MEET A SAMI IN THE USA

This interview with a Sami in the USA is written by Ginger Mayorga.

1. Where are you from, and where do you live?

I was born in Washington State, and now live in Roseburg, Oregon.

2. How did you find out that you have Sami heritage?

I can’t articulate or pinpoint the time, but sometime around 2016, I began wondering about possible Sámi heritage although having no immediate family knowledge or concept of Sámi. I’m not sure if my grandfather had any idea of this huge piece of his heritage from his mother, my great-grandmother, and the reason for my search.

My research journey was difficult due to last name spelling changes, and complete first name changes after immigration, also due to presenting as Finish and or Norwegian identities. I contacted an elderly cousin of my mother, and he confirmed the older relatives had been part of the Alaska Reindeer Program, from Enontekiö, and had changed the last name spelling upon immigration.

In my research of things about Sámi, I discovered YouTube music videos and one older video was of my cousin playing Clarinet for one of the Angelit sisters. I studied and watched over and over, wondering if we could be related. I bolstered the courage to message her through FB with my inquiry and info gathered at this end. Within a few days, I received a FB message from our other cousin, excited to make this connection from information she pieced together. Soon I was connecting with both cousins and other relatives via FB. Within a year my cousin Pirita traveled to the US from Sápmi and visited with my family members here in the North West, specifically my mother’s older bachelor cousin who was the only and last descendant with the Nakkela (Näkkälä) surname.

3. As a Sami in the USA, what do you know about your Sami ancestors?

Growing up I knew nothing of our Sámi ancestors or heritage. We were told my great grandparents were Finnish and Norwegian.

Ginger Mayorga

My grandfather’s mother, my great grandmother was Sámi from Näkkälä Village Enontekiö Finland. Her story ended sadly here after immigration and died as a young woman in the Northern State mental hospital in Washington State when my grandfather was an infant with older brothers.

Our ancestor relatives had relocated to Poulsbo Washington after the reindeer contract in Alaska and some success in gold mining. During this time in Poulsbo my great-grandmother, a young mother with three boys and new infant( my grandfather) probably suffered a bout of postpartum depression, with the catalyst of her breakdown being told her husband’s fishing vessel most likely had gone down after a prolonged absence. She was quickly dispatched to Northern State Hospital, and died of tuberculosis in her thirties after a year, completely abandoned, and discarded, by family and husband (my great grandfather), who finally returned from his prolonged fishing absence.

My grandfather was raised by his Uncle Isak Nakkela, who came with the reindeer program and gold mined in Alaska prior to settling in Poulsbo. My grandfather’s older brother’s were raised by the Tornensis family in Poulsbo, also from the original group to Alaska, as Marit Tornensis was a half-sister to my great-grandmother and my grandfather’s uncle Isak.

With more information gathered after connecting with my family members in Sápmi, I can now trace my line to my great grandmother’s father, and reindeer herding.

While growing up I was very aware of the family pride in being Norwegian, and my mother’s generation talking about their Norwegian grandfather, the fishermen, and then the shame and not talking about the “Finnish” grandmother who died in the mental hospital.

Ironically, my grandfather was very fond of the Nakkela/Näkkälä family who raised him and could speak fluent Finnish.

4. Did you take a DNA test?

I did take an ancestry DNA test after making my Sámi connections, and it further confirmed this part of my heritage.

5. Why did you find it so interesting to know more about your Sami background?

My Sámi heritage journey began as a way to honor and give memory to my great grandmother, to learn of her heritage and background. Also, In some way to recognize her beautiful heritage, and heal an unspoken family sadness and shame.

Beginning at a young age I was innately drawn to Native American studies, spirituality, pow wow dancing, drumming, music, art, and literature. It’s been amazing to see such similarities between Native American and Sámi, and could explain my intense interest and immersion.

6. As a Sami in the USA, what do you do to connect with the Sami culture?

As a result of learning about my Sámi heritage at an older age, I feel a need to make up for lost time. This entails constant immersion, reading, music immersion, learning joik, including participation in workshops with Elin, and Aillôs.

I also follow family from Sápmi, activists, artists, duodji, and musicians on social media. I often connect and try to get together with Sámi American groups and friends here in the Pacific Northwest.

Ginger Mayorga

Wearing my prized possessions, a luhkka made and gifted to me by my relative in Näkkälä, my recent vintage Gákti, gifted by my cousin, my beak boots, scarf shawl, and jewelry pieces, solidifies inward identity and connection.

Learning Northern Sámi language is an important goal, and responsibility.

7. Have you been in Sápmi?

My husband and I have traveled twice to Sápmi, in 2019, and 2022. Our first trip to Sápmi was in July of 2019, to meet relatives and to attend the Riddu Riđđu music festival.

During the weekend of Riddu Riđđu we met my cousin Anna for the first time, and Pirita for the second time after her visit to the US. Anna and Pirita set up the lavvu from Anna’s husbands work inventory, along with reindeer hides to sleep on. Sharing the lavvu felt natural with immediate family bonding and camaraderie.

After the weekend festival we drove back to Näkkälä for our stay in the cabin on Näkkälajarvi. We had stopped initially on our way to Riddu Riđđu to meet my cousin Samuli and his partner Taina, who were anxious that we stop there first, with a meal of reindeer stew and a gifted luhkka made by Samuli’s mother Marja, so I would have something warm to wear at Riddu, along with a wool four winds cap for Rudy.

Once we were back at the cabin on Näkkäläjärvi, we learned about mosquitoes in July!

Our cousin Samuli operates an excursion business, Näkkälä Adventures, and we experienced an outing in the Pöyrisjärvi wilderness. We met more Näkkälä relatives at Marja’s house, along with a delicious reindeer stew dinner, after we visited the old cabin homesite of my great grandmother’s childhood and ancestors.

We continued our journey driving the loop from Hetta to Kautokeino, visiting more relatives, and then continuing on through Karasjok to Inari. In Inari we visited with my our cousin Pirita, and toured the Siida Musem.

During our first visit to Sápmi, we experienced the magnitude of family hospitality, generosity, and coffee! In 2022 we traveled in mid to end of August, partly because of mosquitoes, but also to attend the weekend of Ijahis Idja Sámi music festival.

We drove from Rovaniemi to Hetta to stay at our favorite cabin on Näkkäläjärvi, with very much less mosquitoes. We spent quality time with cousin Samuli and Taina, including an outing to the Pöyrisjärvi wilderness and a further trip to the old Näkkälä summer cabins, where Rudy was able to help Samuli with some wooden step repairs. As we rode on the quads thru the tundra, Samuli had me wear his headphones with joik music streaming.

Needless to say, I was in my bliss and aware also of how technologically is changing things out on the tundra. On our journey to Inari we drove the same loop, stopping in Kautokeino to visit with relatives and coffee at Sámi University.

During the festival weekend in Inari my cousin Pirita arranged a gathering to meet even more Näkkäläjärvi relatives. Everyone was welcoming and gracious. Walking around the festival, Pirita also introduced me to more people we are related to.

For the Saturday festival Pirita dressed me in a vintage Gákti made by a family member, she felt would fit me better with the longer length and my height. After the placement of scarf, pins, and belt she was satisfied everything was in place correctly. It felt like my identity was being put in place.

The Gákti was sent home with me, to wear at Sámi American events here in the Northwest, and I feel a responsibility to represent my relatives, and to keep the connection between here and Sápmi.

8. What is the most valuable to you about knowing that you are of Sami heritage?

One of the most valuable and soul-felt things for me in learning of my Sámi heritage is it gives me knowledge of, and connection to a great-grandmother whom none of us ever met.

I’m grateful for the rich heritage we have from her and her line of ancestors, and for the connections I’ve made and relationships with relatives in Sápmi. In making these connections, traveling to Sápmi, I hope to bring some healing and closure for my great-grandmother’s profoundly sad end of life here, and the effects of some generational family loss, sadness and shame.

Knowing and connecting to my Sámi heritage gives me a sense of identity, completeness, and soul healing, as if something missing has been put in place.

Ginger Mayorga

9. Do you have any tips on how to find resources or otherwise connect with the Sami culture?

I discovered resources initially by researching online, finding reading materials, books, and connecting with several Sámi American groups via social media and local event gatherings. I am not an academic or scholar proficient in genealogy. Most of my discoveries and inquiries stemmed from gut feelings and intuition, and inquiries to our one living relative here at the time, holding some family information, especially the surname spelling changes, etc.

Social media is a good way to follow Sámi groups, artists and activists. Youtube, iTunes, and Spotify can keep a person immersed in joik and music. Some suggested reading to include:

“Far Northern Connections-Researching Your Sámi Ancestors” by Virginia Mattson Schultz

“We Stopped Forgetting-Sámi Americans” by Ellen Marie Jensen

“What We Believe” edited by Ellen Marie Jensen

“An Account of the Sámi- Turi

“ A year In Lapland” by Hugh Beach

“Stolen” by Ann-Helén Laestadius

“The End Of Drum Time” by Hanna Pylväinen

“ The Night Between Days” by Ailo Gaup

“By The Fire-Sámi Folk Tails and Legends” by Emilie Demant translated by Barbara Sjoholm

“With The Lapps in the High Mountains” by Emilie Demant translated by Barbara Sjoholm

“From Lapland to Sápmi” Barbara Sjoholm