Guh lejmeh sámieh / When we were Sami

On Saturday, October 12, 2024, the world's first play in Ume Sami and Swedish premiered! Västerbottensteatern, in collaboration with Åarjelhsaemien teatere, is staging the serial novel När vi var samer by Mats Jonsson - with Ume Sami and Swedish as the stage language. Subtitles in Swedish in the scenography when Ume Sami is spoken.

Umesamiska:

Tjaktjane 2024 Västerbottenteahtere jah Åarjelhsaemien teatere akttane hásateäh Jonssonen Matsen rájrruorománub Guh lejmeh sámieh – ubmejesámien jah dáruongiälane.

Gåssie Jonssonen Matsen áhtjájjá jábmá die fuölkkie vuastas bálien dab måskuoke jah biähtuotum skáhpuob rahppá juhkka leä intán ståbuosne gåvnname. Dan sissnie leäh miärkanvïhttanisgirjjie, prievvie sámienfugddaste Västerbottesne jah gåvvah rárkuovijste. Die bïjkuotuvva ahttie Mats båhtá lüvletjemádduoste Málágen dáhvuosne. Man dehte lij tjiäguosne urrame? Man dehte hejtten sámien urruot? Jah man dehte däjrren dan unnieb sïjjan hïsturjan bïjrra?

Guh lejmeh sámieh leä hïsturjjasubtsas sliektien gelletjuöhtiejáhpásadtje dåruon bïjrra várjjalit sïjjan vuögieb viässuot, jah giäŋŋalis gåvva Matsen áhtjájjáste juhkka tjuavvarij njuarranit. Nåvváj leä mujttalis juhkka åhppate sámien hïsturjub Sverjesne máb skuvlla ij leäh mïjjáje vaddáme.

Vuösietiemiesne ådtjuobe Matsen uhttsaliemmieb dullatje ájgiene tjuavvuot, stuarra jah smávva sjaddamijde guh leäh bájnnieminnie mïjjub eŋŋe. Ådtjuobe áj tjuavvuot Matsen jïjtjasa månnalahkan mehte, sámien identitähtije. Subtsasen bïjrra håjggá "dullatje jah dállie" gasskasne jah suahtastallame leä ájnas åssie subtsasisne.

Teateredåhkiesne leäh vïjtta barggijh guh vuösieth gåbbatjáhkkh Matsub jah ájáj bualvijde suv uvddale. Vujdnash jah musijkkagiälla akttanh äjgijde dan giävras vuösietiemiesne jüs hïsturjub åjmijde válddiet.

Swedish:
In the fall of 2024, Västerbottensteatern in collaboration with Åarjelhsaemien teatere will stage the serial novel När vi var samer by Mats Jonsson - with Ume Sami and Swedish as the stage language.

When Mats Jonsson's grandfather dies, the family opens for the first time the sealed and forbidden sweep box that has always been in the home. Inside are reindeer mark certificates, letters from the reindeer herder in Västerbotten County and photos from reindeer separations. It turns out that Mats is descended from a family of forest Sami in the Malå area. Why has it been a secret? Why did they stop being Sami? And why do they know so little about their history?

"When we were Sami" is a chronicle of a family's centuries-old struggle to preserve their way of life, and an insightful portrait of Mats's grandfather, who finally had to give up. It is also an educational account of the Sami history in Sweden that schools have never managed to give us.

In the performance, we follow Mats' search back in time, among small and large events that still affect us today, but also on his personal journey into a new, Sami identity. The story moves between "past and present" and humor has an important place in the story.

The ensemble consists of five actors who portray both Mats and the generations that have gone before him and the visual and musical language connects now and then in this powerful performance about reclaiming one's history.

Produced by Västerbottensteatern in collaboration with Åarjelhsaemien teatere/Sydsamiska teatern, Mo i Rana.

Participants and production

Dájđđárij dåhkkie / Artistic team

Dåjmatiebmie/Direction: Johanna Sandström Lehto
Giähtatjállage/Script: Tora von Platen after the graphic novel by Mats Jonsson
Siädnaürdneme/Scenography: Lotta Nilsson
Gárvvuohäbmeme/Costume design: Anna-Stina Svakko and Lotta Nilsson
Komposisjuvdna jah jiädnahäbmeme/Composition and sound design: Katarina Barruk and Arnljot Nordvik
Musïjkan mastatiebmie jah buakttuo/Mixing and mastering on composition: Nils Johansson
Tjuavggahásatiebmie/ Lighting design: Maja Lindström
Máskah jah luovasvuobdh/Mask & wig design: Sofia Långdahl
Ubmejesámien jårggaliebmie/ Translation in Umea Sami: Henrik Barruk
Ubmejesámien jårggaliebmie/Umesami language coach & translator of communication materials into Umesami:
Sara-Hélen Persson

Åvdástallijeh/Actors: Andreas Anterot, Annika Nordin, Paul Ol Jona Utsi, Malin Vispe, Anna Åsdell

Manufacturing and technology

Sound: Oskar Bergkvist
Sound engineer: Jesper Johansson
Lighting technician: Catherine Crépault Wibe
Video design: Kin Isaksson
Decor painter: Catarina Berglind
Prop maker & props designer: Nina Muhonen Marklund
Costume designer: Ulrica Marklund, Terese Larsson
Upholsterer: Helena Steisel
Stage manager, carpenter: Petter Ögren, Niclas Andersson
Carpenter: Jonas Åberg

Gift/Poster photo: Lisalove Bäckman
Gift/press photo: Patrick Degerman

Teaterenåejvie/Theater Manager/Theater Manager Åarjelhsaemien teatere: Kristin Solberg
Artistic Director Västerbottensteatern: Johanna Salander
CEO Västerbottensteatern/ Publisher: Challa Gustavsson

Thank you to all the other staff who worked to make this show possible!

Buoktadiejjieh/Producers:
Produced by Västerbottensteatern in collaboration with Åarjelhsaemien teatere/Sydsamiska teatern, Mo i Rana.

Produced in collaboration with Åarjelhsaemien teatere AS/Sydsamiska teatern in Mo i Rana, Norway. https://asteatere.no/

The show is produced with the support of:

On tour

Tue 22/10 19:00 Vyöddale/Vindeln. Read more>>

on 23/10 19:00 Lïkssjuo/Lycksele. Read more>>

on 24/10 18:00 Kraapohke/Dorotea. Read more>>

Tue 29/10 19:00 Sjädtavaellie/Sundsvall. Read more>>

on 30/10 19:00 Sjädtavaellie/Sundsvall. Read more>>

Thu 31/10 19:00 Sjädtavaellie/Sundsvall. Read more>>

Tue 5/11 19:00 Ubmeje/Umeå. Read more>>

on 6/11 19:00 Ubmeje/Umeå. Read more>>

Thu 7/11 19:00 Ubmeje/Umeå. Read more>>

on 13/11 19:00 Buvvda/Bådåddjo/Bodø Read more>>

Fri 15/11 17:00 Måhvie, Ránan måhkkie/Mo i Rana Read more>>

Sun 17/11 18:00 Snåase/Snåsa Read more>>

Thu 21/11 19:00 Árviesjávrrie/Arvidsjaur. Read more>>

Fri 22/11 19:00 Julevu/Luleå. Read more>>

Sat 23/11 19:00 Nuoráne/Norsjö. Read more>>

on 27/11 19:00 Orrestaare/Örnsköldsvik. Read more>>

Thu 28/11 19:00 Staare/Östersund. Read more>>

Fri 29/11 19:00 Ramsele. Read more>>

Sat 30/11 19:00 Kramfors. Read more>>

Fri 13/12 19:00 Máláge/Malå. Read more>>

on 18/12 19:00 Giron/Kiruna. Read more>>

Films from the production

Press coverage

PRESS CLIP Norran: "Västerbottensteatern offers what may be the cultural achievement of the year and the foremost public education effort."
"The humor is constantly present. It's lucky, because it's not a cheerful story and without the laughter we would probably be crushed."
"Everyone excels, but I would like to give an extra star to Anna Åsdell, who shows breadth and also offers a beautiful joke. It also turns out to be very humorous."
"I think theater, art, is at its best when it opens our eyes and teaches us something about ourselves. Here it happens in two acts and if you ask me, you are obliged to experience them. In the name of popular education if nothing else." - Per Strömbro, Norran

PRESS CLIP Dagens Nyheter:"It is a light-hearted but serious confrontation with the von oben perspective on the Sami."
"Tora von Platen's smart dramatization, and Johanna Sandström Lehto's sensitive direction, both capture and reinforce the tone of the original." "The ensemble constantly switches roles with each other, alternating between Swedish and Ume Sami, with impressive hearing" - Jacob Lundström, DN

PRESS CLIP Västerbottens-Kuriren: "The gaps in knowledge are still large and with "When we were Sami" Västerbottensteatern picks up the baton from Mats Jonsson and makes a public education effort of rank...
The whole is a well-oiled scenic fire torch that shows why Sami history is a concern for so many more than Mats Jonsson and his family." – VK

"Has changed my life" - emotional premiere for Mats Jonsson - Tidningen Ångermanland 20241015

First time Ume Sami is spoken on stage: "I feel excited " TV feature from SVT Sápmi interviewing Mats Jonsson before the premiere. 20241011

Anna Åsdell: Great fun and difficult at the same time. Report with actors Anna Åsdell and Andreas Anterot in Sameradion 20241010

Mats Jonsson quietly excited before the premiere. Report with Mats Jonsson before the premiere in Sameradion 20241010

"When we were Sami" - premiere for Ume Sami on stage . Report in Kulturnytt SR with director Johanna Sandström Lehto 20241008.

Read the program leaflet here! >>

Time & place

PREMIERE OCTOBER 12, 2024
Playing in Skellefteå and on tour

Prices

Ordinary: 355kr
Young (up to 26 years)/student: 215kr

Language

The performance languages are Swedish and Ume Sami. Subtitles in Swedish in the scenography. Subtitles in Swedish and English in the mobile app at selected performances.