Askel Sovinthoon Festival
Welcome to a weekend where we will highlight Meänkieli, Tornedalingar, Kväner and Lantalaiset at various locations in Luleå. The festival is part of the ongoing reconciliation process with the Church of Sweden, Askel sovythoon – steps for reconciliation. Come and learn, listen and be moved!
Preliminary program
Friday 8 May
House of Science
07.30-09.00 Tietofruukosti – Knowledge breakfast
How difficult can it be? The opportunities and challenges of minority politics.
Lecture by Lennart Rohdin, special investigator of minority politics, and honorary doctor at Luleå University of Technology.
Conversation with Mattias Karvonen, municipal councilor Luleå municipality and Johannes Sundelin, Chairman of the Regional Development Committee, Norrbotten Region.
Registration and information via this link, last registration April 30th.
Tabletop exhibition about Polar bibblo
Polarbibblo is a safe digital platform where children can read, listen, write and play word games in Swedish and national minority languages.
Norrbotten Museum, Association Archives at Björkskatan
13.00-15.00 Avoin arkiivi – Open archive
Viewing of archive material in the library -Archive Center, Höstvägen 7, Luleå.
Participate in the quiz for the chance to win a Meän Filtti!
14.00-15.00 Norrbottenin museum show
Viewing of the Norrbotten Museum's collection magazine with a focus on Tornedalen.
Shopping, Craft and design center
10.00-16.00 Folk Costume Exhibition – Folk Costume Exhibition
Costumes and kolts carry stories about people, places and traditions. They are more than just clothing – they are expressions of identity, craftsmanship, cultural heritage and contemporary times. Costumes from different parts of Norrbotten are displayed here, highlighting personal stories, traditions and craft techniques.
Norrbotten Theatre
19.00 Thinking Place
The photographer Jaakko Heikkilä, the dancer Watch Court and the musician Erling Fredriksson come together in a tribute to the Tornedalen Valley. They create a space where music, dance, photographs and contemporary voices make us think and be together – before action takes shape. A mix of stillness and a little madness. Silence and a little madness. A performance about the strong connection that people have to the Tornedalen Valley. About being secure in their relationships with both the place, the people and their life's work.
Buy your ticket here: Place of thought
Saturday 9 May
House of Science
An afternoon where you get to listen to a selection of efforts that are carried out for the minority language Meänkieli and the minority Tornedalingar, Kväner and Lantalaiset.
12.00-12.25 Tornionlaakson kansankorkeakoulu erkeit koulutussentteristä – Tornedalen folk high school tells about Education center for Tornedalen, Kvänen and Lantalaiset.
Rector Johan Taavo tells about the investment.
12.30-12.55 Tornionlaakson teatteri 40 avotta – 40 years with Tornedalsteatern
Erling Fredriksson, theatre director and artistic director of Tornedalsteatern – Tornionlaakson teatteri, talks about the theatre's journey from its inception in 1986 to today.
13.00-13.45 Työtuvitten rooli ruottalistumisprusessia - To be shaped into a Swede - about the role of workhouses in the Swedishization process
Curt Persson, Doctor of Philosophy in History of Technology, Luleå University of Technology, says.
Curt Persson when he gave this lecture in the church in Karungi in 2025.
Curt Persson when he gave this lecture in the church in Karungi in 2025.
14.30 Kielen menetys ja revitaliseerinki nuorile – Language loss and revitalization for younger people
Daniel Fjellborg, postdoctoral fellow in political science at LTU, talks about what the loss of Meänkieli has meant for younger generations and what the conditions for regaining the language look like today.
Tabletop exhibition about Polar bibblo
Polarbibblo is a safe digital platform where children can read, listen, write and play word games in Swedish and national minority languages.
Shopping, Craft and design center
10.00-16.00 Folk Costume Exhibition – Folk Costume Exhibition
Costumes and kolts carry stories about people, places and traditions. They are more than just clothing – they are expressions of identity, craftsmanship, cultural heritage and contemporary times. Costumes from different parts of Norrbotten are displayed here, highlighting personal stories, traditions and craft techniques.
House of Culture – daily program
Location: The Wing
13.00-13.30 Perheteatteri - Family theater "The bear meeting - A true story"
An exciting depiction of Daniel Sarkijarvi about an overnight stay in nature, and about a shocking encounter. In this theater, Meänkieli and Swedish are woven together during the captivating performance. Audience contact and dialogue with children watching become a natural part of the theater experience. A children's theater that is also aimed at adults close to the child, parents, grandparents and anyone else who wants a moment of excitement. Everyone is welcome. Come to the theater! Come too!
Please register, but drop-ins are also welcome. Free admission.
Link to registration coming soon
Location: Project room
12.00-13.00 Workshop – Workshop “With hands in the tradition of birch bark”
With Ida-Maria Lindmark Svonni. During this hour you will learn how to fold a star out of birch bark. Ida-Maria is a cultural creator who contributes to strengthening knowledge about our traditions and the people who have shaped the area through generations.
Max 15 people. Drop in if space permits.
Link to registration coming soon
Venue: The Gallery
13.15-14.15 "Missä histuuria kohtaa toluvaisuuen - Where history meets the future"
A personal and historical journey through Tornedalen culture – from the Ice Age landscape to today's society together with Ida-Maria Lindmark SvonniIda-Maria is particularly interested in how cultural heritage, place and history are interconnected and how knowledge of our local history can strengthen people's identity and sense of belonging.
Max 50 people. Drop-in subject to space availability.
Link to registration coming soon
Venue: Art Lab
12.00-15.00 Työpaja - Creative workshop for children at the library.
Create freely or do something on the theme of Tornedalen, Kvän and Lantalais culture and crafts! An art teacher is on site. Drop in.
House of Culture – evening program
GlesbygdsDivan Carina Henriksson performed under Askel Sovinthoon in Karungi 2025.
The small hall
18.00-21.00 Väylä, kieli ja ånet – The river, the language and the voices
An evening where stories, poetry, song and music come together and let Meänkieli ring. Through history, poetry and song we will follow in the musical footsteps of the Tornedalen people, the Kväners and the Lantalaiset – one of Sweden's national minorities. You will listen to some of the Tornedalen's foremost artists in words, poetry and song. Come follow me! Join us!
18.00 Ko väylä muistelee – When the river tells with Fredrik Hangasjärvi & Emma Kiviniemi
A cultural walk through the history, music and memories of Tornedalen. Who are we who call Tornedalen home? How far back do our roots go? Through stories and music, the memories of the river are brought to life.
18.50 Kylmää puhetta – Poetry meets notes with Wilma-Saga Persson & Fredrik Hangasjärvi
The words of poet Wilma-Saga Persson meet Fredrik Hangasjärvi's accordion in a poetic interplay between language and music.
19.10-19.45 Break
19.45-20.45 Tule laulamhaan – Songs in Meänkieli
A moment of community where the song is at the center. Here you will meet both newly written Tornedal songs and well-known melodies in a new language. In some of the songs, the audience is also invited to sing along. Together we make meänkieli sound – on stage and in the room. Laulama yhessä meänkielelä!
Cast in Tule laulamhaan – Songs in Meänkieli:
Simon Lundmark – Show artist and miner who, as an adult, has regained his maternal language, Meänkieli, and is happy to promote the language both on stage and in the enrichment plant.
Maria Pekkari – Singer-songwriter who creates her own music and sings in Meänkieli to reclaim the language and share the power and joy of singing together.
Carina Henriksson – GlesbygdsDivan - Performing artist, composer and poet who reclaimed their languages through song and the stage. She creates multilingual performing arts and works to strengthen Meänkieli as a singing language.
Roger Norén – Musicians who tour the northern counties on Nordkalotten together with GlesbygdsDivan.
Roger Norén – Musicians who tour the northern counties on Nordkalotten together with GlesbygdsDivan.
Ticket proceeds go entirely to the reconciliation process for the people of Tornedalen, Kväner and Lantalaiset.
Ticket price for the whole evening 18-21pm: 150 SEK. Book your ticket here
Norrbotten Theatre
16.00 and 19.00 Ajatuspaikka (NOTE! Two performances)
The photographer Jaakko Heikkilä, the dancer Watch Court and the musician Erling Fredriksson come together in a tribute to the Tornedalen Valley. They create a space where music, dance, photographs and contemporary voices make us think and be together – before action takes shape. A mix of stillness and a little madness. Silence and a little madness. A performance about the strong connection that people have to the Tornedalen Valley. About being secure in their relationships with both the place, the people and their life's work.
Buy your ticket here: Place of thought
Sunday 10 May
Luleå Cathedral
11.00 முல்கு ப்பு வாலை – Worship service Askel குத்துக்கும் – steps for reconciliation
We will celebrate a church service with strong elements of Meänkieli, including music and hymn singing. The service will be led by the Archbishop Martin Modeus and Asa Nystrom, bishop of Luleå diocese. County Governor Lotta Finstorp participates.
Read more: Service Askel sakinthoon - steps for reconciliation - Luleå Diocese
Archbishop Martin Modéus under Askel Sovinthoon in the church in Karungi in 2025.
Archbishop Martin Modéus under Askel Sovinthoon in the church in Karungi in 2025.
People's Cinema Royal
18.30 Golden Beetle winning film Rörelser – mailman ensimäinen elokuva meänkielelä!
The film Rörelser is a story about the Nordic region's most legendary revival movement, the Korpela Movement, an unpleasant story that balances on the border between drama and thriller. The last day is approaching. Are you one of the chosen ones? It is the 1930s and a charismatic preacher captivates the villagers during his revival meetings in Tornedalen. Mailman ensimäinen elokuva meänkielelä!
Movements won two Golden Beetles, for Best Actress and Best Original Score.
Buy your ticket here: Bio.se
Askel sakinthoon festivali is organized by:
Swedish Association of Tornedalingers - Tornionlaaksolaiset
With Nuoret
The Church of Sweden
Region Norrbotten
The County Administrative Board of Norrbotten County in collaboration with Luleå University of Technology.
With Nuoret
The Church of Sweden
Region Norrbotten
The County Administrative Board of Norrbotten County in collaboration with Luleå University of Technology.