“Culture can transform shame into pride”
It was packed in Pajala Folkets hus when the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's report was handed over to Minister of Culture Parisa Liljestrand.
– It has been made invisible, this whole story. But I believe that through culture you can transform shame into pride, says Region Norrbotten's cultural director Anette Winblad von Walter, who was on site in Pajala.
It is about the violations and abuses that the people of Tornedalen, Kväner and Lantalaiset have been subjected to by the Swedish state. A part of Swedish history that has been swept under the carpet - until now.
– This is a part of Norrbotten's history that is not in any history books, and it is quite serious. And since Norrbotten is not a separate country, this concerns the history of our entire country. Everyone should know about it.
Thanks to the commission's work, the story is now out in the open.
– Now the truth is out there for anyone to see, there is never any turning back from it. It is a huge step forward and a healing process in itself. It is a national responsibility that the story becomes known. So I hope that the handling will be good now, says Anette Winblad von Walter, referring to the proposals included in the final report.
Anette Winblad von Walter is the head of culture at Region Norrbotten.
Issues concerning the Tornedalen, Kväner and Lantalaiset people, their culture and language, are high on the cultural unit's agenda.
– This is about us, we who live here. We should work where we are and what we do in concrete terms is to support Tornedals Theatre who have declared themselves a national stage. Here it would be desirable for the Ministry of Culture to step in and finance their activities so that they receive funding to take care of what it means to be a national stage: to play throughout the country.
The Norrbotten Region also operates Polar bibbloIt is a site for children that has a national mission to promote children's reading and storytelling in national minority languages.
– We have Polarbibblo where one of the languages is Meänkieli and we have seen the importance of that. There you can be active and creative but also experience and take part in fairy tales and stories in your own language.
Healing power
The cultural plan has been translated into Meänkieli and the language and culture are also promoted via Norrbottensmusiken and project support for various cultural actors.
– Another thing we have done is to develop this preliminary study, Poppa, which is now being taken care of by the Swedish Tornedalingars Riksförbund. We have made a special effort. They are starting with a digital information center, that is decided as a first step. It is actually the most important thing right now because people are so spread out.
Anette Winblad von Walter highlights the healing power of culture.
– I believe that through culture you can transform shame into pride. If we get literature, film, music from our own culture, it is clear that self-esteem is strengthened. If we get to see a theater performance that tells stories from our area, self-esteem is strengthened by recognition and reflection. There was more joy and reconciliation than sadness in Folkets hus. It is going in the right direction. Light wins over darkness and after sadness comes joy.
Text: Sara Stylbäck Vesa