Background
The history of the Sami people is a painful history of marginalisation and Norwegianization - the government policy of forced assimulation of the Sami into Norwegian society. Christian mission among the Sami people go back to the Middle Ages, but from 1700 the Protestant and pietistic mission among the Sami, together with state colonialism, brought lasting changes to the Sami society (as well as religion). From around 1850 a very rough assimilation policy held the Sami people in a firm grip until 1980. This period may be referred to as the Dark Ages of the Sami people. This assimilation policy permeated the public officials, schools and the Church of Norway. In parts of Sápmi the Sami culture and language was eradicated during this period.
Throughout the nineteen-eighties an increasing awareness of the rights of the indigenous peoples became visible both in the Norwegian and the Sami society. The awakening had begun for the Sami people in the beginning of the 20th century and during the so-called Alta controversy it became a hot topic among the Norwegian politicians as well. In 1989 the Sami people were granted their own parliament, the Sámediggi.
In 1992 the General Synod in the Church of Norway decided to establish an organ to oversee and work for the Sami church life. In 1997 the General Synod acknowledged its role in the assimilation process and declared it would make good of its mistakes.
Read more about this topic: Sami Church Council (Church Of Norway)
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