Ellinor Marita Jåma (born 8 August 1979) is a Norwegian Sami politician, representing Åarjel-Saemiej Gielh (South Sami Voices) in the Sami Parliament of Norway. She has been elected for two consecutive periods: 2009–13 and 2013–17. She is also active in the promotion of Sami culture and language.
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Career
editJåma has a background in teaching, graduating in psychology, with a master's degree from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim. She was elected twice to the Sami Parliament of Norway, serving consecutive terms between 2009-2013 and 2013-2017. [1][2]
Reindeer herding
editIn June 2014, Jåma was elected leader of the Reindeer Herders Association of Norway (Norske Reindriftssamers Landsforbund).[3] She was the first woman to hold the post for 30 years. At only 35 on her election, she was the youngest leader ever.[4]
Sami culture
editInterviewed on Norwegian television, Jåma explained how important it was for her to revive the Sami culture. "We have a lasting legacy, for which I wish to be a spokesman. Today I see the bureaucrats and politicians maintaining they know what is best for the Sami. But thanks to the Sami Parliament, we can influence things ourselves." She was also keen to support the Sami languages which had almost died out in some places. In this connection, Jåma had taken things into her own hands, producing the first ever children's television programme in the Southern Sami language.[4]
References
edit- ^ "Årets nordtrønder" (in Norwegian). NRK. 28 December 2010. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
- ^ "Jåma, Ellinor Marita" (in Norwegian). Giella. Archived from the original on 5 January 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
- ^ "Valgt til ny leder". Namdalsavisa (in Norwegian). 14 June 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
- ^ a b "Mange kjente på mye skam" (in Norwegian). NRK. 27 July 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
