New Swedish Books, autumn 2020 1
61 Autumn 2020 SirdolaCCat – The Deportation of t
he Northern SÁmi One hundred years ago, the Swedish and Norwegian governments came to an agreement regarding the nomadic people in the north. The settlement – referred to as ‘a dislocation’ by the authorities – initiated a long period of deportations of reindeer-herding Northern Sámi from their homes in Norway to new pastures in Sweden and Finland. In the Sámi language it gave rise to a new word – bággojohtin – forced displacement. And to sirdolaccat, as the older generation later called themselves, meaning ‘the displaced’. The first ones that are forced out leave their homes in the belief that they will soon return. Elin Anna Labba has collected stories, photographs, letters and the lyrics of traditional Sámi joiks. Together they form a chorus of voices echoing through time. The book portrays a hard life: reindeer lost on the way as they run north towards their familiar lands, children that are left behind with relatives. Sorrow that is stilled, yet lives on in new generations. Sirdolaccat is a magnificent work about an untold part of Scandinavian history. Elin Anna Labba reveals an important piece of the Sámi people’s legacy, its painful consequences still resonating today. The Swedish-language edition has been highly praised by critics. The Northern Sámi edition is Norstedts’ very first book published in that language – a milestone in the publishing house’s 197-year history. Sirdolaccat is a magnificent work about an untold part of Scandinavian history, masterfully designed by Nina Ulmaja. The jury: A sure-fire export! Worth all the praise it’s received. History, Reportage, 187 p. Elin Anna Labba, Nina Ulmaja (design) Publisher Norstedts Rights Norstedts Agency Catherine Mörk catherine.mork@norstedts.se Rights sold to Norway/Pax Elin Anna Labba Photo: Hugo Thambert