Maija-Elina Oikarinen reconnects with Kolta Sámi heritage in Ivalo
For Maija-Elina Oikarinen from Ivalo, identifying as a Kolta Sámi has not always been straightforward. In her twenties, she had not learned her grandmother’s language and felt disconnected from her culture. The absence of language in her childhood home and unfamiliarity with Sámi clothing contributed to a sense of inadequacy regarding her identity. The link to her culture and heritage was severed when her grandmother became an orphan during World War II. She rebuilt her life in Ivalo, and discussions about Kolta Sáminess faded away.
However, Oikarinen eventually sought to study the Kolta Sámi language and culture, initiating a gradual reconnection with her roots. Initially focused on language learning, she discovered that her courses also addressed identity and culture, leading her to recognize fellow relatives among her classmates.
Learning her grandmother’s lost language transformed Oikarinen’s life, rekindling a sense of joy and connection. She longed to create traditional Kolta Sámi clothing for herself, but her studies led to challenges when she returned to everyday life, leaving her with unanswered questions about her identity.
The arrival of her first child prompted Oikarinen to approach her heritage with renewed focus, desiring to pass on a traditional Sámi name and speak Kolta Sámi to her daughter. However, the transition proved difficult, and balancing the use of languages while feeling overwhelmed by the responsibility of fostering her heritage weighed heavily on her.
Over the years, Oikarinen has witnessed her daughter embrace her Kolta Sámi roots, culminating in a family support system for revitalizing the language. The completion of her traditional clothing has become a symbol of this journey, as her daughter’s pride in her heritage encourages Oikarinen as well.