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The indigenous people of Lapland Sweden,
Norway, Finland and North/Western Russia.
The picture is of a "Lavvu", a Sami lodging
resembling the North American "Tipi"
Norway, Finland and North/Western Russia.
The picture is of a "Lavvu", a Sami lodging
resembling the North American "Tipi"
Lee with Sami native , Northern Sweden
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SAMI HOUSE OF THE ANCESTORS
Sweat lodge is a part of many cultures of the world.
The sami sweat lodge is called House of the
ancestors. It was a holy ceremony of
meditation, and prayer.
The word "sauna", now used by the people of Finland,
is a Sami word for sweat lodge. Engaging in "Suana"
is to engage in a time of purification to bring us into our
highest state of body recognizing the richness of our
past and our time to come. Through this ceremony,
outside of our concept of time, opening to infinity and
the that of all creation, in honor to all indigenous
wisdom keepers we engage in this purification
ceremony to honor the holiest of life and Spirit.
In honor of my Sami Ancestors, I offer
This blessed Scandinavian "Sweat
Lodge".
Sweat lodge is a part of many cultures of the world.
The sami sweat lodge is called House of the
ancestors. It was a holy ceremony of
meditation, and prayer.
The word "sauna", now used by the people of Finland,
is a Sami word for sweat lodge. Engaging in "Suana"
is to engage in a time of purification to bring us into our
highest state of body recognizing the richness of our
past and our time to come. Through this ceremony,
outside of our concept of time, opening to infinity and
the that of all creation, in honor to all indigenous
wisdom keepers we engage in this purification
ceremony to honor the holiest of life and Spirit.
In honor of my Sami Ancestors, I offer
This blessed Scandinavian "Sweat
Lodge".
SCHEDULED SWEAT LODGE CEREMONY
If you would like to schedule a sweat lodge for your
group, either a traditional North American or a Sami
style sweat lodge, called House of the Ancestors and
has three rounds rather than four of the traditonal
North American stayle sweat lodge, email Lee for
special arrangements or to be put on the notification
list for scheduled sweat lodge ceremony.
lee@sacredway.net
If you would like to schedule a sweat lodge for your
group, either a traditional North American or a Sami
style sweat lodge, called House of the Ancestors and
has three rounds rather than four of the traditonal
North American stayle sweat lodge, email Lee for
special arrangements or to be put on the notification
list for scheduled sweat lodge ceremony.
lee@sacredway.net
The four colors symbolizes the four countries of
Sapmi, Lapland. The circle on the Sami flag
represents the runedrum / magic drum (runebom)
symbolizes the sun and moon. The red on the left
and also symbolizes the sun and moon. The also
side of the flag represents red on the left side of the
flag represents the sun. The blue color on the right
side represents the moon. In addition to these
symbolisms red stands for blood, green for grass,
yellow for sun and blue for water.
Sapmi, Lapland. The circle on the Sami flag
represents the runedrum / magic drum (runebom)
symbolizes the sun and moon. The red on the left
and also symbolizes the sun and moon. The also
side of the flag represents red on the left side of the
flag represents the sun. The blue color on the right
side represents the moon. In addition to these
symbolisms red stands for blood, green for grass,
yellow for sun and blue for water.
Sami Flag
INDIGENOUS SAMI AND THEIR ENDURANCE
By Lee Hilfiker
For hundreds of years Sami lived in the area now known as, and claimed by,
Norway, Sweden, finland, and Russia. Sami, (also spelled Saami) of "Sapmi"
Lappland have suffered much loss through ridicule and abuse. Historical
trauma to indigenous people have left intergenerational trauma. It occurs
when people who have been emotionally, psychologically and spiritually
wounded and is passed along through generations. Studies have shown that
quiet, keeping to themselves and rarely showing their sorrows, fears,
heartbreak, anger or grief.
Growing up with Swedish, Sami heritage the messsage was to stay quiet, to not
talk about our family or our beliefs. What was spoken at home, what was
recalled in our ancestoral stories, was not to be shared. My great
grandmother, a Sami immigrant shared her Sami culture with my father and
thus stories and knowledge was given to me when my father and I were out
fishing, hiking in the woods or having our morning coffee. My father would
say to me "Ahhhh, you are just like grandmother Maria". Attached to that
was that I was "different" and that I was not to show that to others, as if it was
shameful and dangerous to share my natural way of being. Studying the Sami
culture and their trauma I have come to understand the threads of abuse my
ancestors suffered and how it has shaped me psychologically and emotionally.
There are many accounts of racism with which the Sami lived for hundreds of
years. The following is an excerpt from a letter written in 1776 by the
Swedish governor of Nordland to the Royal Chamberlain in Copenhagen:
"These worthless and destructive wandering Lapps are exactly
the present and the furue this sneaking pack be uprooted and deported from
the country where they are resding without the slightest permission or right."
The Sami suffered loss of their land, abuse of their natural resources,of
reindeer, fishing, hunting and their nature spirituality. The noides (Sami
Shaman) were often killed if they did not give up their drum and convert to
Christianity. Their children were taken from them and placed in boarding
schools, not allowed to speak their language, like the North American
Native.
Many Sami came to North America as "Norwegians," Swedes, and "Finns."
and changed their family names to make it difficult to identify and trace their
Sami ancestry. Many of Sami heritage settled in Wisconsin, Minnesota,
upper Michigan, the Seattle area, the Dakotas, Alaska and Canada. My
Sami ancestors who immigrated here from Sweden have been referred to as
"Brown Swede", unlike the blonde hair, light skin associated with the
Swedes. My great grandparents, my grandparents, my father (an only child)
all have darker skin, brown hair and brown eyes. My sister (my only sibling)
also has brown hair and brown eyes but inherited the light skin of our English
maternal side.
Those of us with Sami ancestry may feel the symptoms of the trauma of our
Sami ancestors. We often feel ourselves as being different and not
understood.
Unable to find reconciliation for my ancestors and my own healing
I have sought indigenous healing ceremonies throughout the Americas. I am
grateful for being able to engage in the teachings and ceremonies of the
North American Native, the Huichol of Mexico, and the indigenous of South
America's Andes and Amazon. The work of the medicine wheel, fire
ceremony, sweat lodges, mesa, energy healing and so much more has been a
blessing from Spirit for me and for all my people. The time of the Condor and
Eagle prophecy is here, now. It is the leap of evolution and the change of
world views. We now seek the wisdom of the indigenous elders, the noidi,
shaman, medicine people, for they have endured and hold the vision of All are
One. Their wisdom holds our future.
By Lee Hilfiker
For hundreds of years Sami lived in the area now known as, and claimed by,
Norway, Sweden, finland, and Russia. Sami, (also spelled Saami) of "Sapmi"
Lappland have suffered much loss through ridicule and abuse. Historical
trauma to indigenous people have left intergenerational trauma. It occurs
when people who have been emotionally, psychologically and spiritually
wounded and is passed along through generations. Studies have shown that
quiet, keeping to themselves and rarely showing their sorrows, fears,
heartbreak, anger or grief.
Growing up with Swedish, Sami heritage the messsage was to stay quiet, to not
talk about our family or our beliefs. What was spoken at home, what was
recalled in our ancestoral stories, was not to be shared. My great
grandmother, a Sami immigrant shared her Sami culture with my father and
thus stories and knowledge was given to me when my father and I were out
fishing, hiking in the woods or having our morning coffee. My father would
say to me "Ahhhh, you are just like grandmother Maria". Attached to that
was that I was "different" and that I was not to show that to others, as if it was
shameful and dangerous to share my natural way of being. Studying the Sami
culture and their trauma I have come to understand the threads of abuse my
ancestors suffered and how it has shaped me psychologically and emotionally.
There are many accounts of racism with which the Sami lived for hundreds of
years. The following is an excerpt from a letter written in 1776 by the
Swedish governor of Nordland to the Royal Chamberlain in Copenhagen:
"These worthless and destructive wandering Lapps are exactly
the present and the furue this sneaking pack be uprooted and deported from
the country where they are resding without the slightest permission or right."
The Sami suffered loss of their land, abuse of their natural resources,of
reindeer, fishing, hunting and their nature spirituality. The noides (Sami
Shaman) were often killed if they did not give up their drum and convert to
Christianity. Their children were taken from them and placed in boarding
schools, not allowed to speak their language, like the North American
Native.
Many Sami came to North America as "Norwegians," Swedes, and "Finns."
and changed their family names to make it difficult to identify and trace their
Sami ancestry. Many of Sami heritage settled in Wisconsin, Minnesota,
upper Michigan, the Seattle area, the Dakotas, Alaska and Canada. My
Sami ancestors who immigrated here from Sweden have been referred to as
"Brown Swede", unlike the blonde hair, light skin associated with the
Swedes. My great grandparents, my grandparents, my father (an only child)
all have darker skin, brown hair and brown eyes. My sister (my only sibling)
also has brown hair and brown eyes but inherited the light skin of our English
maternal side.
Those of us with Sami ancestry may feel the symptoms of the trauma of our
Sami ancestors. We often feel ourselves as being different and not
understood.
Unable to find reconciliation for my ancestors and my own healing
I have sought indigenous healing ceremonies throughout the Americas. I am
grateful for being able to engage in the teachings and ceremonies of the
North American Native, the Huichol of Mexico, and the indigenous of South
America's Andes and Amazon. The work of the medicine wheel, fire
ceremony, sweat lodges, mesa, energy healing and so much more has been a
blessing from Spirit for me and for all my people. The time of the Condor and
Eagle prophecy is here, now. It is the leap of evolution and the change of
world views. We now seek the wisdom of the indigenous elders, the noidi,
shaman, medicine people, for they have endured and hold the vision of All are
One. Their wisdom holds our future.
Bear Den above the Arctic Circle in Sweden
Photos taken in Sweden, Sami area above the Arctic Circle
Sami Drum
Land of the Midnight Sun