"We are several generations carrying wounds that need healing"
How can minority policy become a natural part of the work of municipalities and regions – and what is required for the policy to work in practice? These were some of the questions that were discussed during the breakfast lecture "How difficult can it be?" on national minority policy during the first day of the Askel Sovythoon Festival.
The lecture was opened by Lennart Rhodin, special investigator of minority politics and honorary doctor at Luleå University of Technology.
- Minority languages must be able to be preserved and developed as living languages in Sweden. That is the very essence of minority politics, said Lennart Rhodin.
He also highlighted the importance of consultation and that minority policy, just like gender equality and children's rights, needs to permeate more areas of activity in both municipalities and regions. Consultation is something that both the Norrbotten Region and Luleå Municipality carry out with national minorities.
Many people wanted to talk to Lennart Rohdin (center) in connection with the breakfast lecture at the House of Science in Luleå.
The state must take greater responsibility
The subsequent conversation was attended by Johannes Sundelin (S), chairman of the regional development committee in the Norrbotten region, and Mattias Karvonen (V), municipal councilor in Luleå municipality. The conversation quickly turned to resources and the division of responsibilities.
– The state must take greater responsibility. We in the region and municipality are doing what we can, but when the support is low and is also reduced, it becomes difficult to maintain the level of ambition, said Johannes Sundelin.
Region Norrbotten, together with other actors, has written to the government and the Minister of Culture, including with proposals to investigate whether Tornedalingar, Kväner and Lantalaiset should be considered an indigenous people.
Mattias Karvonen described how Luleå municipality works with minority issues in practice, including through language nodes.
– I am from Tornedalen myself and am proud of the work we do. The language nodes mean that we can get more small speakers of Meänkieli, for example, said Mattias Karvonen.
Johannes Sundelin and Mattias Karvonen.
Historical wounds still affect us today
The conversation also touched on the long-term consequences of the Swedishization policy and how historical traumas still affect people today.
– We are several generations carrying wounds that need healing. My father was beaten for speaking Finnish, and that's why I haven't been able to learn the language, said Johannes Sundelin.
Both he and Mattias Karvonen emphasized the importance of continuing to advance positions together.
– It takes many people coming together to make a difference, both in terms of finances and advocacy work, said Johannes Sundelin.
Text and image: Emma Bergström Wuolo
