For the second year in a row, the Buošši Award was presented during the opening of the Riddu Riđđu festival. This year it was the married couple Ruth and Per Larsen who received the award for their work in safeguarding Sea Sami cultural history.
In North Troms, “buošši” is a term of honour for someone who is eager, hard-working, fearless and brave. Being buošši is a great compliment, but it must be earned. The indigenous festival Riddu Riđđu and the Centre for Northern Peoples have jointly established the Buošši Award to honour hard-working and courageous individuals or associations that have made significant efforts to highlight the Sea Sami language and culture.
The jury received several strong nominations, but this year's award winners stood out. Ruth and Per Larsen are two enthusiasts who have worked for many years to preserve the Sea Sami culture, language and history. They live in Skárfvaggi /Skardalen - a fjord village in Kåfjord municipality with a long Sami history. Together with Skardalen Bygde- og Kulturlag, the two have helped to preserve the Sea Sami culture and environment in the village.
The hospitable award winners have welcomed countless guests who have been given guided tours of barns and farmhouses, valleys and fjords. In a converted barn, the couple have made arrangements to pass on the cultural history of the village, and guests are often served Sea Sami food, good stories or Sami songs and hymns. Restored boathouses can be found on the shoreline, where you can gain an insight into the life of the fish farmers. There are several hundred Sami place names in Skardalen, which Per and Ruth have helped to document and mark with signs.
Ruth and Per have been keen to safeguard the special cultural landscape in the village. They have also ensured that this traditional knowledge is passed on to the next generation. Every summer, the couple welcome young people with ties to the village, who take part in cutting hay meadows and pastures and restoring buildings.
The couple are also members of a Sami singing group/Sámi lávlunjoavku in Kåfjord, Ruth sews Lyngenkofte for anyone in the family who needs it and is an active member of Manndalen husflidslag and Romssa Sámiid duodji.
Read more about Skardalen cultural landscape and the award winners here: https://nordligefolk.no/sjosamene/naering-og-naturbruk-2/skardalen-kulturlandskap/om-skarfvaggi-skardalen/