Official opening 

Friday 9 August:
0900              Greetings by the president of the Sami Parliament in Norway Egil Olli and the chair of the South Sami Congregation Council Sigfred Jåma.

Worship and evening prayer

Friday 9 August:
0900               Opening worship. Sermon: Birgitta Simma
2200               Evening worship. Sermon: Line M. Skum.
Saturday 10 August:
0900               Morning worship. Sermon: Rolf Steffensen.
2000               Evening worship by the youth.
Sunday 11 August:
1130-1300    Closing worship. Sermon: Erva Niityvuopio

 

Main seminars

Friday 9 August:
1100-1230        “For the place where you are standing is holy ground!” Indigenous peoples, climate change and nature spirituality

Panel with director of Indigenous Collaboration at AICBR Norma Kassi (Gwitch’in, Canada), Inuit and bishop of Greenland Sofie Petersen (Kallaalit Nunaat) and former chair of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Ole Henrik Magga (Sápmi / Norway).

Sunday 10 August:
1030-1200      Holy Word on Holy Ground. Nature in our Christian Traditions

South Sami Chaplain Bierna Leine Bientie speaks on nature as context for liturgy among the South Sami.

Parallell seminars and workshops

Friday 9 August

1445-1600:

• Seminar with Russian Sami.
• Release of South Sami and North Sami bibel text publications. 
  
• Yoik workshop

1615-1730:

Reconciliation seminar – part 1. By Michael Lapsley, Ingar N. Kuoljok og Rolf Steffensen. Father M. Lapsley leads the Institute of Healing of Memories in South-Afrika and has broad experience with reconciliation processes in South-Africa.
Steffensen is mayor (and former parish priest) of Hamarøy. Kuoljok is a lawyer and the Lule Sami represantative of the Sami Church Council. Both have been central in a Sami-Norwegian reconciliation project in the North-Salten region.

• Guided tour in Mo church.  The first church in Mo was built for the Sami in 1723 by the “apostle of the Sami” Thomas von Westen. Mo church is located in todays down town of Mo i Rana, and is a reminder of the Sami history of the city.
• South Sami language course – part 1
• Sami sports activities (childrens program)

Saturday 10 August

1430-1545:

Reconciliation seminar – part 2 – with book release.
Lapsley, Kuoljok and Steffensen continues the seminar from the day  before.

During the seminar the book Acknowledging the past – shaping the future. Contributions to church related reconciliation efforts in Sápmi (Norwegian) is launched. Lapsley, Steffensen and Kuoljok are among the contributors.

• Traditional Sami Hymn Singing
• South Sami language course – part 2

1600-1715:

• Climate, youth and revitalisation of spiritual values (engelsk). Norma Kassi

Concerts

Friday 9 August:
2000              The award winning South Sami musican Frode Fjellheim premieres Aejlies eatneme! Aejlies Baakoe - Sacred ground! Sacred Word commissioned for the Sami Church Days. In addition to Fjellheim’s own musicians,  Kammerana and Kormakeriet participate in the performance.

Saturday 10 August:
2130               Concert with the popular Sami band Adjágas with the lead singers Sara Marielle Gaup Beaska and Lawra Somby. Their original mix of traditional yoik, indie and folk has brougth the band to big stages. The Sami Church Days is the first stage where they release new tracks from their third album which will be launched later Autumn 2013.

Theater

Saturday 10 August:
1600-1730   Elsa Laula. South Sami Theater (Åarjelhsaemien Teatere) perform a play about the South Sami woman that became a pioneer in organizing the Sami political efforts at the beginning of the 20th century.

Movies

Friday 9 August:
2300             Nya vädrets offer.  (Victims of the new weather) From SVTs award winning TV-documentary series by Samuel Idivuoma which highlights how indigenous peoples around the Arctic are struggling to maintain their cultures and ways of life as they are confronted with climate change. This episode follows the family of Norma Kassi (a contributor at the main seminar Friday morning!) in a community in Northern Canada highly dependent on the Caribou.

Lørdag 10. august:
2300               Firekeepers. This documentary portrays the two young Sami yoikers (traditional singers)  Sara Marielle Gaup and Lawra Somby in the band Adjágas. The film highlights the central role of the yoik as a cultural expression among the Sami, and  gives a powerful insight into the vulnerable language situation among the South Sami, which is a language with appr. 500-600speakers. The film is made by Rossella Ragazzi. See trailer.

Art exhibitions

The renowned Sami visual artist Hans Ragnar Mathisen is invited to have a solo exhibition at the church days.

Another exhibition space is reserved for other Sami artists who want to exhibit their art during Sami Church Days. We look for art reflecting Sami church life or the church day theme “Holy ground! Holy Word.” Contact: tore.johnsen@kirken.no

Sami market

Arrangements are made for an quality market with Sami handicrafts and arts, Sami food products etc. If you are a potential exhibitor, we encourage you to contact us. More information under the meny tab “Practical info”.

Soccer tournament

Saturday 10 August at 1430-1730 a soccer tournament is organized. There is room for 8 teams. Mixed teams women / men (at least 2 women on each team) play in 7-person squads.

Team registration at festival office during Friday 9 August.

Youth program

A Youth Camp with a separate youth program will be facilitated at the festival site. The youth will also contribute in the main program:

Saturday 2000    Evening worship for all by the youth
Sunday 1000       The message of the youth to the church days

Childrens program

More will come.

Waterworld

A visit at the Water park in Mo i Rana downtown is a popular family activity. Efforts are made to provide affordable access for people buying festival pass.

Museumsutstilling

The touring exhibition Solens døtre - Biejjien Niejth on the Museum of Rana exhibits the South Sami history viewed from women’s perspective. Six South Sami women are portrayed focussing on crafts, yoik (traditional Sami chanting), food, legends and tales, language. Highlights also how strong women have been influencing South Sami history, including Elsa Laula Renberg (cf. theater). 

Ekskursjoner

Information will be provided

Night Café

It will be an open night cafe at the festival on Friday and Saturday night.