Nils-Aslak Valkeapää, known as Áilu in the
Northern Sámi language
Northern may refer to the following:
Geography
* North, a point in direction
* Northern Europe, the northern part or region of Europe
* Northern Highland, a region of Wisconsin, United States
* Northern Province, Sri Lanka
* Northern Range, a ra ...
and with the stage name of Áillohaš (23 March 1943 – 26 November 2001), was a Finnish-born Norwegian
Sámi
Acronyms
* SAMI, ''Synchronized Accessible Media Interchange'', a closed-captioning format developed by Microsoft
* Saudi Arabian Military Industries, a government-owned defence company
* South African Malaria Initiative, a virtual expertise ...
writer, musician and artist. He was one of the most internationally recognised contributors of Sámi culture. He was mostly known for his
joik
A joik or yoik (anglicised, where the latter spelling in English conforms with the pronunciation; also named , , , or in the Sámi languages) is a traditional form of song in Sámi music performed by the Sámi people of Sápmi in Northern E ...
s and poems. He was the official
provincial artist of Lapland from 1978 to 1983. He was given the
Nordic Council Literature Prize
The Nordic Council Literature Prize is awarded for a work of literature written in one of the languages of the Nordic countries, that meets "high literary and artistic standards". Established in 1962, the prize is awarded every year, and is worth ...
in 1991 for his work called ''Beaivi, áhčážan'' (engl.
The Sun, My Father
''The Sun, My Father'' () is a 1991 poetry collection by Finnish Sami author Nils-Aslak Valkeapää. It won the Nordic Council's Literature Prize
The Nordic Council Literature Prize is awarded for a work of literature written in one of the langua ...
).
Early life
Valkeapää was born on March 24, 1943, in
Enontekiö
Enontekiö (; ; ; ; ) is a municipality in the Finnish part of Lapland with approximately inhabitants. It is situated in the outermost northwest of the country and occupies a large and very sparsely populated area of about between the Swedis ...
in Finnish
Sápmi
is the cultural region traditionally inhabited by the Sámi people. Sápmi includes the northern parts of Fennoscandia, stretching over four countries: Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. Most of Sápmi lies north of the Arctic Circle, boun ...
to a family of
nomad
Nomads are communities without fixed habitation who regularly move to and from areas. Such groups include hunter-gatherers, pastoral nomads (owning livestock), tinkers and trader nomads. In the twentieth century, the population of nomadic pa ...
ic
Sámi
Acronyms
* SAMI, ''Synchronized Accessible Media Interchange'', a closed-captioning format developed by Microsoft
* Saudi Arabian Military Industries, a government-owned defence company
* South African Malaria Initiative, a virtual expertise ...
reindeer herders
Reindeer herding is when reindeer are herded by people in a limited area. Currently, reindeer are the only semi-domesticated animal which naturally belong to the North. Reindeer herding is conducted in nine countries: Norway, Finland, Sweden, Russ ...
.
His father, Johannes J. Valkeapää, was Finnish Sámi from the
Kaaresuvanto area, while his mother, Ellen Susanna Aslaksdatter Bals, was Norwegian Sámi from
Uløya in
Troms
Troms (; ; ; ) is a Counties of Norway, county in northern Norway. It borders Finnmark county to the northeast and Nordland county in the southwest. Norrbotten Län in Sweden is located to the south and further southeast is a shorter border with ...
.
Valkeapää lived in Finnish Sápmi until his father's death, when his family moved to
Skibotn
, , or is a village in Storfjord Municipality in Troms county, Norway. It is located on the southeastern shore of the Lyngen fjord in Northern Norway. The village area is located at the crossroads of the European route E6 and European route E ...
in Norwegian Sápmi.
Valkeapää's
mother tongue
A first language (L1), native language, native tongue, or mother tongue is the first language a person has been exposed to from birth or within the critical period. In some countries, the term ''native language'' or ''mother tongue'' refers ...
was
Northern Sámi
Northern Sámi or North Sámi ( ; ; ; ; ; disapproved exonym Lappish or Lapp) is the most widely spoken of all Sámi languages. The area where Northern Sámi is spoken covers the northern parts of Norway, Sweden and Finland.
Geographic distr ...
. However, like many Sámi children in the 1950s, he did not have access to formal education in his native language and did not learn how to write in Northern Sámi until adulthood.
Along with his early education in boarding schools, Valkeapää spent six years studying at the
Kemijärvi
Kemijärvi (; ; ) is a town and municipality of Finland. It is located in the sub-region of Eastern Lapland.
History
The first permanent settler inhabitant of Kemijärvi was Paavali Ollinpoika Halonen, who moved from the region of Oulu, fro ...
Teachers' Training College, though he never worked as a teacher.
Career
Music
Valkeapää first came into the public eye as a performer of traditional Sámi
joik
A joik or yoik (anglicised, where the latter spelling in English conforms with the pronunciation; also named , , , or in the Sámi languages) is a traditional form of song in Sámi music performed by the Sámi people of Sápmi in Northern E ...
and was central to the revitalisation of the genre. His debut record, ''Joikuja'', was released in 1968.
In 1973, folk and jazz musicians Seppo Paakkunainen, Ilpo Saastamoinen and Esko Rosnell invited Valkeapää on a musicians' retreat. During the retreat, Valkeapää was inspired by
Dvořák's
Symphony No. 9
Symphony No. 9 most commonly refers to:
* Symphony No. 9 (Beethoven) in D minor (Op. 125, ''Choral'') by Ludwig van Beethoven, 1822–24
* Symphony No. 9 (Dvořák) in E minor (Op. 95, B. 178, ''From the New World'') by Antonín Dvořák, 1893
...
and its African-American
spiritual influences to develop fusion joik. In collaboration with Paakkunainen, he developed ''Juoigansinfonija'', a
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
-joik symphony. In 1978, Valkeapää released his jazz-joik record ''Sámiid eatnan duoddariid.''
Valkeapää's music was somewhat controversial in Finland, both for his unorthodoxic inclusion of jazz elements and because
Laestadian
Laestadianism (; ; ; ), also known as Laestadian Lutheranism and Apostolic Lutheranism, is a pietistic Lutheran revival movement started in Sápmi in the middle of the 19th century. Named after Swedish Lutheran state church administrator and ...
Sámi often viewed joik as immoral.
Valkeapää continued to perform jazz-joik and resisted efforts to "preserve" the traditional form, stating in his book ''Terveisiä Lapista'': "When I hear talk of conserving the culture, I see an investigator of folklore in my mind’s eye, and interpret their activities quite literally: cataloguing a dead culture."
Valkeapää released thirteen records from 1968 to 1994. His song ''Goase Dušše'' (The Bird Symphony), composed of nature sounds from the Sápmi region, received the jury’s special prize at the
Prix Italia
The Prix Italia is an international television, radio-broadcasting and web award. It was established in 1948 by RAI – Radiotelevisione Italiana (in 1948, RAI had the denomination RAI – Radio Audizioni Italiane) in Capri and is honoured with th ...
radio competition in 1993.
Valkeapää also composed the music for and acted in the Oscar-nominated 1987 film
''Ofelaš''. A recording of Valkeapää performing the theme for the film
''Ofelaš'' was sampled by British musician
Mike Oldfield
Michael Gordon Oldfield (born 15 May 1953) is an English retired musician, songwriter and producer best known for his debut studio album ''Tubular Bells'' (1973), which became an unexpected critical and commercial success. Though primarily a gu ...
in "Prayer for the Earth," a track on his 1994 album ''
The Songs of Distant Earth
''The Songs of Distant Earth'' is a 1986 science fiction novel by British writer Arthur C. Clarke, Arthur C. Clarke, based upon his 1958 short story of the same title. Of all of his novels, Clarke stated that this was his favourite. Prio ...
.''
Valkeapää received further international recognition as a musician when he performed at
the opening ceremony of the
1994 Winter Olympic Games
The 1994 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVII Olympic Winter Games (; ) and commonly known as Lillehammer '94, were an international winter multi-sport event held from 12 to 27 February 1994 in and around Lillehammer, Norway. Hav ...
in
Lillehammer
Lillehammer () is a municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Lillehammer. Some of the more notable villages in the munici ...
, Norway.
Writing
Valkeapää's first book, ''Terveisiä Lapista'' (''Greetings from Lapland''), was published in 1971 and acted as a political treatise on the issues impacting Sámi people, including condemnations of boarding schools designed for
assimilation and land acquisition policies. The book was written in Finnish, and was the second-ever book by a Sámi author to be translated into English.
Valkeapää's debut book of poetry, ''Giđa ijat čuovgadat'' (''Spring Nights So Bright''), was published in 1974.
From 1974 to 2001, he published nine books of poetry, all written in
Northern Sámi
Northern Sámi or North Sámi ( ; ; ; ; ; disapproved exonym Lappish or Lapp) is the most widely spoken of all Sámi languages. The area where Northern Sámi is spoken covers the northern parts of Norway, Sweden and Finland.
Geographic distr ...
.
Only two of his books were ever translated into Finnish - his debut and his 1988 collection ''Beaivi, Áhcázan'' (''The Sun, My Father''). ''Beaivi, Áhcázan'' was awarded the
Nordic Council Literature Prize
The Nordic Council Literature Prize is awarded for a work of literature written in one of the languages of the Nordic countries, that meets "high literary and artistic standards". Established in 1962, the prize is awarded every year, and is worth ...
in 1991.
Along with his poetry and nonfiction, Valkeapää also wrote a
Noh
is a major form of classical Japanese dance-drama that has been performed since the 14th century. It is Japan's oldest major theater art that is still regularly performed today. Noh is often based on tales from traditional literature featuri ...
play that was performed in Japan in 1995. The play was first performed in Sámi at the
Beaivváš Sámi Našunálateáhter
Beaivváš Sámi Našunálateáhter (established in 1981 in Guovdageainnu Municipality) is a Norwegian theatre and theatre company that uses Sami language as its performing language. In addition, it is the only Sami-language theatre in the count ...
as ''Ridn’oaivi ja Nieguid Oaidni'' (''The Frost-haired and the Dream-seer'') in 2007.
In 1984, Valkeapää was one of the founders of the publishing house DAT. He established DAT to publish his books and music and to support and publish other Sámi artists and writers.
Art
Valkeapää was both an artist and a photographer. Many of his paintings were based on Sámi mythological beings, while his pencil drawings often featured birds, people and reindeer. He included his art in several of his poetry books, including his award-winning book ''Beaivi, Áhcázan'', and he designed the covers for not only his own music records and books but also for books by other Sámi writers like
Rauni Magga Lukkari
Rauni Magga Lukkari is a Sámi poet and translator. Although she was born in Vetsikko, Utsjoki, Finland in 1943, she has lived in Tromsø, Norway since 1980. Lukkari writes in Northern Sami.
Works Books
* ''Jieŋat vulget'' (1980)
* ''Báze de ...
.
His artwork was also presented at the North Norway Festival in 1991.
Valkeapää donated thirty of his art pieces to
Kautokeino Municipality
Kautokeino (; ; ; ) is a List of municipalities of Norway, municipality in Finnmark Counties of Norway, county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the Kautokeino (village), village of Guovdageaidnu/Kautokeino. Other villag ...
, where the collection is on permanent display at Guovdageainnu Gilišillju (the Kautokeino Museum).
Activism
Valkeapää was a prominent figure in the movement for Sámi rights, which he connected to the broader international
Indigenous rights movement. He expressed feelings of solidarity with North American Indigenous communities and particularly
Inuit
Inuit (singular: Inuk) are a group of culturally and historically similar Indigenous peoples traditionally inhabiting the Arctic and Subarctic regions of North America and Russia, including Greenland, Labrador, Quebec, Nunavut, the Northwe ...
and other Arctic Indigenous people. In 1975, he attended the founding meeting of the
World Council of Indigenous Peoples
The World Council of Indigenous Peoples (WCIP) was a formal international body dedicated to having concepts of aboriginal rights accepted on a worldwide scale. The WCIP had observer status in the United Nations, a secretariat based in Canada and r ...
(WCIP) in
Port Alberni
Port Alberni () is a city located on Vancouver Island in the province of British Columbia, Canada. The city lies within the Alberni Valley at the head of the Alberni Inlet, Vancouver Island's longest inlet. Port Alberni currently has a total popu ...
,
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
as a Sámi representative of Finland. That same year, he referred to Sámi people as Indigenous people for the first time during an interview on Sámi radio.
Valkeapää became the cultural coordinator of the WCIP in 1978. In this role, he organised Davvi Šuvva, the world's first Sámi
cultural festival
A festival is an event celebrated by a community and centering on some characteristic aspect or aspects of that community and its religion or cultures. It is often marked as a local or national holiday, mela, or eid. A festival constitutes ...
, in
Karesuvanto
Karesuvanto or Kaaresuvanto (, ) is a village in Enontekiö municipality, located in Finnish Lapland, the largest and northernmost region in Finland. It is located on the Muonio River, which follows Finland's western border with Sweden.
The vil ...
in 1979.
Later life and death
Valkeapää received honorary doctorates from the
University of Oulu
The University of Oulu () is one of the largest universities in Finland, located in the city of Oulu. It was founded on July 8, 1958. The university has around 14,200 students and 3,800 staff. 21 International Master's Programmes are offer ...
and the
University of Lapland
The University of Lapland ( Finnish: ''Lapin yliopisto'', Swedish: ''Lapplands universitet'') is a public university in Rovaniemi, Finland. It was established in 1979 and is the northernmost university in the European Union.
Around 4,000 und ...
in recognition of his work and cultural impact.
In February 1996, Valkeapää was severely injured in a car accident. Because of health issues related to his injuries, he moved to Skibotn and settled permanently.
He built his house in the traditional lásságámmi style on land he received as a gift from the
Storfjord Municipality
, (Northern Sami; ), or is a municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Hatteng. Other villages in Storfjord include Elvevoll, Oteren, and Skibotn.
The municipality is the 54th l ...
for his 50th birthday.
He became a Norwegian citizen in 2001.
In 2001, Valkeapää visited Japan to perform in a poetry event with other Finnish and Japanese writers. He died during his return home, at the house of his Japanese friend Junichiro Okura in
Espoo
Espoo (, ; ) is a city in Finland. It is located to the west of the capital, Helsinki, in southern Uusimaa. The population is approximately . It is the most populous Municipalities of Finland, municipality in Finland. Espoo is part of the Helsi ...
. Valkeapää was buried at the
Birtavárre cemetery in Troms.
Legacy
Valkeapää is recognised and remembered as a vital figure in the revitalization of joik and the Sámi rights movement. In 2022, his joik ''Sámiid eatnan duoddariid'' was elected the national joik of the Sámi people at the 22nd
Sámi Conference
The first international Sámi Conference was officially opened in Jokkmokk, Sweden on August 31, 1953 and closed four days later on September 3. Since then, the Sámi conferences have come to be important venues for the Sámi across Norway, Sweden, ...
in
Gällivare
Gällivare (; ; or ; or ; ) is a locality and the seat of Gällivare Municipality in Norrbotten County, province of Lapland, Sweden with 8,449 inhabitants in 2010. The town was founded in the 17th century. Together with nearby towns Malmberget ...
.
In 2004, the Lásságámmi Foundation was established by the
Sámi Parliament of Norway
The Sámi Parliament of Norway (, , Lule Sami and , , , ) is the representative body for people of Sámi heritage in Norway. It acts as an institution of cultural autonomy for the Sami people of Norway.
The parliament opened on 9 October ...
, Storfjord municipality, Troms county, and the
University of Tromsø
The University of Tromsø – The Arctic University of Norway ( Norwegian: ''Universitetet i Tromsø – Norges arktiske universitet''; Northern Sami: ''Romssa universitehta – Norgga árktalaš universitehta'') is a state university in Norway a ...
to preserve Valkeapää's legacy and utilise his residence in Skibotn as a space for researchers and artists. The foundation is named after Valkeapää's house.
Posthumous publication of Valkeapää's work includes two poems included on his godson
Niko Valkeapää
Niko-Mihkal Valkeapää (born 30 December 1968) is a Finnish Sami people, Sami musician, joiker (Sami folk singer), teacher, actor and politician.
Biography
Born in Enontekiö, Finland, he has been described as "one of Sami music's foremost ...
's eponymous début album. Speaking on his godfather's influence, Niko stated that "I can’t deny that Nils-Aslak was a role model for me – he was a figure that I would look up to. He has been a source of inspiration and I have included two of his poems on my album to pay homage to him."
Personal life
Valkeapää was
bisexual
Bisexuality is romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual behavior toward both males and females. It may also be defined as the attraction to more than one gender, to people of both the same and different gender, or the attraction t ...
, but hid his sexuality throughout his life.
Discography
* ''Joikuja'' (1968)
* ''Juoigamat'' (1973)
* ''Vuoi Biret-Maaret, vuoi!'' (1974)
* '' De čábba niegut runiidit'' (1976)
* ''Duvva, Áilen Niga Elle ja Aillohaš'' (1976)
* ''Sámi eatnan duoddariid'' (1978)
* ''Sápmi, vuoi Sápmi!'' (1982)
* '' Davás ja geassái'' (1982)
* '' Beaivi, áhčážan'' (1988)
* '' Eanan, eallima eadni'' (1990)
* '' Sámi luondu, gollerisku'' (1992)
* '' Goase dušše'' (1994)
* '' Dálveleaikkat / Wintergames'' (1994)
Written works
Books
* ''Terveisiä Lapista'' (1971)
Poetry
* ''Giđa ijat čuovgadat'' (1974)
* ''Lávlo vizar biellocizáš'' (1976)
* ''Ádjaga silbasuonat'' (1981)
* ''Ruoktu Váimmus'' (1985)
* ''Beaivi, áhčážan'' (1988)
* ''Nu guhkkin dat mii lahka = Så fjernt det nære'' (1994)
* ''Jus gazzebiehtár bohkosivččii'' (1996)
* ''Girddán, seivvodan'' (1999)
* ''Eanni, eannážan'' (2001)
References
External links
Liv Tone Boine reciting Valkeapää's poem ''Mu ruoktu lea mu váimmus'' in Northern Sámi
{{DEFAULTSORT:Valkeapaa, Nils-Aslak
1943 births
2001 deaths
People from Enontekiö
Writers from Lapland (Finland)
Sámi artists
20th-century Finnish male singers
Finnish Sámi-language writers
Finnish Sámi musicians
Finnish expatriates in Norway
Nordic Council Literature Prize winners
20th-century Finnish painters
20th-century Finnish poets
Finnish male poets
20th-century Finnish male writers
Bisexual singers
Bisexual poets
Bisexual painters
Finnish bisexual men
Finnish LGBTQ singers
Finnish LGBTQ poets
Finnish LGBTQ painters
Recipients of the Order of the White Star, 5th Class
Finnish male painters
20th-century Finnish LGBTQ people
20th-century Finnish male artists
Sámi LGBTQ people
20th-century Finnish folk musicians
21st-century Finnish folk musicians