a regional Samí competence center.
The Samí’s national federation for reindeer herding was also pleased with higher income tax deductions allowed for their livelihood, while a Samí museum (Saemien Sijte) in Snåsa was granted NOK 57 million to complete the museum that tracks the southern Samí.
newsinenglish.no staff
