Smi vs' Scottish Gaelic

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Sámi vs. Scottish Gaelic

• The Struggle For Political Recognition

Presenters Megan Bricker Kris Woodard
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Outline

• Briefly describe each cultures history to
  understand where they came from and to better
  understand where they are headed
• What role politics play in their past and future
  and how they assist in shaping each cultures
  language and identity

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Sámi History

• Thought to be the first inhabitants of northern
  Scandinavia- Fennoscandanavia- making them the
  indigenous culture in this region
• Land has been a central component to the Sámi
  people.
• Demarcation issues were hard for the Sámi to
  defend when confronted by migrating groups who
  were willing to establish permanent borders.

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History Continued

• High taxes by host countries resulted in massive
  hunting of reindeer and their depopulation
• Forced to accept the authority and lifestyles of
  their respective governments
• Border issues ignite further loss of culture

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Scottish Gaelic History

• Closely related to Irish and Manx Gaelic, more
  distant relative of Welsh, Cornish, and Breton
• 12th, 13th, and 14th centuries Gaelic was
  dominant in the Highlands, equal to English in
  the Lowlands
• April 16, 1746 Battle of Culloden
• 18th c. Highland Clearances
• 19th c. mass immigrations to the US, Canada,
  Australia and New Zealand

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History Continued

• WWI severe losses to the Highland Regiments
• Children were discouraged from using the language
  in schools through shame and corporal punishment.
• Domains for Gaelic confined to home and church

• Government of the United Kingdom adopted a policy
  of neglect towards the language
• The Scottish National Party formed in 1934

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Modern Developments

• The end of WWII marked a rebirth for the Sami
• The 1970s represent a decade of great success
• Technology is providing access to important
  resources

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Modern Developments

• Gaelic gradually declining, but slowing down in
  recent years
• 1978 Scotland Act failed
• Increased popularity of Gaelic medium education

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Sámi Government

• Democratically elected regionally every four
  years
• Weak political influence within each parliament
• Ruled by the Scandinavian countries
• Work for the Sámi culture
• Parliament Established
• Finland- 1996
• Norway- 1989
• Sweden- 1993

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Politics and Government

• Representatives
• Finland- 21
• Sweden- 31
• Norway- 43

• Political Ambitions
• The Sámi Parliament Assembly
• Further integration and development
• European Union acceptance

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Scottish Government

• Tony Blair and the Labour Party backed the idea,
  and it was brought to a referendum in 1997.
• Devolution occurred in 1998 with Scotland Act
  1998
• Powers over anything not specifically reserved to
  Westminster

• Some of the earliest acts of Holyrood were to
  make Gaelic an official language, and create
  organizations to protect and encourage the
  language.

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Politics and Government

• The Scottish National Party was the leading
  campaigner for devolution.
• The party currently holds 47 of 129 seats in
  Scottish Parliament, 6 0f 59 Scottish seats in
  the UK parliament, and 2 of 7 Scottish seats in
  the European Parliament.
• They are considered a center-left party whose
  primary goals are Scottish Independence and
  Social Democracy.

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Outlook for Sámi

• The Sámi are significantly affecting their social
  status. Their goal is simple, to be recognized
  as an equal actor among the states they occupy
  and to gain awareness from the international
  community. By doing so they will gain further
  strength among their people thereby launching
  their culture into a new era.

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Outlook for Gaelic
Gaelic is slowly gaining ground from its
centuries old decline, primarily due to actions
taken by governmental and political bodies. It is
still endangered, but the progressive actions
taken have given hope for a lasting future for
Gaelic.
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Summary

• The history of the Sámi and Scots Gaelic are
  parallel in many regards. Both were occupied by
  oppressive governments their cultures were
  almost obliterated. Now both groups are
  pressuring their national governments for
  recognition and requesting support from the
  international community. The effect has been to
  slow the decline of, and indeed gain new ground
  for Sami and Scottish Gaelic.

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Bibliography

• Baer, Lars-Anders. The Rights of Indigenous
  Peoples A Brief Introduction in the Context of
  the Sámi. International Journal on Minority
  Group Rights, Vol. 12 Issue 2/3, p245-267, 23p.
  2005
• Eide, Asbjørn. Legal and Normative Bases for
  Saami Claims to Land in the Nordic. International
  Journal on Minority Group Rights Vol. 8 Issue
  2/3, p127-149, 23p. 2001.
• Fishman, Joshua A. Language and Ethnic Identity.
  Oxford University Press. 1999.
• Forrest, Scott. Territoriality and State-Sami
  Relations. http//arcticcircle.uconn.edu/HistoryCu
  lture/Sami/samisf.html. 2007.
• Minde, Henry. Sámi Land Rights in Norway A Test
  Case for Indigenous Peoples. International
  Journal on Minority Group Rights, Vol. 8 Issue
  2/3, p107- 125. 2001.

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Bibliography Continued
Chapman, Malcolm. The Gaelic Vision in Scottish
Culture. Montreal McGill- Queen's University
Press, 1979 Clancy, Thomas Owen. "History of
Gaelic." Bord na Gaidhlig. 20 Sep
2007 lthttp//www.bord-na-gaidhlig.org.uk/about-ga
elic/history.htmlgt. Johnstone, Richard.
Scotland. Centre for Information on Language
Teaching and Research/ Scottish CILT. The Impact
of Current Developments to support the Gaelic
Language Review of Research. Stirling Scotland
1994 McLeod, Wilson. Revitalising Gaelic in
Scotland. Edinburgh Dunedin Academic Press
Ltd., 2006 "Welcome to Bord na Gaidhlig." Bord
na Gaidhlig. 20 Sep 2007 lthttp//www.bord-na-gai
dhlig.org.uk/welcome.htmlgt.